Interview Etiquette: Write a Perfect Thank You Note

[Special thanks to intern Ceara Napolitano for contributing to this post.] After an interview, you may feel that your work impressing a potential employer is done. But you still need to follow up to stand out.
 

Read below to get helpful tips for post-interview follow-up success.

• Get names and contact info for your interviewer(s). Determine first and last names and email addresses for your interviewers. Don't be shy to ask them to repeat themselves or to take notes during introductions--you want to make sure to follow up with the right people later.
• Send an email within 24 hours of your interview. Always follow up with an email after interviewing. Don't send it from the parking lot (you want your interviewer to know you spent time crafting your message and absorbing info from the interview) but do send it within a day.
  Bonus Tip: Draft your note immediately following your interview so that the details of it are fresh in your mind.
• Express sincere thanks to your interviewer for taking the time to interview you. Be sure to include "thank you" in your thank you note! Let your interviewer know you appreciated his/her time and insight into the position and company. If he/she was particularly flexible, helpful or friendly, be sure to note it!
• Reiterate your interest in the position and restate your professional pitch based on the information you learned. Don't think of your note as "thanks" only; think of it as another opportunity to promote yourself for the position at hand. What did you learn at the interview that you didn't know before? Maybe you saw how bustling and cheerful the workspace looked, heard about a new project or key focus for your role, or learned that you went to the same university as your interviewer or potential boss. Take these details and build a newer, better case for why you would be a great fit.
  Bonus Tip: Keep your note short and sweet. While a thank you/follow-up note can be similar to a cover letter, it doesn't need to be as lengthy (a few paragraphs at most).
• Consider using snail mail. Sending a second, snail mail thank you note after an interview can make a double-impression! Use professional stationary (blank thank you notes come in packs of 10 - 20 at any drug store) and briefly restate the points from your email. A traditional thank you note reminds an interviewer about your candidacy a few days after your email when it arrives in the mail.

Questions about thank you notes, interviewing etiquette or the hiring process? Career Services helps with one-on-one appointments and helpful resources. Call our office at 512.245.2645 or visit www.careerservices.txstate.edu for more information.