Monday, December 23, 2013

Write A Thank You Card After An Interview

Write a Thank You Card After an Interview


A thank you note sent to a potential employer after an interview shows that you are interested in the job. It also shows that you value the time the person spent on you and that you are a go-getter ready to work your way up. An effective thank you card must follow a few rules to have the biggest impact.


Instructions


1. Choose a plain, simple card. You can buy a white cardboard card ready to print at home, or you can choose one with a printed image on the front. If you opt for the second choice, buy a simple card without any writing inside. Avoid overly cute images, funny sayings and notes that are too informal.


2. Address the thank you card to the person you had the interview with. If you don't know his exact name, find out. Taking a business card with you at the time of the interview will solve this problem, but if it's too late for that, call the company and find out the details over the phone. Get the spelling of the name correct as well.


3. Do your homework. After you have thanked the interviewer for his time, say something about the company. Let the person know that you did your research by including a sentence to the effect of "I know your company values employees with international experience, especially since your merge with X Global, which is why my travel experience would be a great asset." You can also mention how the company has grown in a specific area and what you can contribute to increase that growth.


4. Sell yourself again. Restate why you're a good candidate for the job, how much you want the position and what you can bring to the company. Do so in just a few words, rather than going into a bullet list of how amazing you are or how much you need the job. Be succinct and to the point. If you neglected to mention something in the interview, address it here.


5. Keep the note short. This is not the time to go into a detailed resume or a list of reasons why you're the perfect candidate for the job. That should have been done in the interview. Instead, keep the letter simple. The purpose of it is to make the employer remember you. It also shows respect, attention to detail and a genuine interest for the position.


6. Close the note asking the employer to contact you with any additional questions. This keeps the door open for future contact, even if you're not offered a position right away.