Thank-You Notes After Your MBA Interview
Our clients often ask us if they should write thank-you notes to their MBA interviewers. A thank-you note shows appreciation for the interviewer’s time and consideration. It also lets them know you are grateful for the opportunity to discuss your qualifications and experience.
While handwritten messages will always be a classy move — and we encourage applicants to write such notes if they’re so inclined — an email is just as acceptable today. Plus, you know it will get to your interviewer instantly, perhaps before they need to turn in their notes or make a final decision about your candidacy (if they’re part of the AdCom).
The most important thing is to ensure you have your interviewer’s contact information. You’ll already have their email address if you’re interviewing with a local alum. 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!
What is the Value of Post-Interview Thank-You Notes?
Well-written thank-you notes demonstrate professionalism and attention to detail. It shows that you take the business school application process seriously and that you can communicate effectively. As for the content of the message, you shouldn’t feel the need to go on and on.
There are only two must-includes:
- Thank the interviewer for their time, and
- Reiterate your interest in the program.
If you can throw in a sentence or two that references something you talked about, all the better. 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.
Some AdComs have to make admit and denial decisions very quickly. So don’t let more than 24 hours go by before you send your message. If you interviewed in the morning, send it before the business day ends. If your talk was in the late afternoon or evening, get your email out first thing the following day.
But what if you need to travel home right after the interview and only have time to send a quick message from your phone? In that case, make sure you read it over carefully before sending it to confirm that spellcheck or autocorrect didn’t do you wrong. You don’t want the last impression you leave to be a negative one.
Finally, don’t worry if you don’t get a response after you’ve sent your message. Some schools have strict policies regarding post-interview contact with applicants and don’t want to risk any communication misinterpretations.
Thank-You Notes are an Easy Lift
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. 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.
Remember:
The process of finding, applying for, and sorting out MBA financial aid opportunities can be tedious and confusing. If you have already received the admit to your dream MBA program and would like help with applying for financial aid as a US or international candidate, we are here to help with SBC’s Financial Aid Advisory service. Please email info@stacyblackman.com to learn more.
