While the pressure of doing well in your job interview may be over, there's still work to be done. Following each job interview, always send a thank-you note. Not sending one can cost you. But at the same time, sending one that you don't put much thought into can backfire as well.
While the follow-up thank-you note is not the defining factor of whether you will get the job, if written effectively, it does help maintain your standing as an impressive candidate for the position.
There are plenty of tips on how to write a good follow-up thank-you note. Here, we'll focus on signs your thank-you note isn't ready to be sent to a potential employer—yet!
1. You Didn't Check The Small Details
Yes, they may be small details, but one little mistake is enough to hurt your chances of landing the job.
Check your thank-you note for any misspellings or grammatical errors, and make sure you address it to the correct person. The last thing you want to do is misspell someone's name. Like your resume, your thank-you note requires an extra pair of eyes for proofreading.
2. Your Note Feels Generic
Bigstock"Thank you for the meeting! It was a pleasure."
Of course it was! Just about every other person who's been interviewed will say the same.
Your thank-you note needs to help you differentiate yourself from all other job applicants. Reflect back on the job interview and highlight a particular point for your message where you can express genuine interest in working for the company and with those you met at the interview.
Avoiding coming off as generic in your thank-you note also means you're customizing your message for each individual you met with. Never send out the same note because it may be shared between the hiring manager, department head, and other individuals you shook hands with at the company.
3. You Didn't Keep It Succinct
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A follow-up thank-you note is not like writing to a pen pal. Keep the message professional and succinct. Highlight a specific point in the interview that can serve as your basis for communicating your interest.
The follow-up thank-you note should ultimately help you build a platform for continued communication with the employer throughout the entirety of the hiring process.
4. You Didn't Get Right To It
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If an entire week has passed since the job interview and you're just getting to sending the follow-up thank-you note, you're telling the employer you don't care much for the job.
It's always advised to send the message as soon as possible—within 24 hours of the interview. The sooner that follow-up thank-you note reaches their inbox, the more excited you'll seem about the job opportunity.
As you craft your follow-up thank-you note, be sure you're not making any of the mistakes above. Send a message that is unique and effective to help keep you in the running!
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This article was originally published at an earlier date.
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