Do I still need to send a thank you to employers who interview me?
Yes. Think of your interview as a piece of business that has just been done with the company. When you meet a new client as his or her offices, what do you do that afternoon? You follow up with a ‘great to meet you today and look forward to doing business’ email.
Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!
The same applies with the interview because you’ve participated in a business transaction that took time and energy from the company to meet with you.
Must the thank you be sent on card stock with a hand written note to the Human Resources department of the company? No. One; because it’s not 1930 and two; because it would never been seen that way anyway.
You want to send an email to everyone you interacted with in the company until the interview ended. This means, the recruiter, the person or people who interviewed you and anyone you were introduced to on a department level. Some interviewers get excited and take you to the meet the VP of your future department just to let them get a look at you. (hint; this is a good thing….smile!!) If and when you meet with these folks outside of the standard interview, ask them for a business card. With this/these, you are armed to write the thank you and grab more attention than you would have otherwise.
Here’s how it’s done
(I always open a new email when I send a thank you. Maybe it’s just me but a reply to an earlier email may be missed)
TO: The person or people who interviewed you
CC: The recruiter, The people you were introduced too after or during the interview
SUBJECT LINE: Christopher Anderson | In Person Interview | February 15, 2013
First Name, (comma, enter, enter)
(You’ve met them so the formality of calling people Ms. or Mr. or Sir is now gone) Unless they introduced themselves as Mr. Something in which case, you don’t want to work there…trust me.
Thank You for taking time from your busy schedule to meet with me today.
(I didn’t say interview…I said “meet”. That’s important because it infers a bond that you now have)
I appreciate the opportunity and look forward to your positive reply.
If you have any more questions concerning my experience or qualifications, I am available at your convenience.
(available at your convenience…not sayin I’m checking my emails at midnight on Saturday ..I’m just sayin.) This statement means, you are making time for them.
Sincerely, (comma, enter, enter
(yes I wrote that same post note in an email to Abraham Lincoln. It still applies)
Christopher Anderson
Address
Phone
Email (single space these)
END
That wasn’t so hard was it? You ‘should’ receive a reply that they liked the interview too and that they’ll be in touch soon. You may even get a couple follow on questions. Know why? Because you’ve given them the opportunity with a Thank You note! Neat huh?
I already sent my “Thank You” for the interview I had on Wednesday.
Do you recommend a certain time frame to send a thank you note after the interview?
Ah! Thank you for being my memory! All thank you notes should be sent as soon as you can get to your email after the interview.
As a consultant, I often interview 2-3 hours away from my home office so….As soon as my butt hits the seat in the car after the interview, I use the iPhone to write a thank you note.