An article by Rudy Rossner on the Wall Street Journal careerjournal.com website emphasized that the right thank you note can earn a strong offer. He recommends asking yourself these questions before you send a thank you note:
Do I sound sincere? Insincerity is the surest form of sucking up. You can sound insincere by gushing or by being overly generic. Have a few people read the letter before you send it to make sure it has the right tone.
Am I taking advantage of this second chance to make a first impression? Few people score a perfect 10 at interviews. You can use the opportunity of sending a thank you note to answer any questions, clarify something that you said, or state something that you wished you had said. Make sure your tone is focused on what you can do for the company, not what you can get from them.
Do I show enthusiasm, attentiveness, and initiative? Show your prospective employer that you listened during the interview by summing up the most important aspects of the job. Then briefly remind the employer why you are the best person for the job.
Am I making myself memorable? Try to say something in your thank you note that will flatter your interviewer and make him or her remember you.
There is nothing exotic about following up with a thank you note after an interview. Just remember to send simple thank you notes that remind the prospective employers of what they need to know: that you are the real thing, the kind of employee that has what it takes to get the job done.
