Say Thank You After Job Interviews to Improve your Hiring Chances

According to the latest Labour Market Report of the First Quarter 2017 released by Singapore's Ministry of Manpower, local citizen unemployment rate has risen to 3.5% (compared to 2.7% a year ago). Singapore's resident long-term unemployment rate has also edged up to 0.8% (compared to 0.7% in 2016).

With increasing unemployment rate and limited promotions available, how can one stand out amongst the rest to score a job?

One of the keys to success is being proactive. Nowadays, most prospective job-seekers overlook the significance of an email sent back to the interviewers upon the completion of their interview - a thank you note. Although the notion of a thank you note - often after an invitation to a dinner - extends decades back to a bygone past, its weight must not be discounted.

This article will explain the four essential parts of a noteworthy thank-you note, allowing you to stand out from the field of candidates.

1. Recognise the effort of the interviewer.

Open up your thank-you note with a sentence that expresses your gratitude to your interviewers for taking the time to speak to you - a simple formality that will show how well-mannered and polite you are.

2. Remind the interviewer of your capabilities and suitability for this job.

For example, highlight any past experiences or special skills that you might have shared with them during the interview that might be beneficial to the company. This will help them to refresh their memory of your interview, enabling you to stand out from the crowd of other interviewees.

3. If possible, speak briefly on what you learned during the interview.

If you raised a question about the company or gleaned any new information while speaking with them, now would be a good time to jog their memory about it. A simple sentence speaking for example, about what you've learned about your career progression and pathway within their company would suffice. This shows your passion and eagerness to take on the job, as well as your introspectivity, a willingness to take initiative and reflect back later on.

4. Lastly, remind the interviewer that you are keen on the job.

If any, add on any relevant experiences that you might've missed out on during the interview. Show your dedication and enthusiasm for the job.

These four parts will make up the key body of your post-interview thank-you note. The following is an example of how they'd be implemented into a real thank-you note:

Dear Janet and Steven,

Thank you for taking the time earlier to interview me; it was a pleasure to speak to all of you.

I am glad to have understood more regarding the company culture and my career progression in your company during the interview. I am confident that my past experiences will be put into good use in order to help the company grow. I look forward to hearing the good news from you and hope that we can work together soon.

Best,

Tania Koh

An essential (but often forgotten) part of your interview process, these four steps will help you to stand out from the long line of interviewees, helping you to secure your dream job!