Thank You After Interview Email Best Practices
Here are some general best practices for writing your interview thank you message:
- Send the email within a few hours of the interview.
- Be polite and professional in your language.
- Highlight things you liked about the job, company, culture, and mission statementMission StatementA mission statement defines what line of business a company is in, and why it exists or what purpose it serves.. (You can use this opportunity to elicit a reply to your email by turning things around by writing, Id be interested to hear what you think are the companys core values.
- Mention your skills and strengths that best match the job opportunity and what you learned from the interview about what the company is most looking for from the person who is ultimately chosen to fill the position.
- Dont appear overconfident by sounding as if you just assume that you got the job.
- Be sure to actually say the words, thank you.
- Offer to answer any additional or follow-up questions the interviewer may have.
Template For A Thank You Email After An Informational Interview
Are you conducting informational interviews with people in your industry? Informational interviews are casual one-on-one networking sessions, and they are one of the best ways to build a professional network and get the inside track on jobs. If someone has taken time out of their busy schedule to meet with you, you absolutely must send them a thank you email. Because showing some courtesy is the best way to leave a good impression with this valuable new professional contact. Plus, its a great way to start an ongoing correspondence so that you can start to build a professional relationship long-term.
Heres my template for a thank you email after an informational interview or any personal meeting with a new contact:
Subject Line: Thank you from ]
Dear ],
Thank you for taking time from your busy schedule to meet with me today. It was great to discuss career opportunities in ] with you! Your comments were insightful and gave me lots of ideas for my ongoing job search. Im excited to follow up on your suggestions to ].
It was especially exciting to talk to you about ]
Again, your suggestions and time are so appreciated, and I hope to chat again soon! Please let me know how if there is a way I can return the favor, now or in the future.
Regards,
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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What To Include In A Thank
Here are the basic points you should include in just about any thank-you note you send after an interview, and a few optional ideas:
- Express thanks for the interviewers time.
- Briefly reinforce why youre interested in the job and why youd be a good match.
- Consider adding something that you and the interviewer discussed while getting to know each other that makes the thank-you email more personal.
- Offer to answer any questions they might have.
- Add relevant examples of your work, or suggest a solution to a company problem that came up during your conversation.
- Close your email by reiterating your appreciation for the interview and asking about next steps.
Template For A Thank You Email After A Phone Interview
An employer may conduct phone interviews, or phone screens, with a dozen or more applicants for every job opening. Youre in a crowded field of candidates, all vying for the opportunity to interview in-person. One way to differentiate yourself is to craft a considerate post-interview thank you email as soon as you get off the phone.
Subject Line: Thank you for your time today.
Dear ],
I appreciate having the opportunity to speak with you today about the ] position at ]. After our conversation, Im very excited about this opportunity. I believe my skills and interests are a perfect match for this role.
I am particularly interested in ]
I appreciate the time you took to interview me today, and I look forward to having the opportunity to meet you in person.
If you need any additional information from me, please feel free to contact me at any time.
Again, thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
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How To Ask Interview Status: More Tips And Advice
- Keep it short, specific, and to the point.
- Be professional. Avoid unnecessary details.
- Dont come across as desperate. A common way to come across as desperate is a natural desire to sell yourself, again, in the email.
- Dont accuse or attack the contact for making you wait.
- Give HR at least 3 days to reply.
- Waiting to hear an interview result is tough. Stay strong!
What If The Company Hasnt Responded To Multiple Emails After The Interview
If you sent the first and second follow-up emails from the samples provided earlier and still didnt hear back from the employer about your status as a candidate, heres what to do:
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Why Send A Thank You After Interview Email
While its not required, its highly recommended to send a thank you after interview email to reinforce your interest in the opportunity, highlight your strengthsPersonal BrandOur personal brand is what people see as our identity, who they see us as and what qualities and things they associate with us. It reveals, and follow up on anything from the interviewInterview Tips How to Interview WellThis guide will give you a list of the top 10 interview tips, based on decades of firsthand experience from the CFI team interviewing hundreds. Its recommended to send the email within a few hours of the interview, as hiring managers often make their decisions very quickly and you want to keep their impression of you as high as possible.
When And To Whom You Should Send Thank You Emails
Hiring managers recommend you send a thank you email quickly.
Jeff Kelleher, Talent Management Specialist at Combined Insurance, states, My suggested rule of thumb is to send a thank you email within 48 hours of your interview.
Vienne Cheung, a Partner at Motu Novu in Boston, recommends that you send an interview follow-up email within 24 hours: For me, I read that as a candidate that is eager to work with us.
Make sure you either send emails to everyone you met or reference the other people in the thank you email to the hiring manager.
Gretchen Skalka, a Senior Manager at TBC Corporation, notes, The hiring manager usually puts some thought, some strategy behind the selection of people to co-interview. It also shows that they were paying careful attention to the entire room and content of the interview, and not simply focusing on the hiring manager.
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Craft A Strong Follow
Email subject lines are important because they determine whether your email gets opened, and how quickly.
I recommend following up with whoever said theyd been in touch after your interview, or if youre not sure, follow up with whoever you were emailing to scheduling the interview.
The person who scheduled your interview is a good person to follow up with to check the status of interview feedback.
The best way to write a subject line for a follow-up email is to simply reply to the latest email thread and leave the previous subject line.
For example, lets say that this was the previous email subject line:
Interview on Thursday at 10:00 AM
You should hit reply in your email program and then the subject line will look like this:
Re: Interview on Thursday at 10:00 AM
Continuing with the existing email thread and leaving the subject line as-is will boost your emails chances of getting opened faster.
The recipient will open your follow-up email because its clear what the email is about .
If you dont have a previous email to reply to, then choose one of the following subject lines for your interview follow-up email:
- Job interview follow-up
- Following up regarding interview results
Example Email: Is The Position Still Available
This is a good follow-up email to use if you want to get an idea of where you stand in the hiring process. If youre not sure which follow-up to use, this is a safe bet. This technique basically asks for any new information about the hiring process regarding the job you interviewed for.
Ms. Frizzle,
Its been weeks since we spoke about the opening for your companys opening for a . At the end of our meeting, you mentioned that your company would respond with a decision soon.
Because I have not heard back from your company yet, I wanted to check in with regards to my status in the hiring process. If the position is still available, I would like to reiterate my interest in working with your company.
If your company is seeking a performance-oriented individual to fill this role, I feel that my experience and skills will be a valuable contribution to the department.
If you would be interested in scheduling another meeting to discuss how I could contribute to your company, please feel free to reach out to me at your convenience.
Best regards,
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How Do You Write A Letter After An Interview
After the Interview: Sample Thank-You Letters
Keep It Short And To The Point
Hiring managersare busy, so you want to make sure your thank-you email is quick and easy to read. So keep it brief the career coaches interviewed for this article all said a few short paragraphs is a commonly prescribed length.
That said, make sure the reader can tell you put time and effort into the email. Even though its short, it shouldnt read like it was dashed off as an afterthought.
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Before You Send Proofread Everything
Email templates are only as good as the effort you put into filling them out and proofreading them.
Go over every detail and make sure it actually makes sense for your situation. If not, sending that thank you email or letter will do more harm than good.
Example: In the third sample email earlier in this article, it says, thank you for taking the time to meet with me.
If you had a phone interview, you should say, thank you for taking the time to talk on the phone with me.
Right?
Otherwise, its going to sound a bit odd, and they might suspect you just cut & pasted from a template. Not good!
So be careful, take your time with these sample emails, and make sure every single word makes sense.
The Bottom Line On Interview Thank You Emails
Many think that thank-you notes are trivial, but thank-you notes, done well, are a great way to differentiate yourself from other candidates. Take the time to follow the Email Thank You Dos and Donts, and send your thank you notes very quickly. If you forgot to send immediate thank you messages, send them as soon as you can better late than never! Good thank you notes demonstrate the high quality of your work, and all the characteristics you may claim, like: attention to detail, ability to communicate, comfort with technology, and knowledge about the job and the employer.
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Two Weeks After An Interview
After the excitement of an interview, if two weeks have passed without any further communication, feel free to send a gentle, brief follow-up.
Dear Mr. Parker:
I hope you’re doing well! It was so nice to meet with you two weeks ago to discuss the role of Digital Marketing Manager at ABC Digital.
I thought I’d check in to see where things stand in the hiring process. I’m looking forward to your update!
If there’s anything else I can provide to help in the decision-making process, I’d be happy to do so. Thank you again for your time!
Sincerely,
123-4578
Tailor Each Email To The Interviewer
The key to any thank-you email is that it’s written specifically for each person who met with you. Sending a generic email can absolutely reduce your chance of getting hired. Recruiters and hiring managers often compare the thank-you notes they get from other candidates, so they’ll know if you send the same generic letter to everyone.
During your interviews, jot down specific things that the recruiter or hiring manager said about the job position or company, as well as anything not related to the job, such as their hobbies or something you have in common. Put these specifics in each thank-you note to show that you were listening and engaged. Also, take the opportunity to address any concerns the recruiter brought up and reiterate how your skills are well-suited for the job.
Be brilliant, but brief. Recruiters and hiring managers are busy and a short, concise email with the information above shows that you respect their time even as you sell your qualifications and continued interest one more time during the hiring decision.
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What Is A Thank You Letter And Why Do You Need One
A thank you letter is a follow-up email you send after the job interview. It should be briefonly three or four paragraphs and never more than one page in length.
A good interview thank you email demonstrates your strong interest in the position. You can also reiterate the case you made for why the company should hire you. And frankly, it shows that you know how to follow up after an important meeting.
Example Email: Portfolio Included/forgot To Mention During The Interview
This is a good email to use to give more information to hiring managers to aid in their , or in case you forgot to mention something during your interview.
This type of follow-up email gives you the chance to remind employers of your skills, qualifications, and, again, how awesome you are.
Ms. Frizzle,
I would like to thank you again for meeting with me to discuss the opening you currently have at your company. It was a pleasure to meet with you and your staff, and I would welcome the opportunity to work with such a team.
In addition to the that I could bring to the role, I am an experienced team player with enthusiasm for group assignments. I am confident that as a member of your team, I could exceed your expectations.
If more time had been available during the interview, I would have liked to go into detail about my responsibilities and accomplishments at . As a helpful resource, I have enclosed a portfolio that highlights my experience in . If you feel that my skills align with the needs of the company, feel free to contact me for further discussion.
Best regards,
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Summarize The Interviews Highlights
When it comes to the actual body content of the email, in addition to thanking the interviewer, you want to focus on referencing two or three high points from the interview.
Mine your conversation for highlights by reflecting on these questions:
- Did the interviewer make an interesting point?
- Did something you discussed excite you?
- Did you learn something new about the role or company?
- Do you two have something interesting in common?
In your email, say you enjoyed learning about X. Or that you appreciate that the hiring manager shared Y. Or, when you heard them say Z, you became even more interested in the role.
Giving a couple quick highlights demonstrates you were an active, attentive participant in the conversation. Interviewers are looking for more than just the ability to do the job.
Key Mistakes To Avoid
Writing snail mail
24 hours
Waiting too long
48 hours Pro tip!
Not following up
Writing a long email
Not leaving a good impression
Using an informal greeting
- Dear
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Thank The Candidate For Their Time
Let the candidate know that you appreciate their interest in your company. Consider mentioning that you value them taking their time to meet with you to discuss their credentials. While this job didn’t work out for them, let them know that they’re on their way to finding a role that suits their background.
