The Job Seeker FAQs on Thank-You Notes

Kiss-up-ish?

Many career advisers will tell their job seeker clients to send a thank you note after having been interviewed. To address the most frequently asked questions on how and what to send in a thank-you note, the following giveaways could come in handy.

Won’t the employer think that an applicant is desperate and kiss-up-ish if s/he sends a thank-you letter?

Of course not. Rarely is an employer not pleased to receive a thank-you letter. It is considered a common way of showing politeness; a gesture of courtesy, one way to outshine the rest of the interviewees, and a way to keep your name upfront.

Will it not jeopardize the possibility of getting the job?

Not in most cases, but it could under some circumstances. So – you may ask – why take the chance? The answer: Most bosses waver between the two most recent and promising applicants. A student and an experienced officer, for example, are the final interviewees for a certain position.

However, when the boss gets a thank-you letter from the student, it made all the difference, because that simple, well mannered gesture increases the student’s chances of getting that job.

Rapport dictates format?

Can it be handwritten or should it be typewritten?

Actually, it does not matter since the important thing which really counts is consideration and the thought of doing it. Of course the letter must be tailored to your prospective company and the officer who interviewed you, thereby further demonstrating respect.

Keep in mind that if the company interviewer or the position being applied for merits a formal business letter, then do so. Mostly, a handwritten note is okay if the interviewer and the applicant have built some rapport.

Will it be okay to e-mail the thank you note?

 

First thoughts indicate that this is a big NO. However, it depends on the company’s culture because if the company’s personnel use e-mail in all their communication and correspondence, then it should be acceptable. This will also apply if the company is into fast decision making when hiring applicants.

Always remember that even if e-mails fit in with the culture of the company, it’s still a better idea to follow up the email with a hard copy of your thank-you note.

So you can save yourself a lot of trouble since “anything goes” right?

Nice and neat works!

NO. On the other side of the previous story, there are prospective applicants who were almost on the verge of being hired but suddenly hit the skids after sending in sloppy, ill-fixed thank you letters, with many typographical errors and misspelled words. A part of having good communication skills is being able to write effectively. Companies do not need employees who have to be taught simple writing skills.

Will a borrowed thank-you letter do?

Yes, borrowing is one thing, but make sure to look at the letter’s basic structure. Never plagiarize the whole letter as it may be applicable to the one person but not to the other. Surely, there are employers who can distinguish a thank-you note that has been copied from another.

If it was a panel interview should thank-you letters be sent to all interviewers?

Frankly, that would be recommended since the same letter to each is as essential as sending one to all. The only thing you have to do is edit some phrases for individuality in case the interviewers bump into each other and compare the notes they received.

How soon should a thank-you note be sent?

The golden rule is to send thank you notes within 24 hours after the interview.

Will it still be okay to mail the thank-you note if the hiring decision is made sooner than when the mailed thank-you note is received?

Personalize it

Come to think of it, if the mail is too prehistoric for the hiring decision makers, then find a much speedier way: it can be sent via e-mail, fax, express delivery or personal hand delivery. In fact, if you have hand delivered the thank-you note, it can leave a great impression.

What if there’s already an offer before even sending the thank you notes?

It’s still better to send the thank-you note as this can be used to accept or decline the offer. This could also be a confirmation of your agreement and/or understanding of the offer they have given (salary, benefits, other compensation, starting date, vacations, etc.), this way any discrepancies can be straightened out before even starting the job.

Always find a way to make it as personalized as possible and try to think out of the box. You may even adapt some of what you have observed among contents of the interviewer’s office during the interview. Sending an article that you think the interviewer might be interested in is also a good suggestion. Whatever method you use, make it fast and professional.