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10 tips to make your thank-you note stellar

By Alison Hart, special for Gannett News Service

Many career-guidance professionals say the thank-you letter is the single most important correspondence between the applicant and the hiring manager. It's a no brainer, says Mark Mehler, co-author of Career Xroads, a directory to Internet job sites

Then why do so few job seekers send thank-you letters? "It's surprising, but, as an entry-level person, you don't always know that's what you need to do," says Sara Nolfo, an executive recruiter with Lynne Palmer Executive Recruitment in New York.

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Follow these tips and you'll be thankful at hiring time.

1. Always say thank you. Thank-you letters aren't just for ladies who lunch; they can make an important impression on recruiters. Always send a follow-up letter, card or e-mail, no matter what; it's common courtesy. "The post-interview letter is critical, and if well crafted, it can make the difference in your candidacy," says John Bakos, president of the Bakos Group, a Massachusetts-based career-management firm.

2. Ask for a business card. Request a business card before you walk out the door. When you follow up, you'll have the correct spelling of the interviewer's name and their address, direct phone line and e-mail address.

3. Choose your weapon. The pen may be mightier than the sword, but a computer can help. "If you establish a very, very good rapport with the person you interviewed with, if the place was a little more casual, then you might choose the option of writing your thank-you note on a beautiful note card," Nolfo says. But if you have sloppy handwriting, use a computer.

4. Get a second look. The thank-you letter is another chance to make contact with the company. "Your objective is to keep your name and/or face in front of the recruiter," Mehler says. And because so few candidates take advantage of this, you're going to automatically stand out.

5. Know your audience. If you've met with the company's hiring manager, you now have insider information. After the interview, take some time to think about what they're looking for. You'll have a better understanding about what they want, the scope of their environment, their culture and how you'll fit in it.

6. Review your skills. The thank-you letter is an opportunity to align yourself with the company's expectations for the position. Focus on two or three things the interviewer singled out as important in a candidate. They'll be impressed you understood what they're looking for. "They think, 'I know she wants the job, but she's also thinking about my needs,'" Nolfo says.

7. Shore up your weaknesses. In the thank-you letter, correct any mistakes you made during the interview. If you've been losing sleep over a flubbed fact or a missed opportunity during the interview, don't fret. Most interviews will have weaknesses, and those can be corrected in the post-interview letter.

8. Ask for the job. Don't assume the hiring manager can read your mind. A thoughtful note shows you're really interested in the job. "Some recruiters take it if you don't send a thank you, you're really not interested, which may not be the case," Mehler says. If the company hasn't decided to hire you, you can increase your chances of an offer by following up with a letter.

9. Determine the time frame During the interview, find out the hiring manager's timetable for filling the position. Not only will this relieve unnecessary worrying, but it will also help you decide on the best way to deliver your thank-you letter: e-mail, snail mail or hand delivery.

10. Check, check and check again. As with all employment correspondence, you can do more harm than good by sending a thank-you letter that contains spelling or grammatical errors. The best way to spot mistakes? Print out a draft of the letter and read it out loud.

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