How To Email References After Interview

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If you want to create a strong professional brand and leave a lasting impression with employers, you need to master the post- interview thank you email.

As soon as you leave a job interview, its best to follow up with a sincere, professional, and engaged thank you email. Make sure they know you appreciate their time and attention in meeting with you!

Before we dig into the mechanics of a great interview thank you email, though, know this: sending an email is not a replacement for sending a handwritten thank you note to your interviewer. I always advise folks to do both after an in-person interview. But it will take a day or two for your beautiful thank you card to arrive on your interviewers doorstep. Email has the advantage of delivering an instant dose of gratitude to the people who have the power to give you the job of your dreams.

When writing your post-interview thank you email, keep these three things in mind:

Keep it short: You dont need to compose a long letter. Busy professionals already have too much email to read. So keep it short and sweet.

Keep it professional: Focus on the topics you previously discussed with the interviewer. This isnt a time to go into personal details.

To help you out, I built three email templates for you to follow. Use these templates as a guide to build your own personal rockstar thank you email to send after job interviews!

The Interviewer Asks For Your References

Employers dont always ask for references even if they are interested in possibly hiring you. Sometimes, they will contact you for your references after the interview, and other times they dont want to speak to references at all calling references can be a tedious errand that sometimes doesnt even produce useful information. So when an employer does ask for your references, its a clear indication that youre in the running for the position. One tip: call your references and tell them to expect a call from the employer. Ask them to contact you after they have spoken to the reference, so you know that the call was made, and so that you can get a sense of how enthusiastic the employer seems about you.

Sample Interview Thank You Email/letter #:

Hello < Interviewers Name> ,

Thank you for taking the time to speak with me < yesterday/Friday/etc.> about the < Job Title> position at < Company Name> . It was a pleasure talking with you, and I enjoyed learning more about the opportunity.

The information you shared about < Something specific about the job that interests you> sounded particularly interesting.

I am confident that my skills will allow me to come in and succeed in this role, and its a position Id be excited to take on.

Im looking forward to hearing from you about the next steps, and please dont hesitate to contact me if you need any additional information in the meantime.

Thank you again.

Best regards,

< Your First and Last Name>

This example above is a little longer and more formal. You could send this as a handwritten thank you letter after the interview, or as an email.

Note that at the end of the third paragraph, you could also add details about WHY you feel confident youd succeed in this role. Doing this will make your thank you email more convincing to hiring managers.

Try to remind them of something you shared in the interview, like a piece of past experience, or a skill you have, that will prove to them youll be able to come in and be successful in their role.

Keep In Touch With Your Referees

Once a person agrees to be your referee, keep in touch with them. After all, they may also move on from the organisation where you both once worked. So, make sure you connect with them on LinkedIn to remain up-to-date with any career changes they make. If you dont look for their contact details until the moment you are asked for them, youll only cause yourself unnecessary stress.

Furthermore, keeping in touch with such a valued contact can provide you with other benefits. For example, if you maintain a strong professional relationship with each referee, you have a trusted person you can turn to for career advice, to review your CV or cover letter, to discuss available jobs, to talk through your career objective, or to air any other career related issues with. Many job candidates find such advice invaluable.

Do You Need To Send A Thank You Email After An Interview

Sample Thank You Letter After Job Interview : Interview ...

Its recommended that you send a thank you email after each job interview you attend. Doing so shows the employer that you appreciate their time, and just as importantly, that youre still interested in the position. After attending an interview, the employer isnt sure that you still want this job .

So its important to write a thank you message and to reaffirm your interest in the position and tell them that youre eager to hear about the next steps. If you dont say this, they wont know!

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Create A List Of Names

When an employer asks for references, you want to get them a list of names right away. That’s why it’s wise to prepare your references before you start interviewing. If you waited until after the interview, you still have time. Get started by compiling a list of people you want to reach out to. Ideally, you want to ask a previous employer or manager to be a reference. If you are just getting started in your career, you may want to ask one of your professors or teachers to be a reference.

Once you compile your list, narrow it down to the people with who you have the best relationships. You want to choose people who are willing to say kind things about you. Think about your previous experiences with them and what they would be able to share with a new employer.

When Should You Send A Follow Up Email

The best time to send a follow-up email is within 24 hours of the interview. Its best not to wait too long.

If you can, send an email the same day. However, thats not always practical.

If you took the interview in the morning or early afternoon, you can send the follow-up email that same afternoon. However, if you send it too late, it might defeat its purpose.

Thats because if you send it at night, your email might get pushed down in the inbox overnight by other incoming mail. So, if you took the interview at the end of the day or at night, send the follow-up email the following morning, at the start of the workday.

At the same time, its never too late to send a follow-up email! If you didnt send a follow-up email within 24 hours, and its been a few days or even a week, dont despair.

You should still send a follow-up email. Doing something is better than doing nothing!

Youll need to tweak your follow-up email a bit. Even if you didnt get a response since the interview, it doesnt mean they arent interested!

Sometimes, especially if its a small team , they might have just gotten busy. Sending a follow-up email, even a week later, can help you keep yourself on their radar.

Also, as I explained above, it allows you to add some details that will help you stand out and show your qualifications even more.

Even in more organized companies, mix ups and mistakes happen. Thats why it never hurts to send a follow-up email, even two weeks later.

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Sample Email For Sending References

Emails are used for several purposes mostly, emails are used as a communication tool between professionals.

So whether it is information that you need or want to give to someone, or you want to communicate a plan, the email is the way to go forward!

There is one more instance when an email comes in handy when sending references to a prospective employer.

Once it has been decided that you are the best choice to hire and the same has been communicated to you a hiring manager will ask for references who can vouch for you.

To be perfectly candid, you may be asked to provide references before this decision has been made, especially if the hiring manager is sure that you are the right person to hire.

A list of references will just give your case a push!

How does one go about sending a list of references in an email?

There are two ways that you can do this.

Either, write the details of each reference in the email content and send it verbatim.

Or, create a list in word processing software and attach the document.

Here is a sample email that can be used for sending references:

Sample Email for Sending References

Email Subject: List of References

Dear Ms. Cobain:

Thank you for taking out the time to interview me yesterday.

I appreciate the insight that you provided to me regarding the work that I will be expected to perform if I am chosen to fill the position of Front Desk Manager at Apria Healthcare.

Sincerely,

Who Not To Ask For A Reference:

How To Write A Thank You Email After An Interview & IMPRESS THE INTERVIEWER

A company owner who you only met once
A boss from a job you worked at over 10 years ago
A supervisor that you didnt get along with
A professor who doesnt remember you
A family member
A friend who has no experience with your professional aptitude

Just because someone was your boss, doesnt automatically make them a good choice to use for a reference. Expect your potential employer to check your references and make sure they know your work well. Consider your circumstances and adjust accordingly.

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This Is Your Candidate Bibliography

Always qualify what you hear in your own mind: the reference has their own biases, agendas, and such. If there was a particularly contentious relationship , then watch for that and dig in further. Avoid relying on one referrer to the exclusion of all else, because you might not know if there is some extenuating backstory.

One advantage of this approach is that, by the time you schedule the candidate, you already know a surprising amount and can ask much better questions. Much of the time, this technique will induce you to pass on a candidate before you spend their time or yours let alone the scheduling nightmare of getting all your colleagues to meet the candidate shortening your hiring cycle and saving you hours. As the candidate advances through your hiring process, you can also continue to pepper referrers with new questions and get much smarter about the candidate.

Bonus benefit: When youve finally decided to hire the person, you can skip to an offer without checking references because youve already done it. Like writing the bibliography for your college thesis while you go, vs. pulling your hair out once youre done and tired of the whole mess.

When To Provide A Reference

For most jobs, a reference is a crucial aspect of the vetting process. For some, though, its not incredibly important, and theyre not very interested in checking references. Because you cant be sure which one the job youre looking for will be, have your references ready in case they ask.

A good general rule is to have your references printed out to bring to your job interview. Of course, if your potential employer asks for your references before that , you should supply it at that time.

Since the hiring process can go fast, have your references in line right away when you apply for the job. Dont wait for a potential employer to ask for it to start putting it together. Instead, follow our guide to getting killer references below.

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References Available Upon Request

For the most part, you will not be expected to provide full references on your CV. Instead, we recommend simply stating, References available upon request at the end of the document. If you include references available upon request in your resume, or one of any number of similar phrases, you show that you have relevant referees available, but you have control over when they will be contacted.

Furthermore, by writing the phrase references available instead of including their contact details in every resume you send, you maintain your referees privacy until a specific employer requests their contact information.

So, our advice is to put references available at the bottom of the page, rather than taking up valuable real estate space on your resume by listing your referees full details. Just make sure you do genuinely have suitable references ready to supply when asked.

After Interview Follow Up Help

Strategic after interview follow up is an essential part of job interview success. Use this follow up help to follow up professionally and increase your chances of getting the job you want.

Following up effectively after your interview involves more than sending a thank you letter.

Once your job interview is over, find out how to successfully manage the next stage of the hiring process.

Also Check: Cfo Interview

When You Dont Want Your Current Employer To Know Youre Looking For Work

Most potential employers understand this situation. They know you want to keep your job search secret. But they may insist on talking to your current employer once they offer you a job or place you on a short list. If this is the case, ask that they let you know before they call. This way you can talk to your current employer before your potential employer calls.

Begin With A Strong Subject Line

Good subject lines are concise and convey appreciation for your interviewer’s time.

Here are some optimal interview follow-up email example subject lines:

Thanks so much for your time!
It was wonderful speaking with you!
Many thanks for the opportunity
In gratitude
In gratitude for your valuable time and advice
Follow up regarding

You can also personalize the subject line even more so it stands out in the hiring manager’s inbox. Include your name, the position you interviewed for and the date. For example, “Jordayn Lemieux, Product Owner Interview 28/7.” Another option is to reply to a current email thread, which may already contain all of your information and credentials.

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S For Successful After Interview Follow Up

1. Follow through

Take the actions you said you would in the interview as soon as you can. If you promised to send through your references do this as quickly as possible. If you don’t follow through when you said you would you appear disinterested and disorganized.

2. Respond rapidly to contact made by the employer

Make sure you pick up your messages and emails and respond to them immediately. If you are going to be out of contact for some reason send an email to let the employer know when you will be available again.

3. Send a follow up email

Write and send your interview follow up email or thank you note within 24 hours of the initial job interview.

4. Contact your references

Let your employment references know that they are likely to be contacted in the next couple of days by the company. A reference can make or break your chances of getting the job offer, it is far better for you if your references are well prepared. Give them some details about the job interview and the company so they have an opportunity to think about how they can highlight your suitability for the position.

5. Keep it professional

You can bungle your chances of getting the job by posting something inappropriate on social media. Comments about the interview, the interviewer, the company or your current job should be avoided. You do not know how these will be interpreted.

Best Sample Thank You Emails After An Interview

Thank you email after interview – Learn to connect subconsciously with the interviewer!

If youre looking for how to write a professional thank you email or note after your interview, youve come to the right place.

Im going to share exactly what to do when thanking the employer, based on my experience as a recruiter. And Ill give you plenty of sample thank you emails that you can use for inspiration, too!

Because the truth is: sending a follow-up message to thank the interviewer is a great idea, but if you dont send the right type of message, it can do more harm than good. So what you say matters!

Lets get started

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What Does A Reference Check After The Interview Mean

Yves Lermusi

Many people ask what it means if an employer does a reference check after-interview for job-seekers, and the simple answer is that they are interested in you. However, it does not necessarily mean anything more than that, so don’t start to get your hopes up too much, too soon.

In some cases, competition within your particular industry, or chosen profession may be very fierce, and you may go from one job interview to the next without any success at all.

To learn that an employer is taking up references for you is a good sign and, if your references are good, this could very well result in you receiving an offer of employment. But a look behind the scenes will show you why you should not get too excited.

Thank You Email Length: How Long Should Your Message Be

Some samples above are more formal while others are more casual. Youll notice that theyre all relatively brief, though. In my experience as a recruiter, a short thank you email after the interview is best. On average, I recommend 85 to 150 words.

And thats true whether youre writing a thank you email after a phone interview, Zoom/video interview, or a second/third in-person interview.

Its also true whether youre writing to thank a recruiter, HR person, hiring manager, or anyone else who spent time interviewing you!

Your message could go up to 200 words if youre very far along in the hiring process and have spent multiple hours interviewing with people from the company, but Id still aim to be brief and concise, rather than sending a full page.

Use your best judgement, though. You know your industry and prospective employer, so think about what type of message theyll appreciate. The advice above is simply what works best for the greatest amount of people, on average.