How to write an impactful job interview thank you note

IN today's challenging employment landscape, a thoughtful and professionally-written thank you note after a job interview will do more than remind hiring managers just how awesome you are - it could also give you a distinct competitive advantage.

- JENNIFER ALSEVER

Here's how to write an impactful followup thank you note:

Be prompt

If you can, send your note within 24-hours of the interview, advises Domenick Cilea, president of Springboard Public Relations. "Not sending an email, whether you are interested in the position or not, is unprofessional," he says.

When you finish your interview, head home as soon as you can to write your thank you note. If you send the note too late, the hiring manager might assume you weren't going to send one and could have already rejected you for it.

Equally, it's not wise to rush it, says Alison Green, author of How to Get a Job. And definitely don't write it ahead of time and then press send right after you walk out of the interview. This would be a lost opportunity to personalise your note and build a relationship, she says. "It removes much of the significance of the gesture and turns it into an obvious checkbox exercise," Green says.

Formal-casual balance

With a professional email note, there's always a delicate balance between being overly formal and too casual. If you're too stiff, it could backfire, according to Hari Kolam, CEO of the talent acquisition platform Findem. "Remember that there's an actual person reading this letter; so try to put yourself in their shoes," says Kolam.