Sora Chenet

        “Thank you.” Two simple words that demonstrate manners after any sort of interaction between people. It is not mandatory per say, but it is a general consensus that one would assume to thank another for something that occurred or receive thanks. One would assume that a simple thank you would suffice, but there are many instances in which those two words are not enough.           During a class discussion about writing thank you emails after an interview, I read an article, “10 Things You Should Never Write in a ‘Thank You’ Note. The author listed ten “don’ts”, of which some were obvious, such as using correct spelling and grammar. She also stated the thank you note should not make the reader perceive the sender as desperate, cheeky, or apologetic. A thank you note is, as stated, a thank you note that should show your appreciation for whatever interaction you had with the receiver.

        That being said, it is not to be taken as to not include anything else besides a “thank you for your time.” After an interview, a thank you note should demonstrate interest in the job as well as reminding the reader as to why you are the best candidate for the job. Also, by reminding the reader of your qualities allows you to personalize the note by referring to specific points of the interview to really show that you were interested throughout the interview.

        In a sample thank you letter, we saw the candidate thank the employer for her time to meet for an interview. However, the candidate took it a step further by complimenting the employer for the environment she created for the interview. Although compliments are not always encouraged, they can be used if done professionally and if there is a point to them. The example also included a specific reference point, which will help the interviewer remember the candidate better than the others. The example letter helps his interview and himself be stand out from the many other interviewees for the job. Finally, the candidate closes the letter with hopes of hearing back from the interviewer. Even if John Doe does not get the job, that closing will increase the chances of the employer notifying the candidate of the rejection, giving the candidate closure.

        After reading these several articles, I tried to remember the thank you letters I had sent to my potential employers and professors. I realized that in my letters, I never highlighted my skills again or mention specific parts of our meetings. I had simply thanked them for their time and hoped to hear back for more information soon. Perhaps just adding in that one small, extra paragraph may have helped me get certain positions. Two or three sentences to reiterate what I could contribute may have helped the interviewer remember my skills and why I would be good for that position. I would have never thought to summarize our interview or promote myself further using the thank you note. I would think that reminding the employer of the good qualities would seem cheeky and not necessarily be a benefit since it was a thank you note. As I mentioned before, I thought a thank you note was a simple thank you note to show appreciation for the other’s time. Who knew a thank you could contain so much?