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You Never Get a Second Chance to Make a Last Impression

We all know how important it is to make a great first impression, especially on the person interviewing you for a new job. But it's just as important to make a great last impression. The easiest way to do this? With a thoughtful thank you note, sent within a day of the interview. Whether you decide to handwrite yours, or to write it in an email, here are three things to keep in mind before you send it off.

Reiterate your interest
After thanking your interviewer for his/her time, let them know you're interested in the job. Hopefully you already gave that impression during your interview, but you can reiterate the thought by writing something like "I'm excited about the position and hope you'll give me the opportunity to contribute to your company." You might think it's obvious to the hiring manager that you want the job. But since the interview is just as much a chance for you to evaluate the opportunity as it is a chance for the hiring manager to evaluate you, it's important to express the fact that you can see yourself working for them, and that you want to.

Keep it personal
If you can, refer to something on the personal side you and the hiring manager discussed during the interview that you think he/she will remember as well. Are you from the same hometown? Did you go to the same college? Think of a connection the two of you had, and work it into your note. Not only will it help them remember you, it will show how personable you are -- a great quality for a potential employee to have.

Proofread. Spell check. Repeat.
You could have had the greatest interview of your life, but if you follow it up with a mistake-ridden thank you note, there’s no doubt the hiring manager will think twice about bringing you on board. Make sure there are no typos or grammatical errors in your note. And if you can, you might want to ask a friend with fresh eyes to take a look as well.

Now, we know what you might be thinking. "It’s the hiring manager's job to interview me, so why would I thank them for doing their job?" The answer’s simple. Because your job could depend on it.

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