How To Write A Thank You Email After An Interview
Many candidates dont know whether to send out a thank you letter after an interview.
Heres the answer:
YES!
Nowadays its perfectly fine for your follow-up letter to be in the form of an email. Below are some recommendations from hiring managers and talent professionals on how to make your follow up most effective.
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Decide Between Email Or Paper
Most businesses will accept an emailed thank you, but be aware of the company and its values. For example, more traditional organizations may prefer a handwritten thank you note. Though usually unnecessary, most of the time a paper note will seem more personal, and it will likely set you apart from other candidates. The mail service could delay your note, so consider dropping it off in person to ensure it gets there promptly.
If you’re unsure, you can always send both an email and a paper thank you note. In this case, send the email as soon as you get home from the interview, then mail the formal letter as soon as you can after that.
Final Stage Interview Thank You Email
This is your last chance to make a good impression. Take time to write an email that conveys confidence, enthusiasm, and gratitude. Heres another example from Hubspot:
I wanted to drop you a final note to thank you for setting up such an interesting and engaging interview. I feel like Ive learned so much about the culture from speaking to so many team members, and it was exciting to hear how enthusiastic the team is about .After my final conversation with , Im more excited than ever about the position and discussing next steps. Please let me know if you have any other questions or next steps for me! Thanks so much.
Follow-up emails after an interview dont need to be long. Putting in a little effort goes a long way.
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Take Your Thank You Email To The Next Level
While the template above is all you need, if you really want to blow a hiring manager out of the water, add in another few lines before I look forward to… with some ideas you have on how you could add value. Think: a quick mock-up of something you discussed in the interview if youre in a creative role, taglines if youre in branding, or some slides or possible partners if youre in business development or sales.
It could look something like this:
More Complex Thank You Email
Replace the text below with whatever terms are appropriate for you and your situation.
Subject: Thank you for the interview on
Dear :
Thank you very much for your time today to interview me for the position of . I appreciate the opportunity to learn more about this job, to meet you and , and to see your facility .
As we discussed, I have of experience with . With my background and experience, I believe that I could become a contributor to your team very quickly.
I am excited about this opportunity to join . Please do not hesitate to email or call me if you have any questions or need any additional information.
I look forward to hearing from you .
Best regards,
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How To Write The Perfect Thank You Email After Your Interview
“Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to interview for this job.” Are you writing a thank you note or a thank you email after your interview? Use our free template to make that thank you easier than ever.
Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash really
End The Email Reiterating Your Gratitude
The last sentence of your email should reiterate your appreciation for the interviewer’s time and consideration. This brings the thank-you email back to its original purpose. Then, end with a brief and respectful salutation.
Example:Thanks again for taking the time to talk to me yesterday. It was great meeting you!
Kind regards,
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Interview Thank You Letter Templates
A strong thank you note ensures you will leave a good impression in the mind of the person who interviewed you. Luckily, weve made it easy for you to make a lasting impression with these free downloadable MS Word thank you notes. All you have to do is select the letter that matches the tone and style of your interview, customize it with your personal information, send it via email or post to the hiring manager, and wait for your job offer to arrive!
Your Thank You: To Hand Write Or To Email
This is the first, and truthfully, the most difficult question to answer, even for managers. Some feel that handwritten notes have gone the way of the horse and carriage while others feel that its an essential way to prove youre thoughtful and dedicated. While any thank you note is a positive gesture, a handwritten note almost always will put you one step ahead of the competition. But thats not to say a thank you email doesnt do the trick, too, especially in a tight hiring schedule when a mailed note may arrive too late. We recommend a hybrid method: do both.
Send an email within 24 hours . Most likely, your interviewer is quite busy and will appreciate reading a quick email. Aim to drop a formal note into the mail the same day as well. With that being said, if you have bad penmanship: Just. Send. It. In. An. Email.
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How To Write A Thank You Email After Your Phone Interview
Related video: Interviewing: Tips for Before, During and After a Job Interview
The phone interview is one of the most important parts of the job interview process. To make yourself stand out to employers, you should send a thank you email after the phone interview to show your professionalism and politeness. Your thank you email should be brief and informative as you remind the interviewer why you’re the best fit for the position.
In this article, we explain why a thank you email after a phone interview is important, how to send one and include a template and examples of effective thank you emails to help you write your own.
Mention A Specific Moment From The Interview
As hiring managers interview a lot of candidates, usually back-to-back, it’s good to remind them about your interview by mentioning specific moments. Think about a topic or question that interested you, maybe a personal connection you made, so the hiring manager knows exactly which interview you’re referring to.
Example:I really enjoyed talking about your trip to Japan. I’ve added your recommendations to my bucket list and can’t wait to visit!
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Alternatives To A Traditional Thank You Letter
A tricky dilemma faced by applicants deciding how to thank an interviewer. This is hard because different hiring managers might have different expectations, companies might have different cultures, or your personality just doesnt suit some kinds of responses. Here is our list of methods for following up and useful advice on how to compose your message.
Think Of It As More Than A Thank You
Even more than polite and proper etiquette, this is a chance for you to reiterate your personal selling points. A successful note will express gratitude as well as continue the conversation from the interview. Include your qualifications for the position, and use the opportunity to address anything that you felt you might have missed during the interview.
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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.
Points To Remember While Writing Thank You Email After An Interview
Now that we have established the importance of writing a thank you email, lets learn some smart ways to write a thank you email to form an excellent impression of you in front of the interviewers. At the same time, you will not sound casual and desperate.
- Send Thank You Email within 24 hours of the Interview.
Sending an email with a thank you note on the same day of the interview is said to be the best window of career opportunities. It helps to make a prompt and appropriate impression in front of the interviewers.
If you are interviewed in the morning, send a thank you mail by the evening or the following day. Pen down what you liked about the office environment, work culture, or the hiring managers. It will convey that you are a decent communicator and relatively interested in the position.
Waiting on it for two or three days will certainly give a laid-back and casual impression. On the contrary, it may form a judgment about you and your disinterest in the position.
- Keep a Simple and Clear Subject Line For Your Thank You Email
The fate of your email depends on your subject line. The subject line of your email should be to the point and simple. At first glance, it should give away the purpose of sending an email.
Do not try to be clever with classy words or experiment with the subject line by saying something smart and witty. It may give an idea that you are trying too hard to form an impression, and your email may end up not being opened by the receiver.
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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. However, it never hurts to take the time to relay your appreciation to everyone you spoke with about a job.
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.
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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Common Thank You Letter After Interview Mistakes
The common mistakes that employers may see in thank you emails:
And in case youre wondering:
We believe its unacceptable to substitute a LinkedIn connection request in place of an interview thank you email.
- Expresses thanks and answers last-minute questions
- Refers to details from the interview
- Demonstrates enthusiasm for the company
- Advocates why you are the best person for the position
- Is free of typos and other mistakes
- Has a professional tone
- Is distinct for each person who interviewed you
How To Write A Thank You Letter After An Interview
- Post authorBy Susan P. Joyce
Although recent surveys show that most employers seem to be happy receiving a thank you by email, this is the thank you that you put into an envelope, add a stamp, and drop off at the Post Office.
For the employer, this note is a sample of your work.
Keep it short , but personalized.
Typically, as with email, you send a separate thank you to a each member of the employers staff who interviewed you. Also send a different thank you to an external recruiter, if one referred you to the job.
NOTE: If an external recruiter referred you, ask them which thank you is most appropriate for the employer, including whether email is appropriate and acceptable by this employer.
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The Most Effective Thank You Email Template
As mentioned above, I went on 50+ interviews and spoke to well over 100 people during the course of my job search. That meant a lot of thank you notes and, better yet, a lot of opportunity to test what format works best.
After all was said and done, the template below is the one my data showed to be most effective. I measured effectiveness by the percentage of people who replied as well my success rate for scoring a slot in the next round of interviews .
Remind The Interviewer Of Qualifications You Bring To The Position
Chances are you are one of many candidates for a position. Employers can find it difficult to remember specifics for each person. A legal thank you letter is a great chance to reiterate any of the key qualifications you can bring to the position and the law firm. Its also an excellent opportunity to include anything you may have forgotten to mention in person.
For example: As we discussed, my experience in advising corporate clients on environment and regulatory issues can contribute greatly to building your environmental department.
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When To Send An After Interview Thank You Note
With any important piece of writing, planning is half the battle. Should you follow up over email, in a handwritten notecard, or on social media? And what should you write?
There are two vital factors to consider when writing a thank-you note after an interview: speed and specificity. Thank yous are not better late than never. In fact, most interviewers expect an email or letter within a day. That means time is of the essence, and you need to work quickly! As one Glassdoor recruiter puts it, it is vital to send a thank you email to your interviews within 24-48 hours.
Even though you must write quickly, you also need to personalize each thank-you note to the interviewer. Gone are the days where I would look at a template thank-you note and consider it worth my time to read. As Valerie LeClair, Grammarlys Director of Recruiting, once described to me,
Write from the heart! If a candidate is going to write a standardized, impersonal note, there is no reason to even send it.
But dont panic! Take a deep breath and reflect on your interview experience. Now, ask yourself these idea-generating questions:
- How did the interview go? Did anything weird happen?
- Did I flub on a question I know I have a better answer for?
- Did I forget to ask the interviewer one of my questions?
- Is there something additional this interviewer should know about me?
- Did I discuss anything interesting? Find any similarities to my interviewer?
Following Up When You Haven’t Heard Back
The key to a great follow up is being politely persistent without being overbearing.
First, check back to see if the hiring team gave you a timeline. If the recruiter said, we’ll get back to you in a couple of weeks, don’t send a follow up one week later. Respect the timeline, but don’t be afraid to follow up right when it ends.
Set a reminder in your phone or calendar for two weeks!
If you didn’t get a clear timeline, my rule of thumb is to follow up every five business days.
Austin’s Five Day Follow Up
My rule of thumb is to follow up every 5 business days when you haven’t heard back and haven’t been given a timeline.
Here’s a quick email template you can use:
Hi ,
I hope you are having a great week!
I wanted to reach out and express my continued interest for the role. I know this is a busy time and I completely understand that there is a lot going into this decision.
If there’s anything else I can do or provide that would be helpful, please let me know!
Best,
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