Details Are Important When Writing a Job Interview Thank You Letter

Too many people think that after having a job interview their role in the application process is over and they should just wait for a decision. As a manager I must stress to you the importance of writing a thank you letter. My first recommendation before I get into the body of what you should include is what method you should use to send your thank you letter. This article will also include the basics, and then discussions on what you should include if you are still interested in the position or if you have decided you are no longer interested in the position.

Should I Send My Thank You Letter Via Email or Postal Mail?

Many people will tell you that email is impersonal. That might have been true in the past, but these days email is a part of life. Time is more important to me than formalities when I receive a thank you letter from an applicant I interview. There have been several times when I received a postal mail letter after I made the decision for a position. If I have a thank you letter via email in my hand within 24 hours after an interview from one candidate and none from another that I consider their equal, I quite often consider the person I received the email from to be more highly interested in the position. So, as a manager I would stress that speed in thanking a potential employer for an interview is more important than traditional views on professional delivery methods. You don't want to risk losing a position because they made a decision before your thank you letter was received.

The Basics

In your thank you letter you want to make it clear that you value the time the person that interviewed took out of their busy schedule. If you interview with a panel, make sure you thank each of them individually in separate emails, and refer to them by the name they indicated during the interview. Make sure you thank them for items that showed their interest such as commenting on the amount of time they spent with you if they spent extra time during your interview. You also should refer positively to the questions that they asked you. Try to address one to three questions specifically so they realize you remembered specific details from the interview. In your thank you letter, also try to include details from the interview that will help them remember who you are. Remember, you want to stand out from the competition. Don't assume they will remember you from the interview, they may have had numerous interviews that day.

What To Do If You Are Still Interested In The Job

After covering the basics, if you are still interested in the position there are a few other things you should do. Make sure that you indicate you are available for any future interviews or questions. You might want to offer another form of communication to reach you such as a cell phone number. You also should provide any additional information that was ask for at the interview and confirm the next step that was addressed in the interview.

What To Do If You Are No Longer Interested In The Job

Employers realize that an interview isn't always just them interviewing you, you are also interviewing the company. Sometimes you decide after a job interview that the job just isn't for you. Make sure you think the interviewers for their time, and also indicate why you are no longer interested in the position. You might find out that there was a misunderstanding if you address why you are no longer interested with a specific reason. If you give a vague explanation than there will be no chance for the employer to clarify something you misunderstood.

Thank You Letters Show Professionalism and Interest

A thank you letter not only shows your level of interest in the position, but also your professionalism. Remember, even if this turns out to be a position you eliminate yourself from or you are eliminated from consideration for by the employer, you may deal with the company or individuals in the future. You may apply for another position at the company, or the interviewer might be working for a company you apply with in the future.