The Thank You Letter - yes, it makes a difference.
A recent conversation I had with a new client resembled that of many I’ve had over the years. They were asking why candidates do not send ‘thank you emails’ anymore. He talked about how it’s not specific to any one business function, it may be sales, operations, HR, finance, etc. and that the ‘thank you email’ was often a deciding factor for him in who received the job offer. “When it comes down to the end and you have two candidates, they’ve already passed the tests and we are looking for something to cause one to stand out over the other.” - anonymous Hiring Manager. This is the crux of the situation: your thank you email can highlight more than you think.
How do you make sure it is effective? How can it convey so much?
When starting to write your message, keep in mind that this is someone you just spoke to. You want to start with a simple thank you, I appreciate your time, but this isn’t mass marketing so don’t write a generic message. Tailor the message so that it has meaning and demonstrates attributes that are desirable to the Hiring Manager. You should walk away from an interview with a better understanding of the position and what they are looking for. Highlight what you’ve learned in a few sentences to demonstrate that you listened and retained what you just learned. Once you have interviewed, you are now a real person and not just a resume, carry that forward by impressing upon the Hiring Manager that you are in alignment with what they are looking for. “During our conversation, I picked up that you are looking for someone to come in and do A, B, and C.” And then provide how you will be able to do just that. Prior to the interview, you only have the job description to go off of and use for preparation. Now that you’ve spoken with the source, leverage this message to show that you understand what the Hiring Manager is looking for, not just what the job description is looking for.
Was there something, maybe a topic or an off-the-cuff comment, that provided additional insight? Every sales job description has one or more lines about growing sales in the assigned territory. Ever heard that before? After the interview, you may know that is referencing a very specific customer segment or market vertical that the team is struggling with. Is there something else in your background that would give you a headstart in that particular area? The thank you email is a great opportunity to add a note or two that you may not have had an opportunity to provide during the interview.
End the note with a sincere and direct message that you want this job. This can be worded many different ways, but Hiring Managers can often be left with the same question that candidates have: Are they interested in me? After thanking them for the opportunity, furthering the relationship by making a connection or expanding upon one made during the interview, and being direct with your intentions, the Hiring Manager will have a greater sense of confidence in bringing you in.
If you’d like assistance with composing thank you emails, reach out to us, we’re happy to help!
