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If you have applied for a job or internship and gone through the interview process, you may feel like your part is done and that it is now up to the company’s human resources to take the next step. Actually, you have one more step to take before the decision is out of your hands—writing the thank you note.
A thank you note is an essential step in the job and internship search process. By taking the time to pen a genuinely grateful message, the company will know that you care about the position and truly want to join their team. The thank you note should not be just thrown together, however. You must do it right to make it count.
Thank you card vs.
E-mail
With more and more communication being conducted via e-mail, it is tempting to merely compose a quick e-mail to send off to the company’s contact person. If time is a serious issue, an e-mail thank you is acceptable, but it is never preferable. Invest in a pack of simple, professional thank you notes that you can mail to the interviewer. Handwritten notes and cards may seem old-fashioned, but employers will appreciate the time you took to send the message. An e-mail says that you cared enough to say thank you, while a thank you card says that you cared enough to set you apart from the rest.
What to say
Actually writing the thank you does not take eloquent phrases or a thesaurus. Keep the message simple and to the point. Express your gratitude for the interviewer’s time during his or her busy work day. Reference something from the interview such as, “I enjoyed learning about your department’s goals and where your company is headed.” Make sure to state how excited you are about the work opportunity and mention a date, possibly a week out, when you will call to check on the status of the position. End the message with “sincerely” and then your name. Keep the tone of the paragraph professional but not over the top.
Spelling Counts
Just as companies pay attention to your writing on a application, they will also note your spelling and grammar usage in your thank you card. Consider everything you send to the company, including e-mail correspondence, as a representation of you as a future employee. Companies do not want to hire someone who misspells simple words or does not know the difference between “to” and “too.” Read over your message multiple times and rewrite the note if necessary. This will prevent you from making any silly mistakes.
Be genuine
The idea behind a thank you note is to set you apart from the other applicants. Your personality should shine through your message and show the interviewer that you genuinely want the position and that you feel you could succeed at the company. Let your interest in the position shine through your thank you card, and the person on the receiving end will always remember that you took an extra step to stand out.