At the end of an interview, it is normal to thank the interviewer for their time. In fact, if you don't, your lack of manners could be a black mark against you. While saying a simple thank you is customary, simply giving a verbal “Thanks” on your way out the door is not going to cut it if you want to stand out.
To go beyond the basics, there are a few other steps you can take to show you are willing to go the extra mile and are an eager candidate who will be a good team member. Here are some areas to consider when creating a thank-you message.
Sending a handwritten thank-you note to each person who interviewed you.
Emailed thank-you notes have become so common that many people are surprised and happy to receive a handwritten note. A handwritten note shows you really took the time to appreciate the effort made by hiring managers. The one tricky part of this comes with the timing. You want to make sure the hiring manager receives the note before they make the decision. Be prepared before your interview to send it out ASAP.
Including unique information in the thank-you note.
When you send a thank-you note, you want to make a stronger connection. If you learned personal information or shared common interests with the person who interviewed you, be sure to reference those points in the thank-you note so you can deepen your budding professional relationship. Making the message unique will show you didn’t write the note before the interview. That personal touch could make a real impression on the hiring manager and their team.
By being polite and taking time to personally thank the people who interviewed you for their efforts, you continue to build upon the favorable impression you hopefully made at the interview. You also put your name top of mind of those who are doing the hiring, which will hopefully prompt them to take another look at you. They may start to see you as a real employee and team member instead of just a job candidate.
Of course, you need to get an interview at a great company first in order to put these ideas into practice. Technology Partners can provide you with help landing interviews at top IT companies where you'd love to work. Give us a call today at 877-636-1331 or contact us online to find out more about how we can help.
