Don’t Forget The Thank You Note

How To Write A Thank You Note

Congratulations! You’ve made it through your interview and you deserve to take a break and relax after all that prep work. Before you put those feet up, remember that follow-up is key and it’s important to send your interviewer(s) a thank you note.

Is It Really That Important?

Over the years, I have served on several search committees and this is a detail that is expected from candidates. It doesn’t have to be too long, but it should be timely and free from errors. You will stand out for the wrong reasons if you don’t send one.

You may ask why is it such a big deal. First, employers do not have much to go on during the interview. Anyone can say they are good communicators or pay attention to details, but showing you are those things makes all the difference. A thank you note demonstrates your interest in the position and is a sign of respect, reflecting that you value the time of the interviewers. Writing a thank you note is also another opportunity to remind the recruiter or hiring committee why you would be a good fit for that company.

Timing Is Everything!

I’m often asked if it’s acceptable to email a thank you. Yes, emailing a thank you note is fine and allows you to send the note within 24 hours of the interview. If you are one of the last people to interview and the hiring committee will make a decision soon, time is of the essence so emailing a thank you note makes sense. For positions I have really wanted, I have also sent a handwritten note as well. Just be sure to change the message slightly so it’s not the exact same thing. Handwritten notes are not as common these days, so it can help you stand out for the right reasons.

Should I Include All The Interviewers?

Ideally, yes you would send a thank you to each person asking you questions. During the interview, see if you can get business cards of those who interview you or a list of names and titles of the people you meet if they do not have cards available. The person who scheduled the interview should have this.

At the very least, email a thank you to the main contact who scheduled the interview with you. I once had a 6 hour interview with 14 people and I sent thank yous to each one. It took a few hours, but I believe it was one of the factors that helped me land the job.

What To Write

A thank you note can be brief with only 5-6 sentences. Address the person by their last name (Dr. X or Mr./Ms. Y) and then write a line thanking them for taking time from their busy schedule to meet with you about the ______________ role. Mention how you enjoyed hearing about the department and learning more about the hospital. Be sure to include a specific detail you discussed in your interview. Finally, briefly talk about why you are interested in the role and how it aligns with your skills (mention the most relevant). For example, “During my program, the ultrasound rotation stood out as my favorite and I had the opportunity to assist with numerous prenatal ultrasounds. I feel this experience has provided me a solid foundation to thrive in the Gynecology/Obstetrics department of ABC Hospital.”

Tips And Tricks

Write your thank yous in Microsoft Word or Pages first so you can spell check and won’t be too close to the send email button while in the draft phase. Then, you can either cut and paste into emails or hand write the text after you have it perfected.

When writing notes to multiple interviewers, I start with about three versions of the thank you note and rotate these among the interviewers so they are not all starting with the same sentence. Then, add another level of personalization to each by mentioning something you spoke to that particular person about during the interview. After I’m finished with an interview, I will jot a few notes down about what I discussed and that helps with the thank you writing.

For hand written thank yous, I will buy one of those small boxes of thank you notes you can find at the grocery store, a drug store, or any hallmark or office supply place. I like the small notes because there’s less space to write, so 4-6 sentences will fill up the page. Short and sweet!

Good luck! After writing a Thank You Note, you are one step closer to landing that dream role.