5 Mistakes to Avoid in Writing a Thank-You E-mail

Thank-You E-mailIn the past, having a resume, going to an interview and answering the questions would be enough to get you a job. 

Today, whenever there is a job opening, hundreds of applications come across the desk of an employer. Hiring managers face the problem of screening these applicants and choosing whoever is the best fit for the job.

What if several applicants are on the short list—your name included? What can do to tip the scales on your favor? The answer is: Follow up!

After going through several interviews, the memory of an interview will be foggy, especially if you were the first one interviewed on the short list. A follow-up e-mail can help refresh their memory and show professionalism.

Gone are the days when thank-you e-mails are just a bonus. Today, it is expected from every applicant to send in a thank-you letter

If you want to help your interviewers refresh their memory and show professional etiquette, send a thank-you letter. Here are tips on what not to do when sending your letter.

Use informal phrases – There is a line between an interviewer and interviewee that should never be crossed. A good example is using informal phrases in your letter. Do not start with “Hey!”, “Hope you are well,” or “How are you?”  You want to be viewed as someone that is both educated and professional.

Be Lazy and use CC – You might use it when e-mailing your friends, but you should never use cc (carbon copy) to e-mail an interviewer. In any professional area, using cc is poor etiquette.

Write an essay – A thank-you e-mail only serves as a refresher for the interviewer, not as an essay reiterating the entire interview.

Use a template – Practically everyone access to the Internet today; we all go and research to get ideas from what others have used. There is nothing wrong with a template per se, but if you get lazy and send one as is, you are doing more damage than good.

When sending an e-mail to the interviewer, it should be personalized and contain something to help the interviewer remember you in particular.

Poor spelling /grammar/typos – The worst-case scenario is sending a letter and getting the names wrong. What it says to an employer is that you won’t even put forth the effort to spend a few moments checking your spelling.

Here are some tips on what to do when sending a thank-you e-mail:

Professional tone – In writing your e-mail, always be professional in the words you use. Take your time in writing the perfect message to send to the interviewer. Before you click on the send button, the content of your e-mail should be something that could seal the deal on a hundred-million-dollar contract.

Further information – In the course of a conversation, you are bound to forget bits of information that you will only remember after the interview is over. On the way home, you realize that you forgot to mention an important aspect of your professional career. If you feel that you have missed, something during the interview, you can rectify this through the follow-up e-mail.

A thank-you letter is a good way to tip the scales in your favor. It is an essential part of the interview process that is now expected of every applicant. Take advantage of the thank-you letter to put yourself in a better position after a good interview