CMU Career Guide Central Michigan University Career Guide | Page 36

FOLLOWING UP
If you are looking for ways to stand out from other applicants, be the one who sends a thank you note or email 1-2
business days after the interview. The thank you note is a chance to stand out, demonstrate follow-up skills, add to
interview conversations, and reiterate your top qualifications.
Use the guidelines below for why, when, and how to write a thank you note:
•

Send a thank you note after a phone interview. You don’t have to wait for an in-person interview to write a thank
you note. A quick, simple note can go a long way.
Thank you for taking the time to talk with me on the phone today.
Please let me know if I can answer any other questions, and I hope to hear from you again soon.

•

Thank you note etiquette can be a challenge when you meet with multiple people during an interview. A good
rule to follow is to write an individual follow-up note to each person. Before leaving, ask for business cards of each
person interviewing you.
Dear Judy, It was a pleasure to meet you on Wednesday. Your description of the coordinator role
and how you facilitate the weekly office communications was very helpful.
Good luck with the event next week, and thanks again!

•

If you don’t have the contact information for each person on the interview panel, it is still important to name each
person you met with.
I enjoyed meeting you and the rest of the team yesterday. Please tell Anna, Victor, and
Lisa thank you for their time and thoughtful questions.

•

Use the thank you note to expand or reinforce your interview conversations. If you mentioned a project,
organization, or article, you can include a link to further information.
We talked about the conference where I learned about the new IT governance strategies,
and I wanted to share a link to the presentation I mentioned.

•

You can also add information that you didn’t cover in the interview. You know that feeling when you walk out of
an interview and think, “Why didn’t I say X? I should have told them about that project!” The thank you note can be
your second chance.

I enjoyed our discussion on how you collaborate with your service vendors. I forgot to mention that my previous
role involved negotiating a new IT services contract. When I worked on this new contract, I ...
•

Finally, if you are working with an HR representative or administrator who is coordinating the interview process for
you, follow up with him/her as well. Every time you finish a round of interviews, show your appreciation.
Dear Phil, Thank you for setting up the call with Donna today. She and I had a good conversation
about the regional office’s rapid growth—and it was nice to find a fellow Michigan native!
Combine the above examples that work for you to form a complete thank you note of three sentences to a couple of
paragraphs. Be sure to write your note in your neatest handwriting and add a personal touch from your interview!

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Sign up for a practice interview
through Handshake.