Question from a REEP Blog Reader:
Hi Marie. I recently had a job interview with a great networking connection. Unfortunately, I forgot to send my customary thank you note on time. The interview took place a week ago. I still haven’t heard from anyone and I was wondering if it’s too late to send an email. If it is, is there another way I can go about to express my thanks? Should I mail a card instead? What do you recommend?
Marie’s Answer:
My strongest advice following a solid networking interview is to follow up immediately (within 24 hours) with an email thanking the person for the time and insights they so generously offered.
If it was a particularly special interview, I would then follow the email with a personal note thanking them once again. Handwritten notes these days are rare, and they really do set you off as unique, thoughtful. The same is true, incidentally, for follow ups to actual job interviews.
As to what to do after NOT responding for about a week, I would go immediately to the handwritten note. The individual can blame the USPS or realize that you needed more time to get that done, and all should be forgiven.
I recently represented the 84 principals in my district for a panel interview to review applications and conduct interviews for a director level position. Only two of the candidates out of the eleven brought before the panel took the time to write a thank you note to the interview committee: one via e-mail and the other by handwritten note. In the end, the personal note won our vote as the top candidate….so there is something important in what Marie has said! The personal content of the message was critical, but the effort of putting it in handwritten form made the difference.
Marie is right with her advice. It is rare to get handwritten notes these days. It’s a great gesture if you’re looking to be hired for a position. It may not guarantee you the job, but it definitely adds a plus to what you’ve already put forth in the interview. It could also be the determining factor between you and another candidate like S. Brenz mentioned.
On the other hand, as administrators, we need to make sure we let the candidates know that they have NOT gotten the position! Communication on both sides is vital to the employment process.
When we have openings, dozens of emails with resumes come in. After the interview, you can never go wrong with a hand-written note. Including a specific highlight one learned in the interview is a good idea as well. It does not guarantee the job, but it does set the applicant apart…. in a world of quick communication.