Quintessential Careers Press: The Quintessential Guide to Finding and Maximizing Internships Chapter 3: Applying Job-Search Skills to Obtaining an Internship Page 28 Do write thank you letters within 24 hours to each person who interviewed you. (You can see some sample thank-you letters here.) And do know all the rules of following up after the interview. Remember that your work is not done once you finish the interview. You can't sit back and wait for the internship offer, so consider these key rules and strategies for following-up your interviews. Do ask at the end of the interview when the employer expects to make the hiring decision. Do be proactive and consider follow-up a strategic part of your internship-search process. Followup can give you just the edge you need to get the job offer over others who interviewed for the position. Do use these follow-up techniques to continue to show your enthusiasm and desire for the position, but don't make it seem as though you are desperate. Do obtain the correct titles and names of all the people who interviewed you. (Ideally, do get each person's business card.) Do write individual thank you notes or letters to each person who interviewed you -- within two business days. Each letter can be essentially the same, but try to vary each a bit in case recipients compare notes. Don't ever fail to send a thank you -- even if you are sure the job is not for you. And do write thank you notes after every interview. Don't worry so much about hand-written versus typed thank you letters, but don't make a mistake by sending it through the wrong medium; make sure you know the best method of reaching the employer, whether by regular mail, email, or fax. In your thank you letter, do show appreciation for the employer's interest in you and do remind the employer about why you are the perfect person for the position. See some sample interview thank you letters. Previous Page Next Page Back to The Quintessential Guide to Finding and Maximizing Internships Index Page