Should I Send a Thank You Note After an Interview?

Many candidates overlook this simple yet important part of the interview process, but a thank you note could be what sways a hiring manager to offer you the job.

You might be wondering how thank you notes are still relevant in 2020, but:

1. Hiring managers and recruiters still read them.
2. It shows your interviewer common courtesy, respect, and appreciation for their time.
3. Few job applicants take the time to write thank you notes. You will stand out when you send one.
4. A thank you note demonstrates your written communication skills.

Okay, so you understand that you need to write a thank you note, but should it be emailed, or do you need to hand write a thank you note?

It depends.

Email is timelier, but a handwritten letter is a nice touch. It is important to consider the industry and position you interviewed for to determine which vehicle to use for your thank you. Tech companies embrace email and typically make hiring decisions quickly. A handwritten note may be irrelevant in multiple ways in this setting. However, non-profits typically take more time to hire, and a handwritten note is likely appreciated.

Although it varies on how you should send a thank you note, job search etiquette is clear on one thing: a thank you email or letter should be sent within 24 hours of the interview.

Many norms and standard procedures were uprooted this year, but thank you notes have not gone unrewarded. With a dense candidate pool and limited interaction with hiring managers, a thank you note is a quick and easy way to set yourself apart from other applicants – and get you one step closer to your next position!

For more tips on how to write the perfect thank you note, Career Expert Michael Tomaszewski shared several tips in this article.