How to Send a Thank You Note After an Interview [5 Tips]

Thank You Note

Everything’s going just right. You got the call to come in for an interview, which is pretty impressive on its own. And now that you’ve had your interview, you’re pretty sure you aced it.

But you want to do more to make sure you get the job.

Once the initial conversation is over, you don’t just have to sit around and wait. It could actually hurt your chances if you don’t follow up after your interview. Sending a thank you note is a crucial step that you don’t want to miss.

Continue reading to get the lowdown on how to write and send a thank you note after your interview that will propel you to the top of any hiring manager’s list. The job will be as good as yours!

Why Sending a Thank You Note Is Crucial

Before you start asking yourself why you even need to thank someone for interviewing you, just let us hit you with some numbers.

  • Job recruiters expect to receive a thank you note from people they interview, but more than 50% of job seekers never send them.
  • Almost 1 in 5 hiring managers will dismiss a potential employee if they don’t send a thank you letter.
  • 80% of HR managers say sending a thank you note helps your chances of getting the job.

Just think about it — the person who interviewed you took time out of their busy schedule, so they could make sure you are the perfect fit for the position.

Why shouldn’t you thank them for that opportunity?

Email vs. Snail Mail Thank You Notes

Wondering about the best way to send your thank you notes?

Well, nine times out of ten, sending an email is the best way to go. Emails are much faster than snail mail and can get there instantly rather than taking a few days to arrive.

It gets your name in front of hiring managers as quickly as possible after the interview. That’s what you want.

Now, it’s a good idea to send a letter via snail mail if the company you interviewed for is a traditional or old fashioned company. You’ll get that vibe while you’re there. Just go with your instinct.

If you send a letter by snail mail, you should still type it out to convey professionalism — especially if you don’t have the best penmanship.

Still unsure about which method to choose?

When in doubt, send both!

When to Send Your Thank You Note

You should compose and send your thank you notes as soon as possible after your interview.

The last thing you want to do is miss out on a chance to hear from them again. You don’t want your enthusiasm questioned, over if you want the job. The longer you wait, the less it seems like you’re genuinely excited.

Ideally, you should do it within 24 hours of your interview.

Go right home and sit down at your computer. You can even go ahead and have the majority of your email written out beforehand, then personalize it after the interview.

The sooner you send that baby off, the better!

How to Write an Interview Thank You Note

There are plenty of templates out there to help you get your thank you note started. It’s worth looking a few up before deciding on what kind of wording is best.

Here’s a quick rundown of the basics for your interview thank you note.

The Subject Line

Keep your subject line clear and concise.

Don’t try getting fancy. It’s more important that your email gets read than to be cute with it. The interviewer is much more likely to open it if they see something like one of these examples:

  • “Thank you, [their name]!”
  • “Thank you for the interview.”
  • “Thank you for your guidance.”

Make It Personal

You should address your thank you note to the person that interviewed you by name.

“Dear [their first name],”

And it would be best if you wrote a separate thank-you note to each person involved in your interview. If more than one person was asking the questions, they deserve your gratitude all the same.

Show Your Appreciation

It is a thank you note, so you should be thankful. Make sure it’s authentic.

People are going to know if you’re not authentic.

Tell the interviewer how much you appreciate the time they took to talk to you and explain the company and the position.

Remind Them of Your Interest

Reiterate how much you want the job. Make sure they know you’re eager to take on this position. Obviously, you want it if you came in for an interview, but make sure they know it.

But what if you don’t want the job after the interview?

You should still send a thank you note! They still took the time to talk to you, and you need to say thank you.

But this is where you explain that you don’t believe the job is right for you or that you’re not the right candidate for the position. They will be grateful to know how you feel, so they don’t waste their time considering you.

Reference Something From the Interview

Let them know you were paying close attention.

Bring up the things they discussed with you. Whether it’s a sport they mentioned liking or an event you spoke about. Dive back in your memory and find something you can give a little nod to so they know you listened to them.

Also, refer to the skills needed for the position and remind them of what you bring to the table. Make them an offer they can’t refuse and show them how you can help the company if you’re hired.

They need to know you’re the best person for the job.

Mention Next Steps

You should know what happens next; they probably told you at the end of your interview. Make sure you remind them of it near the end of your letter.

Something simple such as “I look forward to your call next week,” or “I’m excited to get that trial project started,” is the perfect little nod to the future.

If you don’t know what the next steps are, say something like, “I look forward to hearing from you,” so they know you’re ready to take the next step.

End Your Note With Professionalism

Sign the note with “Sincerely” or something that means the same thing as well as your first and last name.

Under your name, put your contact information — phone number and email address.

If you feel the need to add a website or LinkedIn profile as well, go ahead. It’s really up to your discretion.

How Long Should Your Thank You Be?

It would be best if you didn’t write a long, involved thank you letter.

The person who interviewed you is probably busy and won’t have the time to read something multiple pages long.

That said — match your letter to the tone of your interview and the company you interviewed for.

  • If your interview was for an entry or mid-level position, keep it short and relatively simple.
  • If you interviewed for a corporate position and your interview was quite long and in-depth, write a more detailed and formal thank you note.

Either way, it will please them to hear from you.

In Conclusion

You had an excellent interview for the perfect job and you’re looking for just the right thing to seal the deal. Well, it doesn’t get much better than a thank you note.

And now you know how to go about sending one. It’s foolproof! Take the time to show your gratitude. It honestly makes a significant impact on your chances. An interview thank you note will get you one step closer to getting that “congratulations” phone call you’ve been waiting for.

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