How To Write A Perfect Thank You Email After An Interview: Tips & Templates
I know all of this sounds great in theory, but slamming pen to paper to write a thank you letter after a job interview is a very different matter. Never fear, templates and suggestions are here!
Before I share a general format, I want you to repeat after me: I solemnly swear not to copy-paste this template into my email. Weve already covered why a generic thank you is almost worse than no thank you, but in case youre not convinced, heres an infographic to change your mind. That said, a few ideas never hurt, so feel free to steal any of the phrases or sentences below and make them your own! Heres a great sample thank you email after an interview.
Dear ,
Subject Lines
- Thanks for Chatting Today Use something like this if you had a phone screen or video interview.
- Nice to Meet You Today This works well for interviews that take place on site.
- Thanks, and a Question Have a nagging, relevant question that shows youre passionate about the role? Use this email to follow up after your interview!
- Thank You for Your Time Especially good if it was a long interview.
- Many Thanks Short, sweet, and classic.
Opening Lines
- It was really nice to meet you today.
- Thank you for taking the time to meet with me today.
- Thanks for taking the time to introduce me to the team today.
- Thank you so much for your time today.
- Thanks for chatting with me today.
Closing Sentences
Sign-Offs
Ask About The Next Steps
It’s great to be forthcoming about what comes next in the hiring process. This shows enthusiasm in the job. Asking something like, “What else can I provide to be helpful and move forward to the next steps?” is a great way to show your passion for the position.
Here is an example:
Looking forward to hearing what the next steps in the interview process might be. Very excited about this opportunity!
Show Your Unique Value In An Authentic Way
Smart people want to hire people who hustle. So I determined how to stand out from hundreds of other applicants.
I demonstrated I wasn’t just qualified for the position, but I was qualified for the culture. A few years ago, HubSpot published a SlideShare on their Culture Code.“
I used that code to illustrate how my own personality matches HubSpot’s culture:
A few hours after sending this email, I saw Anum opened my emails and clicked my links.
I had two more interviews scheduled the following week. I was hired that Thursday evening.
Anum later told me the importance of this extra step in the hiring decision
“Your personal culture code was a major contributor in deciding to move you along our interview funnel. Not only was its content reflective of how your values tied to our company’s values, the act of making it showed hustle and that you understood the importance we place on culture at HubSpot.”
And now I’m writing this from my desk at HubSpot, sitting directly across from Anum.
All because of a unique thank you email.
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General Tips For A Thank You After Interview Email
Ask for a business card or contact information from every person who interviews you and send a thank you email to each one of them.
Customize the email for each person, as they may forward the emails to each other, and you want to make sure you dont get caught just sending boilerplate emails where the only difference is the name of the recipient.
Here are some general tips about what to include in your thank you after interview email:
- Thank them for their time.
- Highlight what you like about the job opportunity.
- Highlight what you like about the company.
- Recap your main skills and attributes.
- Follow up on anything that you said that youd get back to them on.
The 10 Best Thank You Email After Interview Samples
After going through multiple rounds of an interview, employees often expect to get an offer letter straight away. However, most organizations keep their on-hold decision until they conduct interviews with all other candidates. Sometimes, the difference between candidates with similar academic credentials and experience is how well they have written their thank you email after interview.
A thank you note after interview describes that the candidate is waiting expectantly for an offer letter or further rounds. It also says that the candidate follows the formal etiquettes that are important while working in a professional environment.
If the candidates go through the thank you email after interview samples before thanking the employer for their interview, they will notice that most emails are short, concise, and to the point. Here are a few samples that employees could follow while drafting their thank you letter after interview.
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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,
Reiterating Interest In The Job And Company And What You Bring To The Table
After thanking the interviewer, express your excitement for learning about the role and company. Reiterate your interest in the job. An interview is a time for the company to see if you are a good fit for the role, but you should also be attentive to learning if you think the company and role is a good fit for you. Not sending a thank you email could be interpreted as a lack of interest in the role. Its also important to align yourself with the companys mission, values, and culture.
Example:
It was a pleasure learning more about the role and company. I love the companys dedication to uplifting the homeless community in Los Angeles, a mission that is close to my heart as I volunteer at the homeless shelter twice a week.
Emphasize what you bring to the table. This is crucial. Now that you have interviewed and have additional context on the role and what they are seeking, you can specifically address how you are a great fit for the role. If they are struggling with sales, discuss your experience with winning sales. If the Marketing Director is struggling to keep up with her workload because of lack of support, discuss your experience with assisting high-level managers and executives.
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Thank The Interviewer For Their Time
Start the email with the interviewers first name as seen in the samples below. Express your gratitude and be authentic in your writing. If you talked to multiple managers send them each an email if you have their contact info.
A key tip is to ask for a business card when you talk to each employee. If they dont have one ask for their company email.
Remember If you are talking to 3 or 4 people in an interview it is crucial to make a good impression with each one. A thank-you note goes a long way towards this step.
Include Your Contact Information
Lastly, include your contact information. The interviewer should actually already have this information on file, but if you include it again in your email, that will make it easier to contact you for further steps. Include both your email address and phone number below your closing, as this will simplify the hiring process.
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What Is The Preferred Method Of Sending A Thank
Amanda Augustine, career advice expert for TopInterview and TopResume, said that email is the most common method for sending a post-interview thank-you note “because of its immediacy and ability to attach materials or hyperlink to additional information that can help advance their candidacy to the next interview round.”
On the flip side, if the company seems more old-fashioned and stays to the more traditional side of things, a handwritten note mailed to the office might get you further.
“I prefer handwritten notes,” said Rachel Sutherland, founder of Rachel Sutherland Communications. “Everyone loves getting mail, especially something you’re not expecting. It’s kind of funny to think of snail mail as being special, but in this case, it works.”
If you’re doing a handwritten note, your method of delivering it depends on the timing of the hiring process. Smith said that if you know they’ll be making their decision the next day, write the note as quickly as possible. In that instance, Smith suggests writing the thank-you note in the lobby and asking the receptionist to deliver it as soon as possible.
“The content of the message is more important than the method of delivery, be it email or a handwritten note,” said Beverly Friedmann, content manager at MyFoodSubscriptions. “That said, a handwritten card is certainly a nice gesture that you don’t typically see these days.”
Email Template 1 More Formal Thank You Note
Subject line: Thank you for your time, Mr. Smith!
Dear Mr. Smith,
I would like to thank you again for meeting with me today to discuss the position of at your company. I felt very comfortable and was quite impressed by the companys dedication to .
The information you shared about your future projects convinced me that this job is a perfect fit for my professional and personal interests. As I mentioned, I believe that my experience in will make me a great asset to your company.
I particularly enjoyed learning about since .
Again, thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing from you soon and am happy to answer any additional questions as you continue your hiring process.
Best regards,
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Send To The Correct Name And Addresses
Hopefully, you collected business cards from the people who interviewed you, so you have the correct spelling for the persons name plus their snail mail address. If you are not sure, Google the business name, and look for business directories or contact the recruiter or HR staff members .
Note that some people may have traveled from another location to interview you, so worst case , call the recruiter and ask for the correct addresses for each person.
What To Do When You Are Offered A Job Position
This depends a great deal on your situation. The recruiter goes through a tough process deciding to offer you a job, but you have a lot to consider as well.
You should realize that when you are offered a job, either by phone or by email, this initiates a process of negotiation. One of the basics of negotiation is that you never want to be taken by surprise since it can lead to an irrational decision. Therefore, when you receive the good news that a company wants to hire you, follow this process:
Again, its important not to overlook the importance of all the post-interview steps discussed above. And frankly, each of these steps is far less cumbersome than the amount of effort you put into building your resume, writing your cover letter and preparing for an interview. So stay focused and see the process through to the end.
Stephen Kent
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Create An Appropriate Subject Line
Before you write your thank-you email, consider the subject line. The email’s subject line should be concise and make the hiring manager understand the purpose of your email immediately. If the subject is clear, it lowers the risk of your thank-you email being missed or ignored. The subject line should include your name, the words “thank you” and the job title.
Example:Thank You John Adams, Marketing Manager Interview
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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Ask For The Next Steps To Take The Hiring Process Forward
Close your thank you note by reminding the hiring manager that you can provide additional information if necessary. Tell them to feel free to contact you if they need anything or have follow-up questions. You may need to provide references or complete a second in-person or phone interview to get the job.
Also, encourage the hiring manager to take the next step in the interview process.
Heres how you can write it down:
- If you have any questions or need additional information, please feel free to reach out to me. I look forward to hearing from you.
- I look forward to hearing from you soon and am happy to answer any additional questions you might have.
- Im looking forward to hearing any updates you can share, and dont hesitate to contact me if you have questions or concerns in the meantime.
Use A Personalized Greeting
Always start your thank you emails with a salutation before you begin typing the actual message.
Hello or Dear works great for most thank you notes.
Depending on the company, its culture, and how the interview went, you may opt for a formal salutation or greet the person by their first name.
Always make sure to stay professional and address the interviewer as they introduced themselves to you during the interview. Below you will also find a few rules for guidance.
When to use a formal greeting:
- More traditional companies with a rather formal corporate culture are likely to expect a formal greeting.
- For jobs that require formal writing skills, formal addressing is usually appropriate as well.
- If you are addressing a woman and you do not know whether she is married or not, you may want to go with Ms..
- Similarly, if you are speaking to a doctor , you should make sure to address them as such.
When to use their first name:
- Using first names to greet someone in an email is becoming increasingly common, especially in younger companies or organizations with a more casual culture.
- Previous emails they might have sent you, as well as how they address potential candidates in the job description, provide clues as to whether addressing them by their first names is appropriate.
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Highlight A Specific Point From The Interview
Job interviews should always be a conversation rather than a Q& A session. The point of an interview is to go beyond your qualifications and get a feeling for whether or not you will fit into the company.
So, during the interview you demonstrate that you are a great fit for the team by engaging in conversations that extend beyond standard interview questions.
You should also do the same in your thank you note. Recall one or two specific moments from your conversation in your message. The more unique this moment was, the better. Perhaps you and the hiring manager connected over a hobby, a show, personal interests, the same hometown, college, etc.
Here are some examples:
- It was great meeting someone that loves Volleyball as much as I do!
- It was such a nice surprise to meet a fellow Brunonian!
I Need To Hear Back From You By
Hopefully, you and the recruiter discussed the hiring timeline during the interview. If you didnt, you might think that the thank-you note is a perfect time to ask when they will make a decision. But its not. It only comes across as rude and desperate. In this case, the best you can do is say, I look forward to hearing from you soon, and wait it out.
If you do have an offer from another company on the table, its polite to let the other employer know and ask when they might have a decision on their end so you can weigh your options. The operative word there is askyou dont want to dole out rude demands.
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