You have just finished an interview with a hiring manager. Want to know the #1 way to stand out? It’s simple. Send a thank you email.

You would be surprised how few people actually take the time to do this. When I have a shortlist of 3 candidates interviewing for a role, typically only 1 of the 3 will send a thank you email unprompted.

You may notice that I’m saying “email” and not card in the mail. This is deliberate. Emails are ideal because hiring managers forward them to other people in the interview process. They are immediate. They can impact hiring decisions.

Here are my tips:

1. If you meet with more than 1 person in the interview, send a customized thank you message to each person. BCC the recruiter. Do not cc any other people who many have been involved. This will prompt them to forward your thank you message to the others who were involved in the interview. It will give them another reason to think about you and your candidacy.
2. Go beyond thanking them for your time. The thank you email is an opportunity for you to summarize why you are interested in the job and what qualities or experience makes you a good fit for the role.
3. The thank you email is an opportunity to clarify something that may have gotten stepped over in an interview. If you felt that there was a question that you didn’t address well in your interview or you felt that there was some information missing, you can easily address it in the thank you note. (Focus on the positive.)
4. Send your thank you email the same day as your interview. If your interview is in the evening or at the end of the day, send the thank you note first thing in the morning.
5. Make sure that you use correct spelling and grammar. If you miss the mark here, your thank you message can actually work against you.

Remember, a well thought out email can convey gratitude, your excitement about the role and can reinforce why we are the right candidate for the job.

So Thank you! Merci! Gracias!

Here’s to your success!