You had a great interview, but now it’s over, so it’s time to sit and wait for a call. Right? Wrong! Employers agree that candidates who write a thank-you note as an interview follow-up are more likely to be hired. In fact, according to Forbes, 86 percent of hiring managers feel the lack of a timely thank- you note (or e-mail) shows that a candidate has a lack of follow-through. Yet, many job seekers have trouble with this seemingly vital aspect of the job hunt. Here’s how you can master the art of the thank- you note.

Quick Yet Detailed

Your note should be sent quickly, ideally the same day of the interview. In this day and age, an email works just fine, but a handwritten thank-you note is sure to set you apart from the pack. The problem with the handwritten note is it won’t arrive for one or two days. To solve this problem, some candidates will send both – a quick thank-you email the day of, and a more formal hand-written note sent by post.

While you want to be quick in sending out the note, don’t be tempted to use a template or prewritten note. You want your thank-you note to be specific and contain at least a few details about your interviewer, your interview and your impressions of the company. Trust us, managers can spot a form letter from a mile away!

Finally, remember what a thank-you note is not. It is not a way to fawn over the interviewer or to highlight things you forgot to mention in the interview. It should not be a page-long letter to the hiring manager. Keep it short, simple and focused on the company.

Here’s an Example of a Winning Thank-You Note

Dear Dr. Smith,

It was great having the chance to meet with you on Tuesday to discuss the details of the receptionist position. From our conversation, I feel like I would be a great fit at the office. My experience with transitioning from paper charts to an electronic health record will surely be of great help during the upcoming EHR transition you mentioned.

I’m sure you have a lot on your plate right now, balancing your patients with this job search. Please let me know if there is any other information I can provide for you. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,

(signature)

Full Name

Did you notice how we didn’t need to give you any context about that note? All the details—what job this person interviewed for, who they met with, what they talked about,\ and why they are a good candidate—are contained within the note. And even with that information, the note is quite brief. That’s the hallmark of a winning thank-you note.

Now that you’re armed with this information, you’re ready to stand out from the crowd after your next interview! Follow Aventure Staffing on Facebook for more expert advice on landing your dream job.