A frequent question asked of me is, “Do I really need to write a thank you note after my interviews?” The answer is an emphatic YES! Interviewing candidates takes a lot of time, effort, and organization behind the scenes. Sometimes people that do the actual interviewing are merely doing someone else a favor and won’t even be benefiting from your hiring. You can never go wrong by sending a note of thanks. That being said, don’t fall into one of these frequent pitfalls.
Do NOT do the following
- Have spelling mistakes
- Include improper grammar
- Be too familiar or casual in your writing- remember, this is a business transaction
- Do not be critical of your interviewer
- Do not write a book!
DO the following instead
- Keep it short and sweet- a few lines thoughtfully written is key
- Double and triple check your note for errors- you are a lawyer and being hired for your attention to detail
- Include a detail from your interview- show that you were listening and learned something in your interview by adding a line about something you discussed or learned
- Be courteous and kind in your writing, even if your interviewer was not your favorite person
- Thank the recruiter or person behind the scenes who organized your interviews
There is debate about whether an email or handwritten note is preferred. In today’s digital age, I believe that an email thank you note is appropriate, but there are many who disagree. If you have attractive stationery that is just languishing at home, this is the perfect time to put it to good use. But if you tend to procrastinate, perhaps sending an email is the most efficient way to get your thank you note out the door.