A thank you note takes less than five minutes to write, yet "surprisingly few" applicants do it, says Jeff Hyman, an executive recruiter of 26 years.
Throughout his career, Hyman has interviewed more than 35,000 job candidates, and estimates he has received a thank you note from less than 20% of the people he spoke with.
1 mistake job seekers can make, says ZipRecruiter CEO Ian Siegel, because it signals to a hiring manager that you aren't really interested in the role.
It's also a chance to show off your soft skills, like communication and creativity, which companies are "increasingly prioritizing in their hiring," Siegel adds.
Here are some essential do's and don'ts for writing the perfect thank you email, according to Siegel and Hyman: