You should plan to send a thank you letter as soon after the interview as possible. To be most effective, it should arrive prior to the final hiring decision. A thank you letter should say much more than "thank you." Here are some of important points you may want to include:
- Express Enthusiasm
Convey your interest in and enthusiasm for the school district and the position for which you interviewed. Try to be specific about why you are interested and how you are a good fit for the school.
- Address Unresolved Points
Address any issues or questions that came up during the interview that you feel you did not fully answer. This letter is your last chance to make a positive impression on the interviewer.
- Be Sincere
The letter must be genuine, unique, and sincere - assure them you recognize the importance of the meeting and appreciate their time.
- Personalize It
You will undoubtedly be one of many interviewees in a short time period - you need to set yourself apart from the other candidates so they will remember you when you leave. In your letter, highlight a key point from your interview that you believe the interviewer will remember, and therefore remember you. Additionally, if you meet with more than one person, consider sending them all thank you letters, each one a bit different; you may not know exactly who in the group will be making the decisions. This will also force you to remember with whom you interviewed.
- Make One Last First Impression
Interviewers, especially if they are interviewing several people in a short time period, will typically only remember 3-5 things about you. Choose 3-5 points about your candidacy - the best you have to offer - and highlight it in your resume, your cover letter, the interview, and finally, in the thank you letter.
