Often overlooked, the follow up is the final step in the interviewing process. However, the poor follow-up of others can lead to your benefit, as it will make you stand out from the other candidates if you are the only individual to send one.

It’s imperative that you send a thank you note to every person you met with on the interview. Ask for business cards, it will help you remember who you talked to. If you are interested in the position, be sure to personalize the thank you note, besides the general “thanks for your time”, note some reasons why you are the perfect candidate for the job. Remember, your interviewer met 10-30 people regarding the position – make him/her remember who you are and stand out.

In order to have an impact on the hiring decision, you must insure that your letter is sent ASAP (preferably, the same day as your interview) – if a candidate for the job has been chosen before your letter is sent, obviously your letter will have no impact on the decision process – Therefore, time is of the essence.