ICS Canada Independent Online Study ICS Canada (ICS) offers over 50 accredited career diploma training programs in a variety of areas. Most programs can be completed in less than a year, but students may take ...
University of Wisconsin - Platteville Distance Learning Center University of Wisconsin-Platteville (UWP) has offered degrees at a distance since 1978, currently offering undergraduate degrees in Business Administration and Criminal Justice and graduate degrees in Project Management, Criminal Justice ...
University of Wisconsin - Platteville Distance Learning Center University of Wisconsin-Platteville (UWP) has offered degrees at a distance since 1978, currently offering undergraduate degrees in Business Administration and Criminal Justice and graduate degrees in Project Management, Criminal Justice ...
After the interview -- what happens next Page1 next page >>
The Thank You Note
It's called a note, but it's really a formal business letter. As soon as you've had an interview you need to prepare a thank you note and get it to the recruiter within 24 hours. Why 24 hours? Because hiring decisions are often made within 24 hours of the interviews, barring a specific delay such as a decision-maker going out of town. The candidates may not hear the decision until some time later, after it has been rubber stamped by all those along the paper trail, but it was probably made early.
Why a thank you note? In The Interview Kit author Richard Beatty expresses the importance of this final step, "Courtesy can go a long way in enhancing your image as someone who is polite and considerate. It's utterly amazing to me how many employment candidates have spent a full day in interviews where a lot of valuable time and energy was expended on their behalf, yet they fail to express any appreciation for the employer's efforts (p. 204)."
Shannon Whelan's Career success: the Canadian guide, a top source no matter what country you're in, goes further by suggesting how the thank you note can be used to enhance your chances of getting a job offer. "This gesture is courteous and shows that you're genuinely interested in the position. It also provides you with yet another opportunity to briefly extol your key strengths (p. 86)."
Use the thank you letter to reinforce your interest in the position and your desirability as a candidate. You can also use the thank you letter to mention things that you forgot or that didn't come up in the interview. You can even address any concerns brought up by the recruiter(s) during the interview by offering assurance of your suitability.
Thank you letters should be as well written as cover letters. If possible, drop the letter off yourself at the main reception of the company to ensure that it gets there before the hiring decision is made. Try to have it arrive first thing the morning following the interview to ensure it is read before the decision-makers have a chance to meet.
If you were interviewed by more than one person you should send a thank you letter to each one. You should have collected business cards or written down their names on your note pad. If you aren't sure, call the company—the receptionist or anyone in human resources should be able to give you the proper spelling and titles of those who interviewed you.
If you get a job offer
Consider the offer carefully, then start asking questions of yourself and if necessary of your recruiter. You might just accept the offer immediately, but the employer will probably give you a little time to think it over before expecting a yes or no from you. During that time consider all the factors affecting the job. The book How to Win the Job You Really Want suggests, "The first step toward making an objective evaluation of
ICS Canada (ICS) offers over 50 accredited career diploma training programs in a variety of areas. Most programs can be completed in less than a year, but students may take ...
University of Wisconsin-Platteville (UWP) has offered degrees at a distance since 1978, currently offering undergraduate degrees in Business Administration and Criminal Justice and graduate degrees in Project Management, Criminal Justice ...
