Sending a thank you letter to an interviewer can help close the deal on a good job interview and help set you apart from other applicants. A thank you letter helps you convey your interest in and enthusiasm for the company and the position for which you interviewed.
Try to be specific about why you are interested and how you are a good fit for the team. You may also think of a thank you letter as a chance to briefly address any issues or questions that came up during the interview that you feel you did not fully answer.
This letter is your last chance to make a positive impression on the interviewer. You will likely be one of many interviewees, so you need to set yourself apart from the other candidates to ensure that they will remember you when you leave.
In your letter, highlight a key point from your interview that you believe the interviewer will remember, and therefore remember you. If you met with more than one person, consider sending them all thank you letters, each one a bit different; you may not know exactly who in the group will be making the hiring decision. Getting a business card from each interviewer will help you remembers names and titles.
If the interviewers communicated specific needs, issues or challenges, use your thank you letter to demonstrate how you can meet those needs. Similarly, if they communicated ideal qualifications for a candidate, use your thank-you letter to outline how you meet or exceed those qualifications:
April 8, 2014
Dave Watson
Director of Hiring
Sherwin Williams
Hello Mr. Watson,
I just wanted to thank you for the time you took to interview me yesterday afternoon for the Performance Improvement Manager position at Sherwin Williams. I have thought a lot about joining the management team within your organization and I feel that my past experiences, coupled with my positive attitude and ability to solve problems in a variety of circumstances, can bring great value to Sherwin Williams.
I know how important it is for a manager to be able to adapt to situations and to address both customer and employee issues, which is why my previous experience in management will help contribute to your organization reaching strategic goals. As we discussed, my past experience as a senior management leader at Target will help me in this new role, as I analyze current practices and identify key areas where I can provide guidance and expertise to improve departmental performance exponentially. In addition to my qualifications, I feel I would fit well into the culture you have established within your organization, which, as you mentioned, emphasizes a collaborative effort approach across all departments.
Mr. Watson, I thank you again for considering me for this position. I look forward to the possibility of working with you.
Sincerely,
Suzy Shark
