The Art of the Thank You

I recently had a conversation with a friend who was asking for advice on writing a thank-you note after an interview. "What is the correct way of doing thank-you notes today?" Here is my advice as both a current executive recruiter and a former human resource manager:

Do you write a thank-you note? YES!! The method of delivery and style may have changed, but the concept still exists.

Thank-you notes give you an opportunity to set yourself apart, re-confirm your interest in the position and employer, show your attention to detail and respect for protocol and process, and one more (or last) chance to show off your communication skills.

That being said, thank-you notes are not to be epics. Short, to the point, and sent via email is commonly today's accepted method.

An individual thank-you email should be sent directly to the position's immediate boss, and to the individual who arranged and/or conducted a good part of the interview (likely the HR Manager). Sometimes this is one and the same person. Other thank-you notes should be sent to everyone who was involved in the interview process, although this can be difficult if you did not receive email addresses from the entire group.

If you were involved in a panel style interview, it is acceptable to send one thank-you in a group email - except for the position's boss and/or the HR Manager or other key personnel that had one-on-one contact with you.

Back to keeping it short - a few sentences will do. Thank them for their time, for the opportunity and express that you are very interested in the job. One to two sentences that offers more support for what you can do is acceptable. Something like: "I feel that my experience managing a high speed assembly operation in a lean manufacturing environment will lend itself well to your organization..." If sending to a group, stick to the basic thanks and the fact that you would welcome the opportunity to join their organization. Do include something you may have learned about the organization that impressed you.

The biggest part of the thank-you process -- Don't forget to spell check and proof, then proof again! Sending an email with spelling or grammar errors will end your chance to secure an offer.

Here are a few other opinions and resources:

No, Thank YOU!

The Great Thank You Note Debate

Give Thanks with an Appreciative Note

Free Sample Thank You Note Book from Ultimate Resumes