1. Be Brief
This is a thank you note, not a novel. You want to be clear that you are thanking the interviewer for their time, their insight, and the opportunity to discuss your skills and how they match this opportunity. You should try to keep the note to 6 sentences or less.
2. Be Clear/Direct
Keep your message simple. Don't feel the need to over-explain. You want to display both confidence and professional maturity. The way you say thank you says a lot about how you might fit into the company culture.
3. Be Error Free
This one is pretty straightforward. Interviewing for a new job in technology it tough. Coding, project management, tech sales, tech legal, tech marketing, tech leadership, and pretty much any job in tech requires good writing skills. Don’t go out and crush your interview a fail at the thank you letter. Talented people, especially people of color have been disqualified from consideration for far less.
4. Be Humble
Saying thank you requires humility. While the thank you note gives you a final chance to remind the interviewer that you are the right man or woman for the job, it is not a recap of the interview. Displaying humility shows that you are willing to learn and that you are coachable even if you are the coach.
5. Be Committed To Earning This Job
You are interviewing for both the company and the role. Make sure your thank you note explains both your skills and your fit. Pretty much everyone that gets an interview has the skills to do the job. The person that gets the job will be the best fit for the situation. The situation is a combination of the work that must be done and the environment that the work gets done. You want to be clear about your skill match and your potential to add to the team beyond your core workload.
Using the 5 Be’s will help you land your next job. Getting a job interview is just the beginning. You want to get a job offer. Best of luck in your job search. Keep pushing, your next job opportunity may be right around the corner.