Interview Thank You Notes and Follow Up Letters

A lot of people say first dates are like job interviews, only they last longer and it's somewhat appropriate to expect things to progress romantically. Well, like a lot of things people "say, " this is true to the extent that it's been adopted by the colloquial vernacular, but it doesn't really mean anything. The only parallel is that your goal is to make a good impression, and a good impression in those contrasting situations should probably mean completely different things.

This isn't E-Harmony, so we're not gonna be giving out dating advice, but there is a final word on interviewing worth addressing. Intern Memo spent a lot of time this fall and winter trying to get you prepared for your interviews, but one thing we never discussed was the follow-up. A few weeks ago, there was a really interesting article in the Wall Street Journal Career section about how the interview follow-up, like Yiddish and being polite, has become a lost art, and it got us thinking: most applicants don't really take this part of the job hunt seriously.

The truth is, there's nothing people like to "mail in " more than a follow-up letter. However, according to a 2007 survey by Accountemps cited by the Journal, nine out of ten executives consider this a crucial element of the recruiting process. So what should you do?

Well, first, literally mail in a handwritten note. We don't mean to sound dated (we are sort of a Web 1.0 service), but in the age of email, nothing stands out like some sweet penmanship and a nice piece of stationary. You don't have to bust out a wax seal like you were the Earl of Sandwich, but have the style to write out a note. It may take a few extra minutes, but it is exponentially more impressive than another e-mail in a string of vanilla follow-up e-mails.

In general, thank you notes are like a gift in themselves because they require minimal effort and afford you the chance to really make someone's day. A good thank you note is a chance to be real polite on your own terms, an opportunity that doesn't come along every day. You can use your letter to actually say something. Expand on what you talked about in the interview with specific references that will personalize the correspondence. If you didn't articulate something as effectively as you wanted to in your interview, address it. Bring up something pertinent that you forgot to say.

The thank you note is a chance for you to seal the deal on your own terms. Make the most of it.

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