When To Send After Your Job Interview
Um, now. If sending via snail mail, write and post the letter immediately after the interview. If youre emailing, by the end of that day is preferred, but within 24 hours is a must. You want the note to get there while theyre still talking about you. They could be making the decision in the next few days, and if they get your thank you earlier than the other candidates, it could put you one step ahead.
Subject: Appreciated Your Time Today
Hi ,
Thanks for meeting with me today. I really appreciate you taking time out of your busy schedule to chat with me about the position.
I especially enjoyed hearing about how your team has been tackling X and Y problems, and how its planning to do more Z in the future.
Let me know if you have any further questions. And no matter the outcome, I hope we can stay in touch.
Thanks,
How To Write Thank
Most job seekers put a lot of effort into crafting a resume and preparing for an interview. Heres what many people dont spend much time on but should: thank-you emails after interviews.
Its surprising how many job candidates dont bother to send a thank-you note, because it really does make a positive impression on employers. Its a simple step to take, and it can separate you from equally qualified candidates who dont send a email after an interview. And yes, you should send a message after a video interview just as you would an in-person meeting.
If the challenge of crafting a great thank-you email is holding you back from sending one, youve come to the right place.
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In This Section Learn About How To Properly Follow
So, you completed your video interview — WOOHOO!! But, now what? The topic of post-interview etiquette has been researched, blogged about, and was lectured on in that mandatory college career prep class we all took as freshmen. The recruiting and hiring process has been increasingly changing due to advances in technology, so the interview follow-up has also experienced some minor changes.
Recap Of Your Qualifications
Next, provide a short recap of your experience and background. The interviewer should already be aware of these qualifications after reading your resume and meeting with you, so this section should be brief. Connect your qualifications to the position and its unique requirements to express why you are such a strong candidate for the job. For example, you can write, My social media and search engine marketing expertise would make me an excellent candidate for this marketing role.
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Thank You Letter After Second Interview
If youve been invited to attend a second interview, congratulationsyouve made it to what is likely the final round of the hiring process. Demonstrate that youre a courteous and thoughtful professional by thanking the interviewer for their time and continued consideration of your application in a personalized thank you note.
Its critical to send a thank you letter after your second interview because:
- Its your final opportunity to leave a good impression in the minds of the decision-makers involved in the hiring process.
- It allows you to express your enthusiasm for the position and gratitude for being selected for a second interview.
- Its your final opportunity to address any undiscussed details regarding your application or the interview process.
Why Is A Thank
A thank-you email after a Zoom interview, just as with an in-person interview, is a great way to follow up with the hiring manager and express your gratitude. It shows the hiring manager you’re passionate about the position and the potential to work with them. If the hiring manager had a lot of video interviews, sending a thank-you email also reminds them about your experience, what you discussed during the interview, and why you’re a good fit for the role.
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Mention Why You Are The Best Candidate For The Job
When writing a second interview thank-you note, it’s important to specifically state why you are the best candidate for the job. Since you made it to the second interview, the stakes are high, and you are definitely being compared to other highly-ranked candidates for the position.
This second thank-you note needs to serve as a strong self-marketing statement. There may be something you forgot to mention during the interviewso this is an opportunity to bring it up.
Video Interview Follow Up Checklist
Heres a quick checklist of tips and tricks for following up from a video interview effectively. In order to get the most out of this checklist, it is important you, the job seeker, knows how the companies hiring process works from the get-go. If you are unsure of how their hiring process works, feel free to ask your contact before even taking the video interview.
Send a tailored thank-you note.
Customize your thank-you note with information presented before and during the interview process. The more detailed, the better!
Be speedy.
When sending handwritten thank you notes, get them in the mail ASAP! Use your best penmanship when sending a handwritten thank you note. Turns out that calligraphy class did pay off.
Check back in.
The general rule of thumb is to give the employer at least 14 business days to review all applicants. After that, feel free to call and/or send an additional follow-up email to ask where you stand, and when you will be notified.
Send a tailored thank-you note.
Customize your thank-you note with information presented before and during the interview process. The more detailed, the better!
Space it out.
When calling to check in, if you dont get connected on Monday, DONT call back on Tuesday looking to get through.
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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.
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When Should You Send A Thank You Note
Send your follow up quickly but not immediately. Within 24-48 hours of your interview is ideal. Any longer, and it might start to look like it slipped your mind. Which doesnt mean sooner is always better wait at least a few hours to show that youve properly considered the interview. And never have a pre-written thank you note ready to hand out at the end of your interview its gimmicky and unlikely to impress.Sending your thank you note via email is fine for the majority of employers. A handwritten letter may look nice, but its not necessary and may risk getting lost or arriving late.
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Send Separate Emails To Each Interviewer
If youre interviewed by several people, ask for their business cards at the conclusion of the interview so you’ll have the contact information for each thank-you email.
Then, send email messages to each person who interviewed you. Your messages should vary somewhat so that the recipients can’t compare notes later and feel as if they just got a chain email.
Mistakes To Avoid When Sending Post Interview Thank You Emails
Now you know the basics of how to send a great thank you email after the interview. Lets cover a few mistakes to avoid now, though.
Some of this will be review if you read everything above, but I want to make sure you dont do anything that could cost you the job!
First mistake: waiting too long to send it. You really want to send this within 24 hours after your interview.
Next, dont ever copy and paste the same exact email to send to multiple people. They will compare and it looks sloppy/lazy. It takes a lot away from the impact your thank you email will have.
Dont ever put multiple people in the To field of the email either. You should be sending one email to one recipient at a time.
Otherwise, it looks lazy/rushed.
And another big mistake: Thinking you dont need to send an interview thank you email because the person you met wasnt the official hiring manager.
Id recommend sending one any time you had a face-to-face interview with someone.
Everyones opinion can count and the hiring manager can ask everyone what they thought of you. Dont pick and choose who deserves a thank you email. Send it to everyone youve met face to face and play it safe!
One more minor mistake: Not asking for business cards after you meet each person during a day of interviewing.
Getting business cards from each person you met with during the interview is the easiest way to keep track of names and email addresses so you can thank them later via email.
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Simplify Your Subject Line
Keep your email subject line straight and to the point. Resist the urge to get clever or wordy.
Simple, streamlined subject lines work best for the occasion, according to career coach Wendy Saccuzzo. Shesaid winning examples include Following up, Thanks for the conversation and Thanks for the interview.
Appreciated your time yesterday is an example of a subject line Manoske suggests applicants use.
Formatting Tips & Tricks
There are an infinite number of ways you can write a thank-you letter. And while thereâs no one right way to do it, there are a few tips and tricks you can keep in mind while drafting your note.
Email vs. Handwritten
Handwritten letters have a certain charm, but in most cases, a thank-you email is the best choice. Why? For one, an emailed thank-you can arrive instantaneously, while a postmarked note can take days to arrive. For another, handwritten letters might feel like a bit much. So when in doubt, send an email. Exceptions could occur if a) youâre close enough that you can simply drop off a handwritten letter, b) youâre applying to a very traditional or old-school organization and c) if you have a prior relationship with an interviewer .
Length
Donât feel pressured to send a five-paragraph essay â thank-yous should be short and sweet. Just as you donât want to spend too much time writing one, your interviewers donât want to spend too much time reading one. After all, theyâve got their own jobs to stay on top of. Make your thank-you letter long enough to cover everything you need to say, but short enough that it only ends up being a few sentences long.
Voice & Tone
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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.
Verify The Interviewer’s Email Is Correct
When writing your email, input the interviewer’s address right before sending it. Review your notes or the contact information the interviewer gave you before sending the email to ensure you’re sending it to the right person. You should also ensure the spelling of their name is correct before sending the email to remain professional and polite.
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Reiterate Why You’re A Good Fit For The Role
Another good thing to include in your thank-you email is a reminder about why you’re a good fit for the role and excited about the opportunity. Mention specific points you talked about during the Zoom interview while emphasizing your interest in the role.
Example:I was excited to hear that you are looking for a person who has excellent interpersonal and communication skills. As I have worked in customer service for five years and love meeting new people, I excel in these areas.
Expand On Any Discussions You Had In The Interview
You can use this next section as a chance to expand on anything you previously discussed in the interview. You can share any resources you found regarding a topic you mentioned or you can readdress a question from the interview and give more details if you were unsatisfied with your answer in the interview. If there were any topics you were unable to mention in the interview, but you believe they may help you stand out, you can mention that in your email as well. 
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Tips For Writing An Interview Thank
Here are additional tips for writing a strong thank-you email after a job interview and what to include:
- Express Why You Want the Job: In addition to thanking the person you interviewed with, your thank-you note should reinforce the fact that you want the job, so view this thank-you as a follow-up “sales” letter. Restate why you want the job, what your qualifications are, and how you might make significant contributions.
- Bring Up Anything You Wish You Had Said: Your message is also the perfect opportunity to discuss anything of importance that your interviewer neglected to ask. For example, if you didnt have a chance to explain why you thought that you would fit in well with the company culture, you might briefly state this in the email.
- Revisit Any Issues Brought Up During the Interview: Finally, use your letter to address any issues and concerns that came up during the interview, including topics you neglected to answer as thoroughly as you might have wished. For instance, if you feel that you botched an interview question, you could explain your answer in more detail here.
How Is The Follow
One of the main differences between an in-person interview and a video interview is appropriate follow-up time. Just as you would for an in-person interview, it is highly recommended to send a thank you email as soon as possible. This is so for both one-way and live video interviews so, collect your notes from the interview and send them over right away.
While not required, a handwritten thank you note as a follow-up to a video interview may help you stand out. If you decide to send a handwritten thank you, youll want to get it in the mail ASAP to avoid a delay.
Since there is a hard deadline for completing a one-way interview, it is good to reach out once you have completed the video interview, and then again 48 hours after the interview deadline. This way, you will come off as persistent and will be fresh in the interviewers mind.
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What To Do When You Are Declined A Position
You will not always get the job you want. Its hard to fit perfectly into a companys needs. So dont take it personally if you are contacted following a job interview and told you didnt get the job. Instead, treat this as a learning opportunity.
When a recruiter contacts you with the bad news, thank him/her again for the consideration but also ask a couple of questions. First, explain that you would like to improve your interviewing skills and ask for suggestions on how you can interview better in the future. Second, ask if there any qualifications or experiences that would make you a more appealing candidate.
You may or may not get specific feedback, but theres a chance you will learn something valuable for future interviews.
What To Include In A Thank You Email After A Phone Interview
There are many elements you should include when constructing your thank you email after your phone interview. These can help you stand out and capture the attention of your interviewer. Some common sections to include in your thank you email are:
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Subject line
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Opening sentence thanking them for the opportunity to interview
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A statement explaining why you’re the best fit for the position
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Any additional comments regarding what you previously discussed in the interview
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Extra information you were unable to discuss in the interview
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A message stating you look forward to hearing from them
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Your signature and any additional contact information
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When And How To Follow Up After An Interview
One of the questions you should ask during a job interview is What is the next step in your hiring process? This gives you an idea of when you will hear back from the company.
Its important to respect the job hiring process that recruiters go through. If the person that interviewed you told you that a decision will be made by next Wednesday, dont contact them before this apart from your thank you note.
You may be really interested in the position, and you want to try to persuade the company that you are the right person for the job. But dont. It runs the risk of a recruiter perceiving you as a bad listener or disrespectful of other peoples time.
However, lets say that the recruiter said you could expect to hear back by Wednesday, and its now Wednesday afternoon. Well, in that case, its time to act. There is nothing wrong with sending a short interview follow-up note to see if the company has made a decision.
Example of What Should an Interview Follow-up Email Say
Dear ,
I hope all is well with you. I am just following up to see if you have come to a decision regarding the position . If not, could you please let me know when a decision might be made?
Thank you kindly, and please let me know if you require further information regarding my qualifications.
Sincerely,
