Kaye Monty

The thank you note is a dying art.  I received a thank you note in the mail today from a candidate who we interviewed last week.  It is refreshing to get a thank you note from a candidate whether it is via email or snail mail.  Soaring unemployment rates have increased competition for the scarce job openings available.  A recent report cites that there are 10 applicants chasing every job vacancy in the UK.  (I believe that figure is 4-5 applicants per job in the US.)  Here are reasons to send a thank you note after a phone interview or office interview:

• Stand out from the crowd - I personally receive approximately .08% thank you note via snail mail or email.  It takes only a few minutes to send a thank you note.    
• Showcase your writing abilities – Writing a customized thank you note when you meet multiple interviewers is a difficult task but not impossible.  This is a great way to show off your writing skills.  Take note not to send the exact same note and personalize slightly with insights that you learned from the interview.
• Emphasize a point - Sometimes you will remember a story or an accomplishment after you leave the interview.  This is a great time to bring it up to emphasize your fit for the job opportunity.  
• Attention to detail – If you take the time to write a thank you note, then it shows the employer that you probably will give the same effort at work.  This just gives them additional insights to the attention that you will lavish your clients or colleagues.