Top 6 Must Have Items in a Job Interview Thank You Note
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Your skills are top notch. You connected with the healthcare hiring manager on a personal as well as a professional level. Your response to each question rolled effortlessly off your tongue. In short, you aced the interview. But your audition isn’t over. Fail to send a job interview thank you note and the employer may pass you over for someone who did. In fact, according to a survey conducted by one career website, 22 percent of employers are less likely to hire a candidate who doesn’t send a thank you.
In most organizations, emailed thank you notes are perfectly acceptable according to 89 percent of hiring managers in the same survey. However, whether you choose to express your gratitude digitally or with traditional pen and paper, make sure you include the following six MUST items.
1. Your thanks
While a well written thank you is useful for many reasons, its main purpose is to express your gratitude for the hiring manager’s time as well as the opportunity to learn more about her needs. Include these thanks in your opening paragraph.
2. Interview date and time
Hiring managers are busy, even those who work at smaller healthcare practices. She’s very likely interviewing dozens of candidates and needs an efficient way to connect your note to her experience with you. Make it easy by including the date and time of your interview along with your thanks. For example, "Thank you again for taking the time to discuss your needs with me last Friday at two."
3. Something specific you discussed
Perhaps the hiring manager took you on a tour of the facility and an interesting topic came up along the way. Or maybe she told you details about her background or experience in the practice. Mentioning these specifics in your thank you note is an excellent way to prove you were actively engaged in the interview experience.
4. Why you’re the best candidate
You included them in your resume and discussed them at your interview, but you can’t reiterate your experience and qualifications too many times. Briefly review them in your thank you note and remind the hiring manager that you’ve the solutions to her medical office management problems.
5. Your enthusiasm
Healthcare employers want to hire those who are interested in more than a hefty paycheck. Reiterate your reasons for seeking employment with this particular practice or hospital in your thank you note. You can mention specifics discussed in your interview such as projected growth, advancement opportunities, or the impressive qualifications of the physicians and other medical staff.
6. Your contact information
You included your phone number, email and address on your resume, but don’t neglect to incorporate it into your thank you note closing as well. While doing so will make it easier for the hiring manager to respond (she doesn’t have to dig out your resume to do so), it also looks more professional.
In a highly competitive job market, time is of the essence. Don’t neglect to send a thank you note within 24 hours of your interview—it could make the difference between landing a great position and continuing the job search.
