What Employers Really Think Of Interview Thank You Emails
Its important to note that not every hiring manager cares about thank you emails. Some certainly do, while others dont at all. It truly comes down to their personal preferences.
However, its impossible to know which hiring managers care and which dont, and ultimately, theres no real downside to sending a post-interview thank you email, whether it is important to that manager or not.
Theres no real down-side to sending a thank you email.
Theres no negative connotation that can be implied from a well-written thank you email. Even if you werent the right fit for the job, sending a thank you note will signal to the hiring manager that you are professional and made the extra effort to follow up . This could help you with future position openings.
While they can be powerful, thank you notes arent the magic key to unlocking a job offer if you seemed unqualified, if you walk in without researching the job and company, etc.
However, in most cases where your interview went well, the employer is likely considering you against a few other candidates. In this scenario, the thank you email has the potential to help push you over the edge to the finish line.
Formal Thank You Letter Example
This formal after interview thank-you letter is short and to the point.
Dear Mr/Ms/Mrs ,
I wanted to take a moment to express my gratitude for taking time out of your busy schedule yesterday to meet with me about the ____ position at ___ Company. It was wonderful speaking in person about how I could contribute positively towards reaching business goals, which aligns well with what interests me most about working there!
Feel free to contact me through or if you have any additional questions. Thank you again for meeting with me it means so much!
Best regards,
How To Write An Effective Thank
Get everyones name right. Make it a point during or immediately after the interview to jot down the names and titles of everyone involved in the conversation. Often group members will hand you their business cards at the end of the interview. If they dont, make sure to double-check the correct spellings of their names by reviewing the companys website or LinkedIn.
Be graciousand grateful. The most important part of a thank-you letter is right in the name: thank you. Thank the hiring team for their time and attention and for answering your questions and clarifying the role.
Look at templates and examples before composing your message. Use examples to guide your writing, but be sure to customize your note. Canned language wont impress the hiring team.
Send your letter ASAP. Ideally, you should send your note or email right after the interview. Dont let 24 hours go by without conveying your thanks.
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How To Write A Thank
How you follow up with an employer after your interview is almost as important as the interview itself. And sending a well-written thank you email and/or letter soon after your interview is essential. Here are some tips for writing a thank you note that will impress employers.
Why you should send a thank you
Tips for writing your note
Be prompt
Plan to send your thank you within 24 hours of your interview. Have a general outline for your note ahead of time to help you. Then, right after your interview ends, write down anything you want to reference in your note.
Personalize
Be concise
Close with next steps
Proofread
Email or snail mail?
Here is an example of a typed thank you letter:
Date
City, State Zip]
Tips For Writing Thank You Emails
When in doubt, look to these five key elements to include in every thank you email:
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Recapping Why Youre Qualified
While you can end the note right after expressing your thanks, you have the option of recapping why youre qualified for the job. Again, youll want to be specific and use examples from your job interview conversation if possible. This will help the employer remember why youre the perfect fit for their companies needs.
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
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How To Follow Up After The Interview
After the second interview, it’s a good idea to send a second thank-you note or email message. In fact, it’s especially important after a second interview to take the time to write a personal message to the people who interviewed youeven if you interviewed with them already and thanked them for the first interview. Many employers expect you to reply promptly.
Your second interview thank-you letter gives you another opportunity to reiterate your interest in the position, reference your most relevant qualifications, and thank the interviewer for taking the time to speak with you. You can add some depth to your second thank-you by referencing new information or contacts you gained during the follow-up interview.
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.
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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.
Write A Clear Subject Line
The first thing that employers see before opening an email is the sender and, more importantly, the subject line. Thus, its best to choose a subject line that clearly conveys your message. If you want to go with something a little more formal, consider something like:
- Thank you for your time
- Thanks for the interview yesterday
- I enjoyed learning more about
Alternatively, if you want to go with something a little more casual, feel free to choose one of these options:
- Thank you, !
- Great meeting you !
And thats it for the subject line! Whats next?
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Thanking An External Recruiter
Why thank an external recruiter? Because ifthe company you were first referred to didnt hire you, its the recruitersdecision that determines whether youre referred to another company for another interview, or dropped of their list of candidates entirely. It pays to be niceand cooperative to them.
Below is a combination of a thank you interview email andfollow-up note you can send an external recruiter. As many external recruitersare paid when an applicant gets hired, theyll appreciate your update on howfar along you are in the hiring process.
External Recruiter Thank You Email Example
EmailSubject: Thanks for your referral to for the position.
Dear,
Thankyou so much for referring me for an interview at . I was interviewedlast , and I think it went well.
Ispoke with , and ,.Thanks to your tip, I pulled through the whole day interviewprocess I dont think Id survived several interviews without advancepreparation.
The at feels like a great fit for my current skills andwork experience. I like working with an employer like this because . Id also be happy to interview with similar companies lookingfor candidates with my skills.
Whenpossible, I would really appreciate it if you inform me of my applicationsstatus. Thank you for all your help.
Regards,
Executive Recruiter Bruce Hurwitz has adifferent take on this matter though:
Who You Should Thank
If there was more than one interviewer, you should thank each interviewer separately. Each one gets his or her own handwritten note or email message do not cc all of your interviewers in a single email thank-you letter.
It’s important to make the best impression on everyone you met with or spoke to during the second interview process.
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Carefully Proofread Your Message
Making sure your email is free of typos and grammatical errors are of utmost importance as this showcases your work and suitability for the position. Proofreading your message is the easiest way to ensure you are properly presenting yourself. You can install a proofreading extension on your computer or have a friend read over the email to check for errors.
How To Write A Follow
In your interview follow-up email, start by thanking your interviewer for their time. Be sure to highlight the ways your talents align with the role. Refer back to your notes from the interview and the job description to choose words or takeaways from your conversation that will resonate with the reader. Communicate your enthusiasm for the job by restating your interest in the position and your conviction that you are the right fit for the position.
Here is a step-by-step guide for writing a follow-up after an interview:
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Best Thank You Email Samples After An Interview
Below, youll find four good sample thank-you emails. These can also be sent as a typed or handwritten note if you prefer.
Later in the article, Ill cover the pros and cons of sending this via email versus a handwritten thank you letter/note. So if youre not sure which to send, make sure to read until the end.
For now, just know that you can use these sample thank you emails in both cases.
Dont Bring Up Interview Mistakes
What about if you flubbed an answer in your interview? Is the thank-you email a place to explain yourself, clarify a mistake you made, or provide a better answer than the one you gave in the heat of the moment?
In most cases, you shouldnt bring it up at all, experts say.
Dont remind an interviewer of negative aspects of an interview, Jensen said. Finish on a positive note.
Manoske thinks it depends on the severity of the flub. He gave an example of a recent client of his who gave the interviewer an incorrect number . In her follow-up email, she briefly mentioned, I meant to say its X, not Y.
That was one word, and it was so obvious, you didnt want to leave it out there, Manoske said. In general, Im 80 percent in agreement with the idea of, if I flubbed one, I dont want to bring it back.
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When And How To Send Your Note
There is a sweet spot for timing when you send your message. You don’t want it to arrive too soon or too late, which is why King says you need to send it within the 24-to 48-hour-period after an interview.
“You don’t want to send it too quickly and the manager to feel like it is generic or was drafted before the interview. It’s really important to take some time and reflect on the interview and what was discussed so you can add elements from the conversation into your thank-you note,” says King. “Wait too long to send it and the manager is going to think you’re not eager or really interested in the role. The note won’t have the same meaning.”
No matter the kind of interview, be it in-person or via the phone or Skype, send a thank-you note following up with each person you met. And if you have multiple interviews with the same company, send new notes following each round.
“This is why customizing and tailoring is important. You don’t want to be sending the same note every time,” says King.
Almost all, 94%, of HR managers say it’s appropriate to send a thank-you note via email, according to that same Accountemps survey.
Occasionally, you may need to go old-school and snail-mail it. But that largely depends on the culture of the place you’re applying to, how formal and traditional it is, and how you’ve corresponded in the past. If they’ve emailed you, you’re fine emailing. If they reached out by phone or mail, consider putting yours in the post.
A Guide To Writing A Memorable Thank
Sending a thank-you letter after an interview might seem old-fashioned, but itâs just as important to write one as ever. One survey showed that 68 percent of hiring managers say that a candidateâs decision to include or not include a thank-you note after an interview affects their final hiring decision. But while sending a thank-you note has become expected, it’s not enough to simply send a note that says “Thanks for chatting with me” â you need to put some thought into it. In this guide, weâll show you how to write a thank-you note that will impress interviewers and increase your odds of getting a job offer.
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Short Thank You Note After A First Interview
Subject: Thanks for the interview
Hello Henry,
Thank you for the interview on Tuesday afternoon for the senior sales representative position. I enjoyed meeting you in person, and I appreciate you sharing details about the company’s exciting goals for the upcoming year. I think my sales experience in the software industry gives me the tools to contributeeffectivelyto the mission we discussed, and I look forward to hearing from you next week.
Best regards,
