We have talked about interviews and what to do after them in one of our previous posts. We mentioned about a thank you mail. Let us talk about it more.
Why do you need to send a thank you mail after you have been to an interview?
Actually, you should send a thank you mail even after a business meeting. It doesn’t have to be limited to interviews.
So, let us dwell on this for some time.
Firstly, why say thank you?
Well, a very basic answer is that a follow up mail, thanking the person for their time is common courtesy. But to look at it in more detail, a thank you mail would be appreciated because:
- It shows you are really interested in the job. Many times, companies are faced with candidates who do show up for interviews, and they get selected, but when the time comes to join, they back out at the last moment. Or even if they do join, they leave really soon. Or worse, they ghost the company altogether. Sending in a mail simply thanking the interviewers for their time can help you come across as a genuine candidate.
- If your interview hasn’t gone too well, a ‘thank you’ mail can help you stand out otherwise. It also shows you are well-organised, well-mannered and resourceful. Why resourceful? Sometimes, you may have to track down the specific email address you are supposed to send the mail to. Again, all this shows you are actually keen on the job but more importantly, that you are a human being who understands the importance of other people’s time.
Now, does it have to be an email only?
The answer to this depends on the kind of industry, and the kind of company. Start-ups, tech companies would appreciate a precise, short email. Sending them a page full of handwritten note of thank you wouldn’t go well.
The older, traditional companies may appreciate a handwritten mail. But even then, sending in an email would ensure it reaches exactly when and where you want it to reach. A traditional post is subject to unexpected delays.
Whatever the medium, make sure the note is precise, clear and short. You don’t have to write an essay.
So, let us dwell just a little bit more and look at the technicalities.
What does a thank you mail typically include? What are the thing you should be careful about?
It typically has to have the following points covered:
- Thank them for their time and show appreciation for it.
- A detail you discussed during the interview, so they know it’s customised. The last thing we want is a copy-pasted mail.
- Express interest in the position and tell them you are eager to learn what happens next.
You may add that they can contact you if they want any clarification about anything. You can also add a line or two telling you are confident that you will perform the role well.
Make sure there is a balance. You don’t want to sound too casual nor too stiff.
Look who you are talking to, as in, take the industry, company and the personnel into consideration and then draft a mail accordingly.
And don’t forget to proofread! Make sure you are addressing it to the right person, and that you are using the right greeting.
Lastly, since there is an email involved, there is going to be a subject line involved as well. Here are some options you can write in the subject line:
- ‘Thank you for your time’
- ‘Following up’
- ‘Great speaking with you’
Again, don’t just copy paste it. Think about the context and then decide what to write.
When do you send it? Typically, the thank you mail should reach the person on the next business day.
All said and done, it is true that sometimes it’s the companies which ghost candidates. Sometimes, colleagues and associates may not reply too well. But remember, companies are under no obligation to hire just because you sent a thank you mail.
But then, no one would be able to say that you didn’t do you best; you fulfilled your part of the responsibility by thanking someone for their time and consideration. So, the next time you go for an interview or a business meeting, show them the person you are and say ‘thank you’!