| Thank you letters are an excellent self-marketing tool | | | | opportunity for the candidate to repackage their skills |
| and a critical component of your job search strategy. | | | | and accomplishments into another format and market |
| The time spent crafting a targeted thank you letter | | | | their value added to the employer. |
| after an interview will be well spent and can | | | | The document enables you to address points you |
| contribute to a more credible and efficient search. | | | | neglected to discuss during the interview. |
| Below are five reasons to incorporate thank you | | | | Many candidates report that after they leave the |
| letters into your search strategy. | | | | interview they think of all the other things they could |
| A thank you letter creates an opportunity to | | | | have said during the meeting. Rather than labeling this |
| reconnect with employers. | | | | a liability, turn it into an asset by discussing these |
| Chances are you are one of many candidates being | | | | points in the thank you letter and remind the reader |
| interviewed for an open position. Writing a follow up | | | | of your ability to produce similar results for their |
| letter allows you to build a relationship with the | | | | organization. |
| interviewer and develop rapport. By expressing your | | | | A letter helps develop rapport and increases |
| gratitude for the interview and recapping the | | | | employer's comfort level with your candidacy. |
| highlights of the meeting, you revisit the reasons you | | | | A good strategy is to recap a part of the |
| believe there is an appropriate fit between you and | | | | conversation where you and the interviewer shared |
| the organization. | | | | similar views on a job-related topic. The thank you |
| Following up keeps your candidacy top of mind. | | | | letter can also be a forum for demonstrating your |
| Often candidates make the mistake of putting too | | | | consultative problem solving skills. By addressing |
| much control in the interviewer's hands. They believe | | | | current issues the employer is facing and proposing |
| that if they are the best candidate, the interviewer | | | | solutions, you are contributing to the company's |
| will remember them and keep them in the loop | | | | success even before you are on board. |
| regarding the selection process. But this is often not | | | | Thank you letters continue to be an important |
| the case. It's critical that candidates remind | | | | component of a successful job search campaign. But |
| prospective employers of their interest in a position | | | | the focus has shifted from a simple courtesy and |
| and the thank you letter is the perfect vehicle for | | | | show of appreciation to a targeted self-marketing |
| communicating this. | | | | tool. By creating letters that validate your candidacy, |
| Written correspondence allows you to sell your | | | | build rapport, and remind the reader of your value |
| strengths again. | | | | added, you can significantly influence potential |
| While part of the reason for the thank you letter is | | | | employers and increase your chances for subsequent |
| to express gratitude for the meeting, the document | | | | interviews. |
| serves a much more strategic purpose. It provides an | | | | |