“Damage Control” Thank You Notes

Did you just flub your job interview? Were you awkward? Did you forget some critical piece of information that will make them want to hire you? Or did you make some other kind of job interview mistake? Whatever it was–it just didn’t go well, and you know it. But you still want the job. What do you do?

You send a thank you note.

It’s probably your only shot at damage control–your one last “Hail Mary” pass, but if it’s your only chance to fix whatever the problem was, you should take it.

On a good day, thank you notes are very important to your job interview process. On a bad day, it may be your only hope. Thank you letters show your great attitude, highlight your communication skills, and give you a chance to provide more information about why you’re a perfect fit for this job. In this case, a thank you note also highlights your ability to take in information (the interview) and provide feedback on whatever the problem was. You’re responding to an issue in a timely fashion (e-mail it, please), which is only going to improve the hiring manager’s perception of you. The ability to turn a negative situation around is one of those intangible skills you’ll need in medical/healthcare sales (or any job), and a situation like this is your chance to demonstrate it.