TIP: Send a follow-up thank you note!

So you just had an interview.  It went well, from what you could tell.  They have told you that they will let you know in the next few days if you are going to receive an offer.  What should you do in the meantime?

I recently heard from a student that her "mind was blown" when she heard from a friend that she should send a thank-you note after each interview.  She asked me if this was true - yes, I told her.  You should always send a thank-you note after each interview!

In fact, you should send it within 24-48 hours of that interview.  While it is not often the deal-breaker (or deal-grabber) for many employers, it can make a huge difference and in general is a great practice.  Here's why:

• It shows them you are very interested in their position - so interested that you will take the extra few minutes it takes to type up an e-mail and send it to them.
• You can ask questions you forgot to ask in your interview.  Maybe they didn't tell you when you'd hear from them - now is the time to ask.
• You can bring up things about yourself that you forgot to bring up in the interview, or clarify things you feel you didn't explain as well as you would have liked.
• You can re-emphasize how much of a good fit you are for the position.
• You can remind them of who you are - and what sets you apart from the rest of the candidates.
• And finally, who doesn't like getting a thank-you note?

Thank you letters can be in e-mail or snail mail form, but most employers prefer e-mails as it's quick and convenient for them, and you can be sure that they received it.  They should be short/concise, but tailored directly to that interviewer and your conversation with them about their position.  If you interviewed with more than one person, send each of them separate and somewhat different thank-you notes.  They will appreciate it!

As with any form of written communication, double-check everything for spelling or grammatical errors, or typos before sending.  And be sure you have their name spelled correctly, along with their e-mail address.  Then click "send."

You may or may not hear back from them in regards to your note, though it's usually not a bad thing if they respond.  I recommend even sending thank-you notes to employers that you are not that interested in - you want to leave a lasting impression on them of professionalism.  These little notes do the trick!