Tuesday’s Tip: Sending a Thank You Letter

I am surprised by how few job seekers actually send a Thank You Letter to those that were involved in the Hiring Process. It seems like everyone you ask "claims" to send them, but in actuality, the Hiring Managers I talk to receive them less than 50% of the time. So if you are one of the few that do send them, take a look at these tips below to see if you can improve on them. If you don't send them, you are missing an opportunity to "break a tie" or sway the Hiring Manager in a different direction.

Top Ten Tips:

1) Acknowledge their time and consideration of you as a candidate

2) Address important qualifications that did not come up in the interview

3) You want to remain at the top of their mind. You don't want the "out of sight, out of mind" disease.

4) Demonstrate to them your follow-up skills

5) Show them that you understand the requirements of the job and can accomplish them better than anyone else

6) Show excitement and enthusiasm for the new role

7) Re-explain anything that you thought about later and wish you had answered differently. Say, "I further thought about your question regarding ____________, and after further analysis, I would also _______________."

8) Add the "remember me" touch. During the ice breaker portion, did you pick up on anything that is important to them? Did you notice the football signed by Walter Payton and discuss this during the interview? If so, add a statement in the Thank You Letter that shows you remembered what is important to them. It can be as simple as "Go Bears" at the end of the letter.

9) Attach an "accomplishments document" or a 30-60-90 day plan on how you would spend your first few months on the job to the E-mail that contains your Thank You Letter - note: the Thank You should be in the body of an E-mail, and should be sent in 12 hours or less from the interview. If you want to follow up with a hand written Thank You, that would also look impressive, but the decision on your candidacy might already have been made by the time the snail mail letter arrives. If you go this route, hand deliver it instead.

10) Want to really stand out? Consider sending a video Thank You via the website: http://mailvu.com