Thank You Notes

The Importance of Thank-You Notes

----------------------------------------------------------

Many of you have been asking us about the importance of sending thank-you notes after an interview.

Consider this: One statistic shows that eighty-five to ninety percent of all interviewees that send thank-you notes get hired. So, suffice it to say, they are definitely important.

In order to write your thank-you note effectively, you need to think about a few things. First, you need to have your interviewer's name, title, and email or snail mail address. The best way to do this is to ask. We receive questions asking advice on where to send a thank-you note.

Here's the best way to get everything you need. Right after introductions are exchanged, you will be asked to take a seat and will be welcomed by your interviewer(s). At that point, before the interview begins, take out your pen and organizer and ask for the correct spelling of the interviewer's name and contact information. If there is more than one, ask for all names. This will usually prompt the interviewer(s) to exchange business cards with you, which will have all of the information you need. If you are not able to ask for the information at the start of the interview, it also appropriate to wait until the end when you are given time to ask questions.

Immediately after the interview, you should send by regular mail a short note thanking the interviewer for his or her time, how sincere you are about the job, and what you can contribute to the company. The final sentence should thank the interviewer again and say that you hope be contacted soon. The note should be short, two or three sentences maximum, or it won't be read.

In summary, thank-you letters are extremely important;