Following Up Post-Interview: Powerful Tips

The Mirroring Technique

The best way I have found to write powerful thank you/after-interview letters is to use the mirroring technique. Essentially, you mirror, match, and repeat back a summary of key points you discussed in the interview.

To do this right, you will want to be taking short notes during your interview. The primary things you want to pick up are:

  • What the position’s main challenges are.
  • The kind of person they are looking for.
  • Anything positive they shared about you and your potential candidacy.

Your thank you letter should consist of short points on problems you can solve, confirmation of matching strengths, and enthusiasm for your next meeting.

Another critical point for thank you letters – and essentially all marketing collateral having to do with your job search correspondence – is: shorter is better. Less is more. State the most important points in a simple, informal (me to you) style, using as few words as possible.

Conversely, letters that are a full page and packed out with text cause your reader’s eyes to glaze over and they quickly lose interest. You can compound this by using a lot of three dollar words and “word salad.” Please don’t fall into the trap of looking like you are trying too hard. Simple is better, no matter to whom you address your letter. The more simple and clear you can make your message, the stronger the connection you will naturally forge between you and your reader.

Three Key Thank You Letter Tips

  1. If your letter is hard mailed, be sure to sign it in blue ink. Most marketers believe this is the most memorable color.
  2. If you are sending an email, create a signature line with your name and phone number for easy reference. Anything you can do to make it quicker and easier for someone to reach out to you is key.
  3. Do you know what always gets read in a letter? The post script. If you have occasion to write one, it’s a good idea. Just be sure that what your P.S. says is meaningful. Don’t use it for soft statements like, “P.S. Did I mention I am a team player?”

Would you like more great interview follow up tips and letter templates? Grab my e-book from The Career Artisan Series: Interview Follow Up – Tips, Scripts & Letter Templates:

Mary Elizabeth Bradford is the Founder and Executive Director of CEOresumewriter.com (founded 2008) and a past executive recruiter. A thought leader in the career services industry for over 20 years, she holds 7 distinct advanced certifications for senior-level resume writing, online branding and executive-level job search coaching (CERM, CMRW, CARW, MCD, NCOPE, IBDC.D, MQLED.D). She has been seen and heard in major media including Forbes, Time, WSJ, Newsweek and NBC affiliate stations. She holds 2 CDI TORI awards and is a top tier judge for the elite CDI TORI awards for four consecutive years. Mary Elizabeth Bradford’s elite team of award-winning, certified, top executive resume writers, former top executive recruiters, and global HR executives help many of the world’s premier C-suite, board members and thought leaders worldwide secure the transitions and compensation packages they want. Read about Mary Elizabeth Bradford Reviews and why some resume writing companies are publishing fake reviews to mislead you. Book a free consultation to discuss your executive transition goals here.

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