How To Write The Perfect Post-Interview Thank You Note

Dear Liz,

I am excited! I just had a great job interview. The job seems perfect for me. The manager "Pam" and I really hit it off. How should I follow up? I want to keep the good energy going!

Thanks Liz!

Yours,

Donna

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Dear Donna,

First, make yourself a cup of tea or whatever you like to drink. Relax. Put your feet up. You deserve a big pat on the back!

Next, get out your journal or any blank notebook and write down your impressions of the interview. Write about the questions Pam asked you and the topics you and she spoke about. Write the questions you asked her. Write your impressions of the work facility, other people you met during the interview and anything else that springs to mind. Get it all on paper so you don't forget any details!

When you're calm and ready, begin to compose your post-interview thank you notes. I recommend that you send both a quick, handwritten note and a longer email follow-up message.

Let's approach the handwritten note first. You can pick up a pack of eight or ten simple fold-over note cards at any general merchandise store (like Target or Walmart) or any stationery store. There isn't a lot of room to write on those cards, so your handwritten note will be short and sweet.

You'll write on the inside surface, below the fold. You don't need to say much. You will  simply thank Pam for her time, like this:

Dear Pam,

Thanks for chatting with me about the Marketing Coordinator role earlier this week. I especially appreciated your colorful description of the manufacturing process for your Angry Choco-Mints. I'm excited to continue the conversation. Thanks again for your time!

Yours,

Donna Reed

Get your handwritten thank-you note in the mail within two or three days after the interview.

When you have a little more time to think and reflect, you'll compose a more in-depth, followup email message.

Your handwritten thank-you note had three goals:

1. To remind Pam that she met you and that the meeting was fantastic. No matter how exciting the interview was for you or how excited Pam seemed to be during that conversation, you still have to remind Pam that it happened. People are busy. She might have gotten called into a meeting about some crisis within three minutes after you left the building. You have to remind her that you exist and that during your interview, she was enthusiastic about bringing you on board.

2. To remind her of you specifically — because undoubtedly she met (or will meet) numerous applicants for the job. That's why you will mention one specific topic that Pam will not have discussed with every candidate — in your case, her description of the process for making Angry Choco-Mints. That will remind Pam who you are, because she may easily have forgotten the interview already.

3. Finally, your handwritten thank-you note reinforces your brand as a thoughtful, polite person who knows how to interact with people in social/business situations.

Now you get to show your brain working at a higher level, in your lengthier email follow-up message!

You have the same goals this time around, but now you have two additional goals:

1. Your email followup message to Pam will continue the conversation you and Pam started in person, by sharing your understanding of one or more of the challenges Pam and her team are facing, and

2. Your email followup message will share one quick story about a time when you solved a similar problem in a past job (or at school, or in a volunteer assignment).

That's a lot of punch to pack in one message, but you are more than up to the task! Here's an example:

Dear Pam,

Thanks again for a terrific conversation last Wednesday about your Marketing Coordinator role. Here's what I heard in our meeting:

1. I heard that Angry Chocolates is on track to grow by 15-18% again in 2018 and that you will launch three major new products to hit that goal.

2. I heard that your distributor partners and merchants want and need more marketing support from Angry Chocolates, including help with co-op advertising, store-level events and promotions.

3. I heard that you need someone in the Marketing Coordinator role who can walk in and start building relationships inside and outside of the company right away, as well as organizing files and product literature, updating the customer database and freeing your team members up to handle other projects.

When I was at Wiggly Devices, I faced a similar situation: rapid growth and customer demands that were spiraling out of control.

I rebuilt our product literature library and created all new sales aids for our sales team, cleaned up the customer database and launched our first customer webinar series — and I'm excited to do the same and more for Angry Chocolates to help you keep growing in 2018!

Looking forward to our next talk —

Yours,

Donna Reed

When I talk to hiring managers around the world, they all have the same complaint.

They say "Job applicants are so eager to tell me about themselves that they don't listen. I am looking for someone who can pay attention in a job interview, and focus on what I'm saying. When someone lets me know that they really heard me, and they really understand what the job entails and what I'm looking for, that is the person I'm going to hire!"

Let Pam know you heard her, loud and clear. Take your time composing a terrific email thank-you note, then make yourself a congratulatory pot of tea and remember: you rock and rule!

All the best,

Liz