by EMERSON SLOANE
These days, people have multiple interviews for jobs and communications are mostly by email, or sometimes you don't hear anything at all, if you didn't get a job for which you applied. But whether you're just entering the job force after college or if you've been looking for work after being laid off, or even if you're just going through a career change and looking for something completely different, sending a thank you note to the people who interview you for the positions for which you've applied is the right thing to do. And by sending a thank you, we mean not by email. Go to a stationery store or pick up a pack of blank note cards at a department store and write them by hand, stamp them, and send them out by post.
Send a thank you to the person who interviewed you. Not only is this good manners, but it helps the interviewer keep you in mind when he or she is making a decision as to whom to hire. Send your thank you within a day of being interviewed.
But, what if you're being headhunted or recruited for a position by several companies? Should you send thank you notes to the recruiters even if you've not formally applied on your own for any position? Yes. Even if you're not interested at the time, send a thank you note. It's good manners, and it leaves a favorable impression about you, your courtesy, and your ability to follow through. It also shows you care about details.
If you've interviewed for several companies and if you have multiple offers, send thank you notes to the places you've declined. Direct your thank you note to the person who makes the final hiring decision and thank them for the offer, for the time he or she spent with you. And yes, do this even though you already sent them a thank you note after you had your interview. Keep it simple. Explain that you've accepted another position. You don't need to go into any details or justify your decision.
And, even though it's not the ideal situation, if you've been turned down for a job for which you applied, still send a thank you note again. It's likely you'll receive a notice that they've offered the position to another candidate by email. Nevertheless, respond with a hand-written thank you note thanking the person for the time they spent with you and for considering you for the position.
Start your good reputation right away when you start out in the business world or when you're switching gears into a new career path. People don't forget details or your thoughtfulness. You never know when that thank you note...that personal touch...will work in your favor down the road.
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