Thank You Email After an Interview (Best Samples + Template)
Are you wondering if you need to send a thank you email after an interview? The answer is always yes. Sending an interview thank you email can significantly increase your chances of standing out as a candidate. It shows strong communication skills, thoughtfulness, and demonstrated interest in the position you’re applying for.
The hiring process is tedious and hiring managers might easily meet with dozens of candidates just to fill one position. As a hiring manager, if you were torn between two equally qualified candidates in your job search, a thank you note after an interview that thoughtfully demonstrates these traits can be a big push in your favor and it’s a courteous way to let a hiring manager know you value their time.
How to write a thank you email after an interview
This blog will cover the key components of a thank you email after an interview, provide a sample interview thank you email, and review frequently asked questions.
Key components you should include in your thank you email:
- Simple subject line
- Personalized greeting
- Thanking the interviewer
- Reiterating interest in the job and what you bring to the table
- Highlighting portions of the interview unique to you
- Express availability for continuing the hiring process
Start with a simple subject line
Before the interviewer even reads your email, the first thing they’ll see in their inbox is your subject line. Given the number of emails we all receive daily, you want to make sure your subject line is clear and direct.
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Here are some examples:
Thank you – [job title] interview
Thank you – [job title]
Thank you – [job title] consideration
Use a personalized and professional greeting
Depending on the organization, what their company culture is like, and how the interview went, you may choose to greet with a formal salutation or greet them by their first name.
When to use a formal salutation:
- A traditional organization with more formal company culture, such as an established law firm or accounting firm, might expect a formal salutation, especially if the role you are interviewing for will require formal writing skills.
- If you are addressing a woman and you do not know whether they are married or not, you should default to ‘Ms.’
- Additionally, if your interview is with a doctor (that includes MD or Ph.D.), make sure to greet them as such.
When to use their first name:
- Using first names to greet in an email is becoming increasingly common, especially in younger companies or where company culture is more laid-back.
- You can usually get a sense of this from any email correspondence they might have previously sent you. When in doubt, default to a formal salutation.
Thank the Interviewer
Begin by thanking the interviewer for their time. You’ll want your words of appreciation to come off sincere but simply stated.
Some examples:
I wanted to thank you again for taking the time to speak with me today.
Thank you for interviewing me this morning.
Thank you for meeting with me to discuss the [job title] position.
Reiterate interest in the job and company, and what you bring to the table
Sending a thank you email reinforces your interest in the role you’re applying for. After thanking the interviewer, express your excitement for learning about the role and company. Reiterate why you feel you’d be a good fit for the company based on their culture and values.
Example:
It was a pleasure learning more about the role and company. I love the company’s 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.
Highlight portions of the interview unique to you
You should aim for your interview to be a conversation rather than a Q&A session. Remember that the point of the interview is to go beyond your qualifications and get a sense of your fit with the company culture. Demonstrate that you can get along with the team by engaging in conversation outside of the interview questions. This will also make you more likely to stand out from other candidates.
You can recall one of these specific moments from your conversation in your thank you email. The more unique and specific, the better. Perhaps you connected over a hobby, show, the same hometown, college, etc. Follow up on this conversation to remind the interview of the connection you made.
Examples:
I also enjoyed connecting over our time volunteering with the Peace Corps, it’s been a while since I met someone that also served in Ghana.
It was such a nice surprise to meet a fellow Trojan.
It’s great to meet someone that loves plants as much as I do!
3 best samples of thank you emails after a job interview
Now that we’ve reviewed all the elements of a successful post-interview thank you email, let’s take a look at an example of how to put one together and follow up successfully after your interview. Here is some sample thank you emails:
Sample 1
Hi Jessica,
Thank you so much for taking the time to meet with me today. I enjoyed the opportunity to learn more about the position and the company.
After interviewing with you, I am certain I’m qualified for this role. My experience as a Customer Service Manager at Silver Financial Solutions closely aligns with the functions of the Client Success Manager position at Cloud Nine Technologies. As discussed, I would be excited to implement more training materials and team-building exercises with fellow employees.
In addition, I enjoyed learning about the company. I was especially intrigued by Cloud Nine Technology’s commitment to giving back. As a volunteer at my local Boys and Girls Club, I know how influential mentoring can be for at-risk children.
Again, thank you for your time. It was so nice meeting someone that loves plants as much as I do! If you have any questions or need additional information, please feel free to reach out to me. I look forward to hearing from you.
In this example, the candidate uses a casual greeting and starts by thanking the interviewer for their time. Then they restate their experience and qualification for the role using specific examples of what was discussed in the job interview.
Sample 2
Dear Mr. Valdez,
I would like to thank you for meeting with me to discuss the Lead Analyst role at Gateway Tech. I was quite impressed by the company’s dedication to innovation and accessibility.
As I mentioned, I believe my experience in analyzing impact and expanding reach will make me a great asset to the next phase of projects at Gateway Tech. I am particularly excited to discuss how we can implement these ideas to reach your ambitious demographic goals, which I’ve helped accomplish in my previous role.
I look forward to hearing from you soon and am happy to answer any additional questions you might have.
This thank you email uses a formal greeting and tone that is more fitting of the company culture. They reiterate their interest in the company/role and mention specific goals that were discussed in the interview.
Sample 3
Hi Lauren,
Thanks again for taking the time to meet with me yesterday. It was a real pleasure to get to know you and the work you’ve been doing.
After speaking with you, I am incredibly excited to be a part of your marketing team and help take your audience reach to the next level. I’m thrilled you liked my idea on social media outreach and I would love to bring that expertise into this role.
Please do let me know if there are any next steps or additional information I can provide as you continue in your hiring process. I look forward to connecting again soon!
This example focuses on the candidate’s potential contributions to the company and recalls specific ideas that were discussed in the interview process. This emphasizes the candidate’s value and what they would bring in this role.
Thank you email after a job interview: editable template
Here’s a template you can use for your own thank you letter after an interview:
Subject line: Thank you – [job title] interview
Dear [interviewer],
Thank you for taking the time to meet with me [when] to discuss the [job title] position. It was great to learn more about [company name] and the work you’re doing.
As I mentioned, [highlight your experience/skills and how they’d suit the role].
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.
Thank you,
[your name]
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When to send your thank you email after your job interview
You should always aim to send a thank you note as soon as possible following your interview. Send the thank you email after an interview within 1-2 business days of having your interview, preferably the same day if possible. It’s best to write a thank you email right after the interview since the experience is fresh on your mind and theirs.
If it’s already been a few days after the interview, go ahead and send a thank you email anyway. If it’s been a week or more, at this point, it’s best for you to follow up on your application status and include a thank you message.
FAQs
Is it OK to send a late thank note after the job interview?
Yes! Sending a late thank you note is better than not sending one at all.
What if I forgot to send a thank you after my job interview?
If you haven’t heard back from the interviewer, you can still follow up on your interview process and include a thank you message in your email. If you receive an email back from the interviewer, you can always respond to their message and include a short thank you. Everyone appreciates gratitude!
Do you send thank you after the second interview?
Yes, you should still send a thank you email after the second interview. It doesn’t need to be as elaborate or recall the same points you brought up previously, but you should still show appreciation for the interviewer’s time.
How do you send a thank you note for an interview if you don’t have the interviewer’s email address?
You can still find a way to send a thank you email!
- Check if the person was copied on an email or perhaps included on a calendar invite before the interview.
- Check the company’s website for bios and contact information.
- You can call the company’s office and kindly ask their receptionist or someone else from their team. Explain that you had an interview with them and would like to thank them for their time.
As a last resort, you can probably figure out one employee’s email address based on someone else’s in the company. Most companies will use a standard format for employee emails.
Some common examples are:
- firstinitiallastname@company
- firstname.lastname@company
- firstinitial.lastname@company
What should you do if you forgot the interviewer’s name?
In the event that you forgot, misheard, or don’t quite know the spelling of the interviewer’s name, don’t let this deter you from writing a personalized greeting. There are ways you can cross-reference to make sure you get the right name and still make a good impression:
- Check if they gave you a business card (in a remote setting, sometimes business cards can be found online).
- Check the company’s website or social media for any bios that might include the interviewer name.
- Visit the company’s LinkedIn page and see if you recognize the interviewer as a listed employee. If it’s a larger company, it might help to filter the employees by their title.
How soon should you send a thank you email after a phone interview?
As soon as possible! Whether your interview is in-person, online, or over the phone, aim to send a thank you note within 1-2 days after your interview.
