By Hannah O’Connor, Internal Recruiter at Landing Point
Does a Thank You Note Really Make a Difference?
In today’s competitive job market, it’s easy to underestimate the impact of a simple thank you note after a meeting, conversation, or interview. Yet sending a thoughtful follow-up can leave a lasting impression that separates you from other candidates.
Thank you notes demonstrate professionalism, appreciation for someone’s time, and the ability to actively listen—all traits that hiring managers and recruiters value. For candidates, mastering this small but powerful gesture can make a meaningful difference in relationship building and advancing your career.
[Hannah O’Connor, Internal Recruiter at Landing Point, explaining how sending a personalized thank you note after interviews or meetings demonstrates professionalism, active listening, and relationship-building.]
Key Takeaways
It leaves a lasting impression: Many candidates skip this step, so sending a note can leave a memorable impression.
Shows professionalism: Expressing appreciation for someone’s time highlights your maturity and attention to detail.
Demonstrates active listening skills: Including specific details from your conversation shows engagement and presence.
Helps foster authentic relationships: Gratitude strengthens connections with recruiters, hiring managers, and colleagues.
Why Thoughtfulness Matters
While technical skills and experience open doors, soft skills such as gratitude and follow-through often leave the strongest impression. Here’s why a well-crafted thank-you note matters:
- It reinforces engagement: Reference details from your conversation to show that you were fully present.
- It signals professionalism: Thoughtfulness and courtesy reflect emotional intelligence and respect—qualities hiring managers appreciate.
- It builds long-term relationships: Even if you don’t get the role immediately, a personalized note can foster connections that pay off later.
- It enhances networking: Small gestures of gratitude make you memorable and approachable within your professional network.
Related reading from our Newsroom: Tips & The Anatomy of an Effective Thank-You Note
Ready to Strengthen Your Professional Relationships?
Even small gestures can have a big impact on the hiring process. At Landing Point, we encourage candidates to treat this as more than just a formality. A thoughtful, timely note shows professionalism, reinforces your interest in the role, and helps you build stronger connections with your interviewers. In a competitive market, small touches like this can leave a lasting impression and set you apart from other candidates who may not take the extra step.
Transcript
Hannah O’Connor:
As an internal recruiter here at Landing Point, I’ve definitely seen the value in receiving thank you notes post-meetings, post-conversations, post-interviews, and the importance in doing so. First and foremost, it leaves a lasting impression. A lot of people skip the step.
So when I do receive those thank you notes, it just paints them in a better light and I feel the appreciation that they have for me. Second off, it shows that you’re professional, you’re appreciating someone’s time and expressing that, which goes a long way. Thirdly, it is a chance for you to show you’re thoughtful and you have active listening skills.
While you’re curating the thank you note or follow-up note, be sure to include key details that you and your interviewer had chatted about in the conversation. Maybe you connected over a certain topic extensively, maybe they asked you a great question, maybe they clarified details surrounding the role or the company for you.
Using all those tidbits of information to really strengthen that thank you note shows that you were totally present, totally engaged in that conversation. And overall, a thank-you note is just another way to build a genuine, authentic relationship with that interviewer.
When you show that gratitude, people recognize it and they appreciate it.
About Hannah O’Connor
Hannah O’Connor is an Internal Recruiter at Landing Point, assisting with talent acquisition and onboarding initiatives that support the firm’s rapid growth. Working closely with division heads across the organization, she designs hiring and feedback frameworks that reinforce Landing Point’s collaborative, high-performance culture.
Hannah’s background in public accounting and dual degree—both a Bachelor of Science and Master of Accountancy—equips her with the structured, data-driven discipline she now applies to firmwide recruiting operations. She partners with company leaders to identify hiring needs, coordinate interviews, and guide new employees through a seamless onboarding experience. Beyond her recruiting responsibilities, Hannah also leads culture-building efforts, including internship program feedback, peer recognition, and employee engagement projects.
A certified Lagree Fitness instructor and Long Island native, Hannah loves exploring New York City neighborhoods, relaxing at the beach, and spending time with friends, family, and her dog, Cassie.