Sending Thank You notes after interviews - is this outdated advice or still useful?
Useful, if done properly. Let's explore the 3 W's: Who, When, What.
Who: Each person you interview with. The recruiter, HR, hiring leader, skip level/peers, panel, etc. Anyone who will impact you moving forward in the process.
When: Within 24-48 hours of the interview. Timing is important. You will want to send it while your conversations are still fresh in their minds. You may want to wait a few days if you know the interviews are wrapping up by a specific date so that you pop yourself back up in the list.
- Example: you interview on a Monday and they advise they are finishing round 1 on Wednesday. You would then send your thank you note late Wednesday or early Thursday.
You risk not being top of mind for the next round if you send the note too late. Is there a too soon? Yes. Sending a thank you note within minutes of the interview ending. You may ask: How is that bad? Doesn't that show that you are prompt and efficient?
- Too soon shows you more as perfunctory. It will come across as a canned, prewritten note that you fired off with little thought, customization or effort. It's OK to have a template and to follow a format. This is your chance to reinforce your candidacy, make the most of it.
What: Include follow-ups, skills, and experiences that you didn't convey during the interview. Give examples that are on-point and succinct. Is there a better or additional example for a situational or behavioral question asked that you wished you gave? Did you learn something from their questions that were not in the job description? It's also a good opportunity to express your interest in the position and company.
Let's throw in a 4th W: Why.
Why: Interviews are stressful! No matter how much you prepare for them, you can be caught off-guard by a question, style of interview, interviewer's skill or personality. You and/or the interviewer can have an off-day. The thank you letter can help you recover and put yourself back on track to move forward. Even if you felt the interview went perfectly, the thank you note can help you stand out. Write one that shows why YOU are the right candidate for this position, that shows you listened during the interview, that shows you know what the role entails, and how excited you are to move forward.
Two additional thoughts to consider:
How can you stand out if everyone is sending thank you notes? By writing in your voice with your experiences and skills to address anything that came up (or didn't come up) during the interview. The interviewers can spot a canned thank you note and ones written by AI. Unless they are hiring you to train AI, they want to hear from you and see your thoughts expressed clearly in your own words.
Should you send out a thank you note if you didn't move forward? Yes, do it when you want to be considered for another position at the company or with that leader. It's a different note as it will be very brief and won't focus on examples; you'll thank them for their time, acknowledge you weren't chosen, and reiterate your desire to work there in the future. A successful note will show grace and gratitude, not desperation.
Check out prior blog posts for more on thank you notes.
