Oct

Want that job? You have to leave a good impression after that interview.

You finally landed an interview for your dream job. You practiced the interview questions several times in the mirror and with a friend to make sure you have all of your answers down pat. You finally went on the interview and you think you did well. At this point, many times job seekers think the interview process is over, but it’s not.

To make yourself memorable from the hundreds of other applicants, concluding the job interview process involves giving a “thank you” letter to the interviewer. Ideally, the letter should be emailed within 24 hours of the interview. If you decide to write and send the letter through the mail, it should be within three days of the interview.

The intent of the letter is to express your appreciation for the employer’s interest, recap your interest in the position and company, reiterate your qualifications, and mention anything you may have missed in the interview. By doing so, demonstrates professionalism and etiquette.

The letter could be typed or handwritten. It could be emailed or sent via snail mail. Typed letters sent via snail mail are more intimate than emailed thank you letters, but if your communication with a hiring manager has been through email, an emailed thank you letter is appropriate.

Usually after an interview, the interviewer will inform you of the organization’s follow up policies and/or procedures. They will mention when you can to expect to hear a decision. If you were not told or you did not ask, using your thank you letter to ask is appropriate. If a week or two has passed since the time they told you they would give you a decision, inquire about the status of the decision making process by calling or emailing the person who interviewed you.

The hiring manager could be on vacation or another person in the organization could make the hiring decision. An inquiry re-affirms your interest in the position and may facilitate a faster decision. In the inquiry, be sure to include the name of the person who interviewed you, the date, and location of the job interview, and the position in which you applied.

After you send a thank you letter and you still have not heard anything after a couple weeks, call to find out the status. If they selected another applicant for the position, don’t get discouraged. Pick up and move onto the next job interview.