How to Write Your Post-Interview Thank-You Notes

Getting an invite for an MBA interview is a good sign. In most cases, experts say, an MBA interview means the admissions committee finds your application compelling and can see you as a good fit for their MBA program.

One of the best practices after completing your interview is to send a thank-you note to your MBA interviewers. Stacy Blackman, founder of Stacy Blackman Consulting, recently explained the value of post-interview thank-you notes and offered insight into what applicants should include in their notes.

A SMALL TOKEN OF APPRECIATION

While it can seem small in the grand scheme of admissions, a thank-you note can go a long way, Blackman says.

“Sending a thank-you note after your MBA interview is a small but meaningful gesture that can make a difference in the impression you leave on the interviewer and the admissions committee,” Blackman says. “Have MBA hopefuls gotten into their dream programs without writing a thank-you note? Yes, of course. Nonetheless, sending one can help you stand out from other candidates who may not have taken the time to do so. After all, showing that you have manners and are aware of the proper etiquette is never a wrong move — it’s just the right thing to do.”

WHAT TO INCLUDE IN YOUR NOTE

Typically, applicants will send their thank-you note via email. The most important thing to remember to do post-interview is ensure that you have your interviewer’s contact information.

“You’ll already have their email address if you’re interviewing with a local alum,” Blackman says. “But this is especially critical if your meeting is on campus, and you won’t know who your interviewer is until you arrive. Don’t forget to ask for that person’s business card when you’re wrapping up.”

There are two things that Blackman says are “must-haves” when it comes to thank-you notes:

Thanking your interviewer for their time and reiterating your interest in the program.

“If you can throw in a sentence or two that references something you talked about, all the better,” Blackman says. “But thank-you notes are not the place to try and sell yourself any further or write another mini-essay. The point is to show that you’re excited about and thankful for the opportunity to be considered for a seat in Program X.”

In terms of timing, Blackman recommends sending the thank-you note within 24 hours after your interview as admissions committees typically make a decision quickly.

“If you interviewed in the morning, send it before the business day ends,” Blackman says. “If your talk was in the late afternoon or evening, get your email out first thing the following day.”

Sources: Stacy Blackman Consulting, mba.com