The Importance of a "Thank You" Note

(Originally posted on LinkedIn)

Before I even get started, no one has EVER been bummed to receive a thoughtful thank you note. In fact, you will feel the exact opposite when you receive one! Let's think about this. When you are interviewing for a job you are really excited about, you want their hiring manager to be excited about you, too! Besides your technical aptitude and wonderful personality, they want to know that you will go above and beyond what is expected. One way to show that you go above and beyond is to take the time to write not just any thank you note, but a meaningful and well-thought-out one! If you need tips on how to write the perfect thank you note, see my previous post.

So few applicants write a thank you note that you'll immediately stand out when you send one to the manager who interviewed you. There are other benefits to sending a thank-you note: it will let you make points you forgot to make in your interview, it will allow you to demonstrate your written communication skills, you can mention upcoming projects that you can contribute to and also reiterate why you would be a great fit for the position!

If you decide to skip out on that extra 10 minutes to write a thank-you note, you could also potentially be skipping out on an exciting career opportunity. Don't let that person be you, write the note and you'll receive a better chance at landing that job!