You just nailed the interview for that job you really want. Now what? Should you sit around and wait for that email or phone call to determine your fate? There are definitely a few steps to take that can greatly affect (in a good way) your results. One of those things is a follow up thank you note. It can be a bit nerve wracking to write an email. What do you say? How do you convey what you want without being there in person? The principle of a thank you email is to show your gratitude for the business for talking the time to interview you and to give you another chance to highlight what makes you such a great candidate for the job.

Always start of the email by saying, you guessed it, thank you. Tell the employer that you appreciate the time they spent with you. Tell them you enjoyed speaking and meeting with them (and anyone else who was at the interview). Make sure you mention people by name because it looks much better if you can name specific people. Instead of saying “you and the group" say “It was very nice meeting you, Jess, and Matt." Be as personal as you can to show that you were paying attention and are really interested in the position. There’s no need to use last names since, let’s be honest, how often do you say, “it was great seeing John Smith today"? Make sure to sound genuine and like yourself.

Another thing you want to make sure to do is add your qualifications and skills. You may have gone over them in your interview, but remember that the employer has probably interviewed many people for the position. Make it easier and associate your name with your skills. Write in a way that the employer will remember you as the one who can do xyz skills.

A quick note about formalities. Make sure you send your thank you note within 24 hours of the interview. It’s common courtesy and makes it look like you’re eager and excited for the opportunity to work there. Make sure to not send it too soon or it may seem less heartfelt and important. Make sure to start your note with “Dear [whoever interviewed you]. End the note with “sincerely," or “Thank you again." Also, it is typical business form to include three line breaks between paragraphs. Paragraphs could be a sentence or ten sentences. They refer to any section of writing that is broken up by pressing the “enter" button. For example, in your first paragraph you can write:

“Dear Michelle,"

That is an example of a paragraph, which you would follow with three line breaks.

Here is a sample thank you note:

“ Dear [whoever interviewed you],

Thank you for taking the time to interview me for the [position you applied for]. It was great to meet you [and anyone else] today. I enjoyed discussing the company and the roles associated with the position. As we discussed, I  [add whatever qualifications make you a good fit for the position]. [Add any other skills you have or anything you forgot to mention in the interview].

I look forward to hearing from you. You can email me here or call me at [your phone number].

Thank you again,

[Your name]

Not so bad, right? Writing a thank you note to an employer is very similar to writing a thank you letter to anyone else. You want to express how thankful you are and what you are thankful for. Accentuate why you are the best fit for the role. Show off a little. Talk about experiences and refresh their memory on your skills. Sell yourself, in a sense. It is sure to catch their eye and may even be the reason you get the job. Good luck!