|
Will you
get hired just because you sent a thank you letter?
No, likely not. Could it help your candidacy?
Absolutely.
The
strength of your candidacy is made up of many
different data points. Your ability to do the job.
Your professional background. Your education and
credentials. Whether you were an applicant,
headhunted, or referred to the search. How well you
did in the interview. How much they see you fitting
in the organization. Your references. Some, of
course, are more important than others, but the more
points you have on your side, the stronger your
candidacy.
The best
way to think of the follow-up or thank you letter is
as an opportunity for one more data point. And, the
great thing is, while all candidates will be
measured on most of the above criteria, sending a
follow-up letter is not required. Therefore, if you
do it, and do it well, you are seizing an
opportunity to make an additional impression, an
opportunity that other candidates may not utilize.
And,
let's not forget that a follow-up is the
professional thing to do. More than anything, your
letter is demonstrating that you are a polished
professional. That can't hurt.
A
follow-up letter should thank the hiring manager for
their time and the opportunity to meet. It should
briefly reiterate your interest in the position
(assuming, of course, you are still interested).
These are the basics.
Taking it
a step further, it can be smart to call attention to
a shared point of interest or high point that
occurred during the interview. "I was delighted to
hear first-hand about your process improvement
initiatives." You could make a point or two
reiterating the fit between your experience and
their need. If, during the interview, you did not do
well on a specific question, but strongly feel you
have the relevant background and skills, you might
consider mentioning it in the note. "I don't feel I
gave you a complete response to this question. In
fact, my background is strong in this area, as
evidenced by ______. I would be delighted to
elaborate if you would like to discuss."
However,
in most cases, keep it short and sweet. The point is
to demonstrate your professionalism, be polite, and
remind them of who you are.
A
follow-up letter is also an important touch with
search firms, in particular when they have agreed to
meet you without reference to a specific opening.
Putting it simply, search firms favour candidates
they like. Recognizing their busy schedule and
thanking them for their time and consideration, and
perhaps advice, is polite, professional and a smart
thing to do.
For
informational interviews, and referred networking
meetings where the other party is doing you a favour
by speaking with you, it is doubly important to
follow-up.
There are
different opinions on whether you should send a
hand-written thank you card, a letter, or an email.
For the record, I favour the hand-written note. To
me, it is a classy and personal touch. However,
there is nothing wrong with a letter. In some
circumstances, like time constraint, or the work
style of the people you are meeting, an email may
suffice.
More
important than how is when. Timing is everything!
Ideally, you should sit down to write and mail your
letter within 24 hours of the interview. 48 hours at
the outside. (Which means to be sure to have
stationary and a stamp on hand.) A neat trick, if
you can, is to allow yourself some time immediately
after the interview and before you return home or to
your office to write and mail the note. The efficacy
of the follow-up letter gesture diminishes rapidly
the longer it takes for the hiring manager to
receive it.
That's
it. Writing a follow-up letter or note is a smart
job search practice.
Ian
Christie runs a leading career coaching and career
management service. His career advice is published
on Monster.com and other sites regularly. Visit
BoldCareer for resume writing, job search and career
management services.
|
