5 Tips to Capturing the Job with a Thank You Letter

July 31, 11:41 AMChicago Job Search ExaminerDoug Hoenig

"Dear
Mrs. Smith - I'd like to thank you for the opportunity to meet with
you. It was a pleasure to meet you and discuss your company and the
opportunity in greater detail. As discussed, I believe I would be a
great asset to your team based on the skills and experience we
discussed."

Does that sound familiar? That's what thank you
letters should read like. That is, if you're one of the smart job
seekers that actually writes and sends one.

I'd like to share an article with you written by Laura Smith-Proulx, of MetroChicagoJobs.com. The original article is titled Five Tips to Capturing the Job With a Thank You Letter.
Laura offers some great advice that much more job seekers should use.
Sending thank you letters is one of the most under-utilized tactics in
a job search. As Laura states in her article, there may not be any
other interviewing technigue that will set you apart like a Thank You
Letter? According to her article, studies have shown that only 20% of
candidates remember this crucial step, and of that figure, nearly 80%
get hired! As a former recruiter, Laura recalls that it was rare for
any of her candidates to remember this part of the job search process.
She goes on to add that any applicant doing so scored some serious
points.

Laura lists five pointers for a Thank You letter that wows employers and puts you in top consideration for a high-powered role:

1 - Personalized is best.
In fact, the more of a high-touch feel to your Thank You letter, the
better. This means that handwritten cards are a fantastic strategy for
interviewees.

One method that works well is to keep blank,
business-styled note cards in your car. Take them out after the
interview while still in the parking lot, and write your notes right
then and there.

You'll find that the information discussed at
the interview is still fresh enough that you should have plenty of
ideas-plus, you'll impress interviewers with the handwritten approach.

2 - Don't leave anyone out. I've
heard from many job hunters that thanking EVERYONE, from the
receptionist to the CEO, was key to putting their best foot forward
after an interview.

In fact, one such professional who did this
reported back that he maintained contact at the company, and even
though he wasn't hired right then, was asked to come back a few months
later to interview for a more senior-level role.

3 - Immediacy is key.
It's best to maintain your relevancy in the minds of hiring
authorities, and that means being ready to go as soon as possible after
the interview.

Some professionals overnight their Thank You
letters to the hiring manager. Others email them promptly (within
HOURS) after the interview.

Again, this is a technique that clearly sends the message of your intent regarding the job.

4 - Skip the stalker tactics.
While a quick reminder on letterhead can speak volumes about your
professionalism, odd gestures like sending a shoe to "get your foot in
the door" can backfire big-time.

Keep in mind that your main
goal is to be remembered for your strengths and presentation-NOT the
fact that you can scare the people who've interviewed you.

5 - Get to the point. The
best Thank You letters start by expressing your appreciation of the
interviewer's time, and then move on to a concrete example of what
interests you about the job.

For example, mentioning that you
enjoyed discussing the company's plans for expansion, or noting that
the new IT security project sounds like a great area for your
contributions, can keep you top-of-mind while indicating that you'd
like to be a core contributor.

Closing with a reiteration of
your interest is always appropriate, as is a stated declaration that
you look forward to future discussions with the interviewer about the
position. Keep your letter short!

In closing, I'd like to add my own two cents. My standard follow up process is two-fold:

1)Send a quick Thank You Email. As
soon as I get home from the interview, I send a quick Thank You email.
In today's digital age, if you don't do this, you'll look out of touch.

2)Send a traditional hand-written Thank You letter.
Also follow up with a hand-written Thank You letter via good old
traditional mail, or what I call snail mail. This adds a nice
professional touch and really shows you put in the effort. I can tell
you from personal experience, I literally just landed a job this week.
This job was one of a few that I actually sent out a traditional
hand-written Thank You letter. The hiring manager event expressed her
gratitude to me for doing so and mentioned how articulate the letter
was. Just goes to show you'll definitely stand out above the pack.

Below is a quick video guide to following up appropriately with Thank You emails and letters