Interview
Thank You Letter
RECAP THE INTERVIEW Immediately after the interview, start the follow-up procedure. Answer these questions:
• Whom did you meet? (names and titles)
• What does the job entail?
• What are the first projects, the biggest challenges?
• Why can you do the job?
• What aspects of the interview went well? Why?
• What aspects of the interview went poorly? Why?
• What is the agreed-upon next step?
• Where is the employer in they hiring cycle, when will a decision be made?
• What was said during the last few minutes of the interview?
Probably the most difficult—and most important– thing to do is to objectively analyze what aspects of the interview went poorly.
A person does not get offered a job based solely on strengths, and those would will be easy enough to answer. On the con-
trary, many people get new jobs based on their relative lack of negatives as compared with the other applicants. So it is man-
datory that you look for and recognize any negatives from your performance. That is the only way you will have an opportunity
to package and overcome those negatives in your follow-up procedure and during subsequent interviews.
The next step is to write the follow-up letter or e-mail to the interviewer to acknowledge the meeting and to keep you fresh in
his or her mind. Sending a follow-up letter also shows that you are both appreciative and organized, and it refreshes the
urgency of your candidacy. But remember that a canned follow-up form letter could hurt your chances.
COMPOSE THE LETTER Write a follow-up letter to be sent as an e-mail or as a traditional letter. The follow-up should
make four points clear to the employer:
• You paid attention to what was being said.
• You understand the job and can do it.
• You are excited about the job, can do it, and want it.
• You have the experience to contribute to those first major projects.
USE THE RIGHT WORDS AND PHRASES IN YOUR LETTER Here are some you might want to use:
• “Upon reflection,” or “Having thought about our meeting . . .”
• Recognize— “I recognize the importance of . . .”
• Listen— “Listening to the points you made . . .”
• Motivation— Let the interviewer catch your enthusiasm. It is very effective, especially as your letter will arrive while other
applicants are nervously sweating their way through the interview.
• Impressed— Let the interviewer know you were impressed with the people/product/service/facility/market/position, but
do not overdo it.
• Challenge— Show that you feel you would be challenged to do your best work in this environment.
• Confidence—There is a job to be done and a challenge to be met. Let the interviewer know you are confident of doing both
well.
• Interest— If you want the job (or next interview), say so. At this stage, the company is buying and you are selling. Ask for
the job in a positive and enthusiastic manner
• Appreciation— As a courtesy and mark of professional manners, you must express appreciation for the time the interviewer
took out of his or her busy schedule.
MENTION THE NAMES OF THE PEOPLE YOU MET at the interview whenever possible and appropriate. Draw
attention to one of the topics that was of general interest to the interviewers.
ADDRESS THE FOLLOW-UP LETTER to the main interviewer. Send a copy to personnel with a note of thanks as a
courtesy.
DON’T WRITE TOO MUCH. Keep it short—less than one page—and don’t make any wild claims that might not withstand
close scrutiny.