While there are many good traits to strive to align with your personal brand, one of the best qualities you can be known for is being gracious. Saying “thank you” to everyone who impacts your life, personally and professionally can do wonders for your reputation. It’s such an easy thing to do, but hiring managers, employers, peers, and everyone else you meet will remember you for it.
This Thanksgiving, take a moment to reflect on the amount of times you thank the people who impact your life. Do you do it enough? Here are a few instances when you should remember to say “thank you”:
Be memorable at networking events. When you attend any industry event where you meet new people, no matter how formal or informal, you should always express your appreciation to everyone you encounter. Verbally say “thank you” when you end a conversation, and request your new contact’s business card.
Then when you get home, send every person you met a follow-up email thanking them for their time and the lovely conversation. These two simple steps make a really big difference in building new relationships, and people will come to associate your actions with your brand.
Stand out to hiring managers. Another time it is absolutely essential to say “thank you” is during the process of applying for jobs. Thank your hiring manager for inviting you to interview, then again after the interview, and then again when they make a decision (in your favor or not). Again, say it at the end of your conversations and then follow up with an email.
Send emails to every person involved in your interview process and personalize them. This will improve your odds of landing the job and build your brand credibility. In fact, more than one in five hiring managers are less likely to hire a candidate if they don’t send a thank-you note after an interview. Of those managers, 86 percent say not sending a note shows a lack of follow-through and 56 percent say it shows you aren’t really serious about the job.
Show respect for peers. You should also express your gratitude to all of the other people you work with throughout your career. From co-workers and managers to clients and consultants, you should always remember to say “thank you.” After both successes and failures, at the completion of projects, after a hard day of work, no matter what the circumstances, if someone helps you do your job, you should thank them for doing so.
When networking, interviewing, and working day-to-day, you should always remember to say “thank you.” Being thankful throughout your career is good for your soul and your brand. Think about who you should give thanks to this Thanksgiving and make sure you continue to do so well after the holidays.
