- The Rules of Thank Yous for Screening Interviews
DO send a thank you correspondence to each individual attorney with whom you meet during the interview process. If you meet with two attorneys from the same employer, each individual should receive a separate thank you.
DO author a note that is professional in tone and that is personalized to each interviewer. You can individualize messages by mentioning different points of the conversation.
DO send the thank you within 24 hours of your screening interview if you intend it to be a component of your candidacy (which you should intend). The interviewers will provide their recommendations for second interviews very soon after interviewing on campus.
DO make certain the thank you is an example of your best writing. It is the final impression you make during this stage of interviewing.
- Electronic Mail vs. US Mail
You may, especially after a short, on-campus or virtual first interview, send your thank yous via email. The formal business letter and handwritten thank you remain acceptable during the screening interview process as well; however, because of the expeditious decision making by most employers after first/screening interviews, it is a permissible option to send a thank you electronically in order to ensure its timeliness. When emailing a thank you, the tone should be no different than if you were writing a formal letter.
- Sample Thank You
Dear Attorney Martinez:
Sincerely,
I enjoyed talking with you on August 7 at Marquette University Law School. I appreciate the insight you provided regarding your experiences as a former Taylor & Schmidt summer associate. Like you, I find it appealing that the firm's summer associates rotate formally through its four, primary practice groups.
Thank you also for taking the time to answer candidly the questions I had regarding Taylor & Schmidt's approach to training and development. As described, I feel strongly that the firm offers an environment where I can succeed as a summer associate and future attorney, especially with its two-mentor support program. Finally, as we discussed, my experience and interest in tax law fit well with what you noted to be the firm's intent to grow its corporate tax team.
I look forward to hearing about next steps in the interview process. (And I hope you enjoy your upcoming trip to Yellowstone National Park.)
Amy S. Sheil