20.4 Postperformance
Remember that feedback is part of the interview process: follow up promptly with a thank-you note or email, expressing your appreciation for the interviewer’s time and interest. Email is a standard and expected vehicle for this message, and you will likely have already been in contact with the interviewers via email or will have their business card from the interview. An example of an interview thank-you letter is demonstrated in Figure 20.5.
The formula for this message is simple, but choose your words carefully and try to extend their good impression of your written communication here as well. Us the following format when writing your interview thank-you message:
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- Relevant subject line
- Gratitude for their time and the opportunity
- Your continued interest in the position
- Something specific from your conversation (this is where taking notes comes in handy!)
- Reminder of your qualifications
- Positive and forward-looking conclusion
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You will want to reflect the overall tone of your interaction. Try to make it consistent with the person they met the day before.
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To: p.tanner@abcinnovations.ca From: m.stuart@abcmail.ca Subject: Design Engineer Internship – Thank you Dear Ms. Tanner, Thank you for the opportunity to meet with you yesterday. I feel like I learned a lot about the Design Engineer Internship role at ABC Innovations and I remain very interested in the position. After hearing about the project I would be assigned to, I did some further research on your prototyping process and I can see interesting connections with the work I did in my previous internship. It would be exciting to build on that knowledge with your team. Please feel free to contact me via phone at 778-111-2222 or email if there is any additional information I can provide. I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you, Marsha Stuart |
Figure 20.5 | Interview Thank-you Message
You may receive a letter, note, or voicemail explaining that another candidate’s combination of experience and education better matched the job description. If this happens, it is only natural for you to feel disappointed. Although you feel disappointed, don’t focus on the loss or all the hard work you’ve produced. Instead, focus your energies where they will serve you best. Review the process and learn from the experience, knowing that each audience is unique and even the most prepared candidate may not have been the right “fit.” Focus on your skill sets; if they need improvement, consider additional education that will enhance your knowledge and skills. Seek out local resources and keep networking.