How to send a "thank you" email after an interview

Sending a follow up email after an interview is not just the right thing to do, it is often the deciding factor in which candidate gets chosen for the job. We’ve been told countless times by companies we work with that the decision between two candidates was influenced by the fact that one of them sent a thoughtful follow up email. 

Follow up emails help companies know you’re serious about the role and allow you to stay at the top of their inbox. They’re also a place for you to showcase your communications skills. This is an important first impression- it shows your company how you present yourself to others.

As a general rule of thumb, we encourage you to send a thank you note within a day or so from your interview. However, if you forgot or weren’t able to, it is never too late!

Here are our top six tips on writing a great follow up email.

1) Thank the interviewer for their time. It may seem inconsequential, but a genuine “thank you” goes a very long way. Everybody likes to be appreciated and to know that their time was well spent. If you interviewed with several people, send each of them a separate thank you note. Once you’ve completed a round of interviews (for example, your first interview went well and they had you speak to a few more people), follow-up with the hiring manager and send another thank you note to let them know you enjoyed meeting the team.

2) Reiterate your interest in the role. This will let the company know that you’re a serious candidate. This is a great place to elaborate a bit, share what about the job excites you, how you see this opportunity within your professional journey, and why you’re interested in their company.

3) Pitch yourself, advance the conversation. While this follow up email is just a thank you, it is a subtle pitch for yourself as a candidate. One great way to do this is to build on the conversation you had during your interview. Reference a topic or project you discussed. Remember that your interviewer probably spoke to lots of candidates for this role, adding a personal touch can remind them of who you are and keep you top of mind. In one of the best follow up emails we've seen, a candidate sent a thank you note along with a link to a recent article related to the business conversation they had during the interview. She sent it along and let them know that it had made her think of their conversation. They hired her.

4) Let them know that you’re looking forward to hearing more from them. Companies move very slowly. As a job seeker, it can feel excruciating to sit around and wait to hear back. A thank you note can help push them along. At the very least, it often prompts them to tell you when you can expect to hear from them next. If you have other interviews or offers, you can share that. It may encourage them to move quickly if they’re interested in hiring you. 

5) Don’t just send them a thank you note. Play the long game. Reach out to them and connect on LinkedIn. Stay connected- engage with their content, see what topics they contribute to, maybe you even send them an article or post that makes you think of them. We aren’t saying to spam everyone you’ve ever interviewed with- but use interview experiences to build your professional network. Even if this job doesn’t work out, they might share something down the road that would be perfect for you.

6) Lastly, don’t overthink it. If you’re feeling paralyzed by writing the perfect follow-up email, just send an email thanking them for their time and letting them know you’re excited to hear back. Something is always better than nothing!

Here are few "thank you" note examples.

[Example 1: thank you note after interview]

Hi [Jerry],

It was a pleasure speaking with you on Monday. [Company’s] mission is something really close to my heart. Thank you so much for answering all of my questions so thoroughly and providing me with the necessary background and context.

I really enjoyed hearing more about [Company]’s plans for the digital transformation of your customer experience. I saw [this article] about the potential for generative AI to make customer experience more efficient and I thought of our conversation. I know this is a position I’d excel at and I think I’d fit in well with this team. Thanks again for taking the time.

Have a great week!

[George]

[Example 2: Email to hiring manager after a round of interviews]

Hi [hiring manager],

I hope your weekend is off to a great start! I had a great time speaking with [Sarah] and [Tom] and learning more about [Company]. I thought our conversation went well and I hope I was able to convey my love and passion for technology to them Company seems like a fast growing organization and somewhere I feel I can really contribute. Hope to talk soon.

Thank you,

[Lily]