Think About “Thank You” Before the Interview

In the flurry of pre-interview preparation, it’s easy to dismiss the idea of making plans for what comes next. While you’re mid-interview prep, it may seem like there will never be a “next”—for all you know, you could be preparing forever, like some kind of job market Groundhog Day. Though it may seem impossible, there will be a time when your interview is over and you’re waiting to hear back, wondering why the whole process has to take so long.

During this time, you may decide to clean your whole house, pace back and forth, or undertake a new project in hopes that any of the above will take your mind off what you’re really doing, which is waiting.

If this post-interview reality seems inevitable, take heart—it isn’t! You have plenty to keep you occupied after your interview is over. But the time to begin is before the interview even takes place.

Prior to your interview, take the time to make a post-interview action plan. This plan will help you organize your questions for the end of your interview, the information you will need for your thank-you notes, and a projected follow-up timeline.

In your action plan document, create a space for:

1. The company name (in case you are juggling more than one interview)
2. The date of your interview (it’s good to keep clear records for your timeline)
3. Your interviewers’ names (first and last)
4. The projected job notification date (this will be one of your questions at the end of the interview, so you know when it’s appropriate to follow up)
5. What went well during the interview
6. Moments where you missed the mark
7. What you’re most excited about when you think about the job

Thank-you notes are an essential part of the hiring process. They are an indication of manners, as well as your desire for the job. Failure to write a thank-you note could indicate that you aren’t really interested in the job, that you have poor follow-through, or that you would make a less-than-desirable colleague. When you thank an individual on your interview committee, you aren’t only thanking them for their time—you’re also reminding them of the reasons they should want you on their team.

While a thank-you note is not a place to re-hash your entire interview in detail, it is a place to address the following:

• Your gratitude for their time and the opportunity
• The high points (places where you matched up well in terms of goals and plans for the company)
• The missteps (quickly clarify any areas that felt shaky)
• Your potential value as a colleague and an employee
• The fact that you are looking forward to hearing from them soon

While these key components are a basic outline for any thank-you note, you should make sure to personalize your correspondence for each job and interviewer. Yes, this will take longer than sending out a generalized thank-you note, but it will make a much better impression because it will be specific.

Depending on the company, you may prefer to send a thank-you email instead of a traditional thank-you note. Email is faster, and it will get there immediately, which is important if the job is highly competitive. However, if the company is smaller and/or more traditional, a neatly handwritten thank-you note would not go amiss. Just make sure you write and correct a draft on a different sheet of paper before copying the text onto stationery. As long as you follow the outline and remember the following, your thank you note will be pitch perfect:

Make it personal: Send one to each person on the committee, don’t just send one to the group (make sure you check spellings and get everyone right).

Make it specific: This is where those notes come in handy. Reference specific moments from your interview conversation rather than general impressions.

Make it professional: Be sincere, but don’t use casual language. Even if you’re sending a follow-up email, keep the same formality you’d use in a letter (begin with Dear Interviewer, end with Sincerely, Job Seeker). If you’re handwriting your note, make sure to check for spelling and grammar before you write the final copy on your nice paper.

Send your note or email as soon as possible, and then reexamine your follow-up plan. Put the projected job notification date on your calendar. If that day passes without a notification, then you are free to ask if there is any new information.

If the process is running long, periodic check-ins are permitted as long as you aren’t pestering (once a month is periodic, once a day is pestering). When you do contact the company, make sure you’re always bringing something to the table—an article that relates to a prior conversation, or a development that might help your case.