How To Write The Perfect Interview Thank You Letter
Getting through a job interview can often feel like walking a tightrope. But a touch of common courtesy in the form of an interview thank you letter can help you land your dream job.
During the whole hiring process, there are many different factors that cause one candidate to lose out to another. The companys culture and the personal preferences of the people doing the hiring play an important role. Thats why its important to remember that many people like receiving appreciative emails. In this article, well delve deeper into the significance of an interview thank you letter and help you craft the perfect one.
Thank You Email After A Coding Challenge
This email is likely to go to a hiring manager with coding experience, and as a result, you can be a bit more technical in your thank-you note. Try something along the lines of this:
Thank you for administering the coding challenge today it was a pleasure to experience the type of work required by the at . The work seems like exactly the type of job Im looking for, and I believe my experience with would help me thrive in this position.If there are any additional questions I can answer, please let me know. Thanks again for meeting with me to speak about this exciting opportunity.
Try to share more specifics about your experience with the coding challenge. Were you thrilled to see a debugging task? Do you take pleasure in writing clean code? Be specific about how you see yourself adapting to this role and using specific skills youve honed over the years.
Key Mistakes To Avoid
When writing your post-interview thank you email, avoid these common mistakes.
Writing snail mail
Avoid a thank you letter. While some resources suggest that the wedding planning industry and legal industry still appreciate handwritten letters, we live in a fast-paced digital age . An email can get to the interviewer quicker.
While they are both considered a very traditional industry, it’s best to focus on writing an email within 24 hours of your interview. A handwritten note sounds nice.
Most modern companies use email now, it’s best to use email versus mailing the note.
Waiting too long
Anything past 48 hours is too long. And doesn’t show enthusiasm or passion that the interviewer is going to be looking for.
Pro tip! Send the email immediately after the interview is complete. It’s not too eager, contrary to what you might think.
Not following up
Didn’t hear back from the interviewer about the next steps in the interview process? Then follow-up to the thank-you email and ask to get an update on the status of the position and the job placement.
A follow-up message should be sent if you haven’t heard anything from the prospective employer within 3 to 5 business days.
Writing a long email
Keep the message short, it should be only a few sentences. Using your own voice, rather than following some type of script. Provide information that can help with the hiring decision, but don’t be pushy!
Not leaving a good impression
Using an informal greeting
- Dear
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Who To Thank After A Job Interview
If you meet a lot of people during your interview, should you thank them all for their time? Its not an absolute requirement to send each person a thank-you note or email.
In some cases, particularly if you were interviewed by a multi-member panel of interviewers, it is acceptable to send your note to the point person who orchestrated your interview, requesting that he or she share your thanks with the other interviewers.
Second/final Interview Thank You Email Example
After a second and potentially final interview, it’s best to follow up and show interest in moving forward with the job offer. In this third sample email, it’s best to recap the entire interview process.
Dear George
I want to say how incredible the entire interview experience has been. We’ve had the opportunity to cover what the company is looking for. How the job title is going to differ from other positions.
During this entire process, I have been nothing but extremely impressed with the team.
Wanted to reach out and tell you I appreciate what we’ve done together.
I look forward to hearing from you and the team after you’ve had the opportunity to review me as a candidate.
If there’s anything else I can provide, please let me know. I would be happy to speak with the HR representative who is running this placement if there’s anything I need to answer.
Thanks again, George!
Patrick
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The Power To Get You Hired Amidst Close Competition
How do recruiters, hiring managers, business owners, start-upfounders, and pretty much everyone in the hiring profession choose betweenequally promising candidates?
Sometimes, it comes down to cultural fit, other times personalitybecomes a deciding factor. But what if both seem equally nice and perfect withthe team?
Thats when a thank you note can make all the difference. Leslie Saul, Owner of Leslie Saul andAssociates architecture and design company, shared this story:
One time, my team was stumpeddeciding among three good candidates. I met all the candidates, and alsothought anyone of them would be a great addition to the team.
Two days later, I received ahandwritten thank you note from one of the candidates. He also wrote a note tothe staff who interviewed him. The second candidate sent a thank you note via email,while the third one didnt contact any of us. In the end, I hired Mr.Handwritten Note Guy. He turned out to be a great hire!
Now that you know how to write a thank you email after an interview, it’s time to put the examples and points above to good usehelping secure your new position.
Browse through our professional resume templates on Envato Elements or GraphicRiver to find a great resume design.
Why Is It Important To Write A Thank
Its true that some employers expect a thank-you letter after an interview. Its a gesture that reinforces your interest in the role, while also showcasing good manners. When you write a thank-you note after an interview, you gain yet another opportunity to influence your potential employer’s decision. If you write a thank-you note, you can reiterate your interest in and qualifications for the position.
A handwritten thank-you letter offers a personal touch and has the potential to set you apart from other candidates as many people dont mail letters anymore. However, it can take days for a mailed letter to arrive. The hiring process can move quickly so its recommended to always send a thank-you email, even if you decide to also send a handwritten letter. When you email, you can connect with the hiring team much more quickly and influence their decision before they complete the hiring process. Send your thank-you email no more than 24 hours after the interview.
Related:Guide to Thank You Notes
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A Thank You Email Example For After An Interview
Heres an example of a professional thank you email to send after a job interview. The key elements of this email message include:
- Short and easy to read
- Shows appreciation for the interview
- Reconfirms interest in the position
- Reminds the hiring manager of why the candidate is right for the role
- Leaves an easy opening for the next steps
For example, you might write:
Hi Beth,
Thank you for taking the time to meet with me yesterday. I enjoyed hearing about what the day-to-day work would look like as a Senior Account Representative.
Im confident that my 2 years of experience in customer support at XYZ Company would give me an advantage in this role, especially since both positions involve responding to a high volume of customer requests primarily via email.
Ive learned that communication via email requires a unique approach, since you cant gauge their reactions in the moment, and its easier to have miscommunications if youre not careful.
This is something Ive worked on mastering in my previous position and Id love to continue working in this area.
Thank you again for your time yesterday, and I look forward to hearing about the next steps!
In the meantime, dont hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.
Best regards,
Your Name
Thank You Email Template For A Job Interview :
A face-to-face job interview is a fantastic opportunity. Employers also tell us that the manner in which candidates follow up is an essential signal of their interest in the role. Candidates that remain silent after the interview appear uninterested. So, if you really want the job, take the time to create a genuine, personalized email right after the interview and submit it the same day.
Subject Line: Thank you
Dear ,
Thank you for taking the time to speak with me today. I had a great time meeting you and learning about how I might be able to help ] as the new ].
Following our discussions, I am even more certain that this is a career I would love, as well as one in which I can succeed and make a useful contribution.
Im especially interested about
You stated that you will make a choice on this position within ]. In the meantime, if you require any extra information from me, please let me know and I will provide it to you!
Once more, I appreciate the opportunity to consult with ] and cherish the effort you took with me.
Sincerely,
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Explain What Makes You The Best Fit For The Role
You can use this next section to reiterate any skills or qualities you may possess that make you well-suited for the position. View the job posting as you type this email and mention any preferred skills they have listed that you may have as well. You can also reference your notes if you took any during the interview and use those to connect yourself to the position or company.
When To Write A Thank
Writing a thank-you note to your interviewers shows that you are gracious, humble and thoughtful all important qualities for potential new hires to possess. Thats why you should write a thank-you letter after every interview within 24 hours. You dont want to risk having recruiters or hiring managers think that youre cocky, ungrateful or absentminded.
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How Long Should The Thank You For The Interview Email Be
Now that you have some examples of a good thank you email, youve probably noticed that they vary in style and length. Still, none of these go into a lot of details and are relatively brief. On average, recruiters who help people find their next legal job recommend that a thank you letter for an interview should be between 85 and 150 words in length.
It can go up to 200 words, especially if youre applying for a high-level position or you have plenty of experience in the field. At the end of the day, the key is knowing the company where youre applying for the job. This will help you decide what type of follow-up email after the interview works best.
If youve agreed on something in your interview, make sure to follow through, even if it exceeds the aforementioned word count. These arent rules set in stone, and it is up to you to craft the appropriate email for the job youre applying for.
How To Write A Thank You Email After A Phone Interview
As you write your thank you email, you should focus on the items discussed in your interview and highlight any skills or qualifications you’d like the interviewer to remember. Follow the steps below to write an effective thank you email once the phone interview is complete:
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Guide To Thank You Notes
Thank you notes are a polite way to express gratitude. Professional thank you notes are appropriate when completing a job interview, meeting a new business contact, celebrating existing working relationships or receiving a business gift. While its not mandatory to send professional thank you notes, taking this extra step can help leave a positive impression.
In this article, we review some tips on how to write a thank you note and say thank you meaningfully, which may build better relationships and boost your career.
Include A Return Address On The Envelope
Worst case, if your card isnt deliverable, you will know when the Post Office returns it to you.
Include your business card in the thank you note, just in case the recipient doesnt remember you. The business card also makes it very easy for the recipient to reach out to you without going to the trouble of digging out your resume or application.
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Mistakes Andjustifications For A Poor Interview
Keep your note positive, and dont use it to justify or redeemyourself after a poor interview, says Scott Ledbury,Co-Founder of Slinky Productions.
Instead of rehashing yourawkward answers, Ledbury suggests, usingthis opportunity to fill in any gaps in your interview, such as elaborating onan answer you later realized a better answer for.
Use Good Quality Thank You Notes Or Paper
If you are going to hand write your note, use standard thank you notes you find in a stationery/card store. Dont use fancy and flowery cards unless they are appropriate for the business , and avoid very small cards since that will limit your ability to include sufficient information.
Thank you notes typically fold in half with Thank you on the top and the inside blank. Hand write your thank you on the bottom half or the right half of the inside of the note, depending on how the card works, so that your note is immediately visible without having to turn the card to view it when opened.
If you are sending a word processed note, be sure to have good quality paper in your printer with, hopefully, matching envelopes for you to use.
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Should You Send An Email Acknowledging A Bad Job Interview
Send this only if you are absolutely positive that you failed the interview. Often, we can be too self-critical as we look back at our performance in an interview.
Apologizing for something that was NOT viewed as a failure by the employer can backfire, big time!
However, if an interview scheduled for sixty minutes lasted only five minutes with no business emergency reason given for the shortened interview and no apology or request to reschedule, something was wrong.
Or, the interviewer clearly lost interest and tuned you out, ending the interview with a chilly good bye. Then, you might have a failed interview.
How Do You Start A Thank
Subject line
There is no need to get creative with the email subject line. A clear subject line that lists what the email is about, such as “thank you for the interview,” will work great. If multiple candidates are being interviewed, it may be beneficial to include your name in the subject line so that the interviewer can quickly see the email is from you rather than a different candidate.
Example:“Thank you for the interview â John Smith”
Personalized greeting
There are many appropriate ways to address a thank-you email. In today’s business culture, itâs more common to greet the contact person with a “Hi First Name,” or “Hello First Name,” rather than the more formal way of using an honorific and the contactâs last name
The best way to determine your email greeting is based on what you called the interviewer during your meeting with them. If you used their first name in the interview, address the email to their first name. If you used their last name, address it to their last name.
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The Bottom Line On Interview Thank You Emails
Many think that thank-you notes are trivial, but thank-you notes, done well, are a great way to differentiate yourself from other candidates. Take the time to follow the Email Thank You Dos and Donts, and send your thank you notes very quickly. If you forgot to send immediate thank you messages, send them as soon as you can better late than never! Good thank you notes demonstrate the high quality of your work, and all the characteristics you may claim, like: attention to detail, ability to communicate, comfort with technology, and knowledge about the job and the employer.
Tips To Writing A Thank You Email After An Interview
When your diligent work perfecting your resume leads to an interview, there is a period where you wait for a response from the company. Often, a good next step is to send a follow-up email to thank the person for taking the time to interview you. This shows a hiring manager you are serious about the job and know their time is valuable. In this article, we discuss some good ways to approach the thank you email after an interview with some examples you can model your own email after.
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Who To Write A Thank
In general, its a good idea to share a thank-you note with everybody you interviewed with individually, from recruiter to hiring manager to potential colleague. If you dont already have their contact info, request it from your main point of contact throughout the hiring process , explaining that youd like to thank them for taking the time to speak with you. If you had a panel interview, you might want to save your time by sending one email to the main interviewer with everybody else CCd.
If you spoke to many different people say, you presented to a room of 10 or more its probably not practical, or a good use of your time, to include each and every one of them. In this case, you can follow the same procedure you would in a panel interview: Send one note to the main interviewer with several of the key players CCd.
