No Thank You Could Mean No Job

By Rosemary Haefner

It's one of the simplest things you can do. Your mother told you to always say it. By expressing it - or not - you can change a person's mood and perception of you in an instant. Who knew two words could be so powerful?

Writing a thank you letter after an interview doesn't just showcase a candidate's manners - it can also make or break his or her chances of landing a job. Nearly 15 percent of hiring managers say they would not hire someone who failed to send a thank you letter after the interview. Thirty-two percent say they would still consider the candidate, but would think less of him or her, according to CareerBuilder.com's recent "How to Get in the Front Door" survey.

Although most hiring managers expect to receive a thank you note, format preferences differ. One in four hiring managers prefers to receive a thank you note in e-mail form only; 19 percent want the e-mail followed up with a hard copy; 21 percent want a typed hard copy only and 23 percent prefer just a handwritten note.

No matter which format you choose, it's crucial to act quickly when sending a thank you letter to your interviewer. Twenty-six percent of hiring managers expect to have the letter in-hand two days after the interview, and 36 percent expect to have it within three to five days. Sending the letter quickly reinforces your enthusiasm for the job and helps keep you in the front of the interviewer's mind.

Here are some tips to make the most of your thank you letter:

Stick to three paragraphs
In the first paragraph, thank the interviewer for the opportunity. Use the second to sell yourself by reminding the hiring manager of your qualifications. In the third paragraph, reiterate your interest in the position.

Fill in the blanks
Thank you notes are a great way to add in key information you forgot in the interview, clarify any points or try to ease any reservations the interviewer might have expressed.

Proofread carefully
Double-check to be sure your note is free from typos and grammatical errors. Don't rely solely on your spell-checker.

Be specific
Don't send out a generic correspondence. Instead, tailor your note to the specific job and the relationship you have established with the hiring manager.

Rosemary Haefner is CareerBuilder.com's vice president of human resources and senior career adviser. She is an expert in recruitment trends and tactics, job seeker behavior, workplace issues, employee attitudes and HR initiatives.

- Source www.careerbuilder.com

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