Going The Distance

Follow Up

Click for a printer-friendly sample of a follow-up letter

The importance of a thank you letter is often overlooked. As soon as possible, always send one to each of your interviewers by fax or mail. Also called a follow-up letter, it may be the deciding factor in your favor, especially when there are other applicants with your qualifications. For the thank-you letter, follow the same standards as you would for writing a professional business letter. Near the end of your interviews, ask the interviewer for his or her contact information and correct name spelling, or just ask for a business card. Sending a thank-you letter demonstrates that you are courteous and professional. It helps to make you stand out in the minds of the interviewers and elevates you above candidates who didn't bother to write them. It gives you an opportunity to reinforce your good points and allows you a second chance to include something important you forgot to mention during the interview. Don't forget this last, but extremely important step!