During a recent career strategy consultation with a job seeker, I was talking about the proper etiquette of how to follow up after a job interview. This job seeker asked me if it was necessary to send a thank-you note. She said that she found advice across the Web that said that sending thank-you notes or emails, particularly to recruiters, was fruitless. I told her what I will tell you now: Alwayssend a thank-you note after an interview.
If we’ve learned anything since the invention of the Internet, it’s that you can’t trust everything you read. That’s especially true when it comes to job search, a topic where everyone has an opinion.
The thank-you note is a key part of your competitive edge. (It’s also just a nice thing to do and it would make your mother proud to know you have manners.) Following up after a job interview is crucial to keep yourself top of mind with the hiring manager. It also exemplifies your level of professionalism. Like your résumé, the thank-you note is another marketing tool to remind the interviewer why you’re the best candidate for the job. Without it, you could be forgotten.
Journalist use “the six W’s” to guide their stories. Actually, they’re five W’s and one H. Read below to find out how you should use these six W’s when preparing your thank-you note: