Signed, Sealed, Delivered…

So, you aced the phone interview. Go you! Now, just cross your fingers and wait for that phone call requesting an in-person interview, right? Wrong. Sure, maybe you did ace that interview. Then again, maybe John, Sandy and Veronica did, too — and maybe John and Veronica followed-up with a thank you note. Guess who suddenly became the forerunners and received an invite for the coveted in-person interview?

The importance of a follow-up thank you note — regardless of whether you had an in-person, phone or Skype interview — cannot be stressed enough. While an unqualified candidate won’t be hired because of a quality thank you note, and a highly qualified candidate won’t typically be overlooked because of the lack of a thank you note, a quick thank you message might place two similarly qualified candidates on two different levels.

Next time you have an interview, write a quick message to your interviewer. In most cases, an email is even acceptable — judge your audience, the organization and timeline. If the company is seeking someone to fill the position ASAP, a snail mail letter may not make it in time to influence their decision. An email within 24 hours of the interview, followed by a snail mail note card on simple stationery, is ideal.

In the thank you, highlight what you think the employer may have liked about you, mention any positive information you may have forgotten to mention in the interview and express your skill in areas that the employer showed concern over. Finish up by again thanking the interviewer for his/her time and reinforcing your interest in the position.

In the meantime, we’ll sit back and do the finger crossing.