Despite what some prospective candidates think, job interviews are longer than the hour-long conversation you have with the hiring manager. Though acing the interview itself is an important part of getting hired, one of the key ways to land a job comes afterward: sending thank you cards. Here are eight tips for writing your post-interview business thank you cards:
1. Write it yourself
It’s considered good etiquette to send a quick thank you email a few hours after the interview followed by a longer snail-mail card. While typed thank you cards are appropriate for the snail-mail version, hand-written notes are a great way to say thank you because they have the added benefit of setting you apart from other candidates. Either way, print it on personalized stationery that looks formal and professional.
2. Use your interview notes
Your card should have a few basics, including an overview of some reasons you’d be great for the position and your sincere gratitude for the opportunity to be considered. Just after the interview, find a private place to sit and jot down a few of the important things about your experience and the position that you and your interviewer discussed. Incorporate these into the letter, and even try to include something personal that your interviewer mentioned during small talk (but keep your language professional).
3. Be succinct
Thank you cards should be brief and to the point – no more than two paragraphs. To help you say clearly and succinctly what you need to in the letter, first write down a few key bullet points. That way you’ll be less likely to digress or be overly wordy.
4. Make it customized to the business
When writing a cover letter to apply for a position, it can be hard to know the level of formality or tone that’s expected. So, when writing a thank you card after meeting the hiring manager and seeing the office, use that information to customize the note to the office culture. An interview with a more casual tech start-up may call for a less formal follow-up.
5. Be confident
Treat post-interview business thank you cards as though you’ve already gotten the job. Rather than saying things like “I should have clarified this” or “I believe I’m a good fit for this position,” thank the interviewer for the amazing opportunity, restate the important points about your experience and qualifications, and say “I look forward to hearing back.”
6. Send it ASAP
Since it takes a couple of days for a letter to be delivered, try to write and send your thank you later that same day. That way you’ll still be fresh in the hiring manager’s mind when he or she receives the thank you card.
7. Don’t forget contact information
Even if you’re positive the hiring manager or whomever you interviewed with has your contact information, include your email and phone number again just to be safe. That way, if they do plan on getting in touch with you, your information will be simple to find. Business cards make a great addition to thank you notes because they provide your contact information and look professional.
8. Thank multiple people
If you spoke with multiple people during your interview, it’s a good idea to send thank you emails and follow-up cards to each one individually. You should also send a thank you to anyone who may have helped you get the interview. If you didn’t land the opportunity by yourself, showing gratitude to anyone who helped you is not only polite, it’s also a great way to solidify their good impression of you.