2 Important Words to Always Say: THANK YOU

Remember that a person’s name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language. From Dale Carnegie, How to Win Friends and Influence People

Although I am a huge fan of Dale Carnegie’s book, and buy in to the principle that a person’s name is the sweetest sound they ever hear, I think two very simple words are right up there with our names. What are those critical words? Thank you. I grew up having to write thank you notes every time I turned around because my mother was a real stickler for them. If she didn’t receive a thank you note from her grandchildren or relatives within a week after sending a gift, this genteel Southern lady would call to make sure they received the gift. Hint, hint…”You’re tardy writing a thank you, so I’m calling to make sure you got what I sent because I am still expecting a thank you,” was the point of my mother’s call. Even though she is no longer with us to nag about social graces in person, her voice still runs through my head. “Claire, you need to write that note thanking your oldest, dearest friend for having you for the Clemson game. And really, two weeks is way too late for you to be expressing your thanks to your college best friend for your visit to her SC mountain house.”

Due to my dear mother’s influence, I now preach regularly about the importance of the thank you letter to the two Hokies who periodically reside in my house, as well as to the many other Hokies with whom I meet. Recently several students questioned my recommendation of this action step in their job search which gave me pause. How could they miss seeing the value in showing appreciation, interest and professionalism to a potential employer? For, after an interview, the thank you note can be a tool and a difference maker.

Thank You’s as a Tool

Use the thank you note to remind the interviewer of something that came up in your conversation. Was she really interested in the promotional strategy project you did last semester? Mention it in your note and let her know how what you gained from this experience will benefit the company. Or maybe you didn’t have the chance to mention something really relevant in your interview—the thank you note is a forum where you can share. In addition, this missal can be a tool to overcome an employer’s objections. When I interviewed for a marketing/PR position at a hospital, the administrator was very concerned that I did not live in the county where the hospital was located. I brought this up in my thank you note and tried to refute his objection. After I was hired, I learned from a co-worker that I had impressed the administrator by doing that in my letter.

Thank You’s as a Difference Maker

A thank you letter after an interview can make a difference in a number of ways. For one, you are demonstrating to an employer that you know the proper business protocol to follow after someone gives up part of their day to meet with you. Secondly, so few people write thank you notes, you will stand out by being one of the few, the appreciative professional. And, third, the thank you note could be a deciding factor in a hiring decision. A few years ago I was hiring a student intern for a Human Resource Internship to assist me in running a national search to fill an advising position. I interviewed seven students and just could not decide. They were each strong for different reasons. How would I ever make a choice? The applicants made the decision easy on me, though. How many thank you notes do you think I received following those seven interviews? One. Who did I hire? The author of the thank you, for she demonstrated she knew the professional way to behave in a job search, and that was the kind of professional I needed.

In today’s competitive job market, making yourself stand out is imperative. Go the route that so many detour. Write each person who met with you in an interview a handwritten thank you note to follow up your email thank you. And mail the handwritten note within the first few days after your interview so yours will be the first they receive.