The​ ​Importance​ ​of​ ​Gratitude:​ ​The​ ​“Thank​ ​you”​ ​Note

The​ ​Importance​ ​of​ ​Gratitude:​ ​The​ ​“Thank​ ​you”​ ​Note
Written By: Chaundra​ ​Daniels,​ ​M.S.Ed​ ​Career​ ​Consultant 

A large part of my job is speaking with ​students​ about​ ​their​ ​job​ ​searches. ​I​ ​am​ ​often​ ​asked,​ ​“Ms. Daniels,​ ​should​ ​I​ ​follow​ ​up​ ​with​ ​a​ ​thank​ ​you​ ​note​ ​after​ ​interviewing​ ​​with​ ​an​ ​employer?”​ ​When I receive this question, my answer​ ​is​ ​always, ​“Yes!”​ ​The​ biggest ​reason​ thank you notes are important ​is​ ​that they show gratitude.​ ​Gratitude​ ​is​ ​defined​ ​as​ ​the​ ​quality​ ​of being​ ​thankful, or the readiness to show appreciation and to return kindness.​ When​ ​engaging​ ​with​ ​anyone​ related to​ ​your​ ​job​ ​search,​ ​especially​ ​an employer,​ ​you​ ​should​ ​be​ ​mindful​ of the fact ​that​ ​this person is​ ​taking​ ​the​ ​time​ ​to​ ​meet​ ​with​ ​you out of respect for you and your accomplishments.​ ​This means that they feel that ​you​ might ​have something​ ​to​ ​offer as an​ ​asset​ ​to​ ​their​ ​company.​ It​ ​is​ ​always​ ​good​ practice ​to​ ​say​ ​thank​ ​you after these interactions, including informational interviews. Time​ ​is​ a very limited​ ​commodity​ ​for most people, and the​ ​fact​ ​that​ someone​​ ​is​ ​spending​ ​their​ time to help you​ ​take​ ​the​ ​next​ ​steps​ ​in your job search is ​in​ ​itself​ something​ ​to​ ​be​ ​thankful​ ​for.​ ​
There​ ​are​ ​many​ ​students​ ​and​ ​soon-to-​be​ ​graduates seeking​ ​employment,​ ​and​ ​securing​ ​an​ ​interview​ ​is​ ​a​ ​competitive​ ​process.​ ​Once​ ​you have​ ​encountered​ ​the networking​ ​phase​ ​of​ ​this​ ​process,​ ​it​ ​is​ ​imperative​ ​to​ ​remember​ ​that​ ​you​ ​have something​ ​to​ ​offer​ ​that​ ​someone​ ​else​ ​may be​ ​interested​ ​in.​ ​That​ ​is​ ​also something​ ​to​ ​always​ ​be thankful​ ​for.​ ​Sending​ ​a​ ​thank​-you​ ​note​ ​after​ ​engaging​ ​with a​ ​potential​ ​employer​ shows​ ​confidence​ ​in​ ​your​ ​performance​ ​as​ ​a​ ​candidate​ ​for​ ​employment.​ ​It​ also ​demonstrates your​ ​respect for​ ​the​ employer's time and attention, and is ​an​ ​opportunity to​ show​ ​the employer your​ ​sincere​ ​interest​ ​in​ ​the​ ​position​ and your great attention to detail. In addition, a thank-you note is a great way to showcase your communications skills by reiterating some of the highlights of your previous conversation.​ ​This helps you to continue​ ​to​ ​build​ ​professional​ ​rapport​ ​with​ ​​potential​ ​employers​ throughout the interview process.​ ​
Some people consider sending thank you notes to be a routine activity, and their notes tend to be very impersonal. I always ask my students to take their thank-you notes a step further by personalizing each one they send out. ​If​, after​ ​speaking​ ​with​ ​an​ ​employer​ ​or​ ​going on an ​interview, you​ find you ​are​ ​no​ ​longer​ ​interested in the company or the position available,​ ​it is still important​ ​to​ ​thank​ ​an​ ​employer​ for​ ​their​ ​time.​ ​It is good practice to send thank​-you​ ​notes​​ ​within​ twenty-four​ ​hours​ ​of​ ​your interview or meeting​ ​in​ ​order​ to fully demonstrate your gratitude and professionalism.​ Gratitude​ ​is​ ​an​ ​expression of​ ​appreciation​ ​for​ ​what​ ​one has, and the opportunity to interview for a competitive position is no small thing.​ ​You​ ​have​ ​what​ ​it​ ​takes​ ​to​ ​secure​ ​employment, and a well-written thank-you note is a great way to show it. Give​ ​Thanks!

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