So you aced your interview – now what? To ensure that you don’t fall through the cracks in the recruitment process, it is key that you follow up your interview with a thank-you note. Many believe thank-you emails will suffice (and they are definitely better than nothing!), but a handwritten thank-you note can make a long-lasting impression. According to the York Technical Institute, less than 4% of candidates send a thank-you note after an interview. Stand out from the crowd!
What should your thank-you note include?
- Your gratitude for the opportunity:
- Be genuine. You can use a template to get started, but remember to use your own words and feelings to stay authentic.
- Your interest/enthusiasm in the internship:
- Reiterate your interest in the employer and the position. Make it clear that you are excited about the possibility of working with the organization. One strategy to show your enthusiasm is to highlight something you learned about the company during the interview or from your research.
- Something memorable:
- The employer you interviewed with could have met with several candidates. Mention something memorable about yourself or the conversation to keep yourself top-of-mind. Were they impressed that you had a specific experience or skill? Briefly mention in the note that you believe that skill/experience could be an asset to their team.
OTHER TIPS:
- Keep it short and simple.
- Spell check and proof read.
- Write a note for each interviewer (not just one note for all).
- Hopefully, you asked for your interviewer(s) business card, but if you didn’t, check their LinkedIn profile to ensure you are spelling their name correctly. You can address the thank-you note with their name and the address of the organization found on the organization’s website.
SAMPLE THANK-YOU TEMPLATE: (this is just a sample, be yourself and use your own ideas and writing style)
Dear Mr./Ms. [LAST NAME],
Thank you very much for the opportunity to interview for the [NAME OF INTERNSHIP] Internship with [NAME OF COMPANY]. I enjoyed learning more about [SOMETHING SPECIFIC YOU ALL TALKED ABOUT IN THE INTERVIEW]. I am excited about the possibility of interning with such a [ADJECTIVE] organization. Thank you again for your time and I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
[FIRST AND LAST NAME]
