After your interview. you may wonder whether to send a post-interview thank you note or letter. And if so, what should the note say? Or NOT say. (That’s right. You can still screw things up. But I’ll say more about that later.)
Just remember that your interview process does not start or end at the interview itself. Every contact you have with the company — or even people somehow connected to the company — can wind up being communicated to the hiring team.
And so whatever you do, you want to add positively to the picture of yourself you’re painting. And that even applies to thank you notes!
⇒ MORE: 10 Impressions You Leave After a Job Interview
Do after-interview thank you notes really matter?
Thank you notes are a nice extra. They won’t on their own get you the job — except in rare cases. And not if you aren’t qualified for the job. But they shouldn’t lose you the job either. (Again, there are exceptions.)
Although I never ruled someone out for not sending one, some hiring managers may use the lack of one to help eliminate people. Not my idea of smart hiring, but everyone is different — especially if the job requires relationship building and interpersonal communication. Still, odds are it won’t cost you the job if you’re highly qualified in their eyes.
But why risk it? A short, polite, well-written post-interview thank you can add a positive note to the impression you leave behind. It can help you stand out (and be remembered) as someone thoughtful and professional who they’d enjoy working with. Especially if you take the time to make it a good one! [Read more…]