Q: How early is too early to arrive for my interview and do I need to send a thank you letter afterwards?

A: It is best to arrive 10-15 minutes prior to your scheduled interview time. Any earlier and your interviewer might get annoyed. Any later becomes a reflection on your time management skills.

I think the best scenario is to give yourself plenty of time to get to the interview so you don’t feel rushed or anxious about getting lost, dealing with unexpected traffic, or figuring out where to park. You can always wait in your car for a bit, look over your notes, take a few deep breaths, and compose yourself before you head into the interview.

As for whether or not to send a Thank You letter, my answer is a resounding, “YES! Do it.” This simple follow-up gesture can go a long way during the interview process. As much as it is talked about as a must-do, many people still don’t do it. You can send your thank you via email or a hand written note. Email gets there the quickest but an old fashioned hand written note leaves a big impression. Either way, just do it. It is an easy way to help you stand out. Here is a link to the Thank You Letter section on iSchool Career Development.

Share your thank you letter questions or comments.