2.The high-points (places where you matched up well in terms of goals and plans for the company)
3. The missteps (quickly clarify any areas that felt shaky)
4. Your potential value as a colleague and an employee
5. The fact that you are looking forward to hearing from them soon
While these key components are a basic outline for any thank you note, you should make sure to personalize your correspondence for each job and interviewer. Yes, this will take longer than sending out a generalized thank you note, but it will make a much better impression because it will be specific.
Depending on the company, you may prefer to send a thank you email instead of a traditional thank you note. Email is faster, and it will get there immediately, which is important if the job is highly competitive. However, if the company is smaller and/or more traditional, a neatly handwritten thank you note would not go amiss. Just make sure that you write and correct a draft on a different sheet of paper before copying the text onto stationery. As long as you follow the outline and remember the following, your thank you note will be pitch perfect:
-Make it personal—send one to each person on the committee, don’t just send one to the group (make sure you check spellings and get everyone right).
-Make it specific—this is where those notes come in handy. Reference specific moments from your interview conversation rather than general impressions.
-Make it professional—be sincere, but don’t use casual language. Even if you're sending a follow-up email, keep the same formality you’d use in a letter (begin with Dear Interviewer, end with Sincerely, Job Seeker). If you're hand-writing your note, make sure to check for spelling and grammar before you write the final copy on your nice paper.
Send your note or email as soon as possible, and then reexamine your follow-up plan. Put the projected job notification date on your calendar. If that day passes without a notification, then you are free to ask if there is any new information.
If the process is running long, periodic check ins are permitted as long as you aren't pestering (once a month is periodic, once a day is pestering). When you do contact the company, make sure you’re always bringing something to the table—an article that relates to a prior conversation, or a development that might help your case.
Although thank you notes may feel uncomfortable, they are an essential part of your interview process. Thank you notes and a good follow-up plan enable you to make one more lasting impression on your hiring committee; with time and effort, you can ensure it’s a good one.