Job interviews can be nerve-wracking experiences. You’ll breathe a sigh of relief after it is over— but the work may not be entirely done yet!
There’s one thing left to do that can help your chances of landing the job: sending an interview thank you email.
This polite gesture may feel a little old-fashioned, but saying a few words of appreciation can still go a long way in the hiring process. If you’re on the fence, here’s why it may be worth it to send one.
Should I send a thank you email after an interview?
Sending a thank you note is a good idea and, when done right, will never hurt your chances of landing the job.
A thank you note is a great way to show your interviewer that you’re interested in the position and that you appreciate their time. Sending a thank you also gives you one last opportunity to sell yourself for the job and to make sure that your interviewer remembers you positively. A few simple sentences expressing your appreciation can land you extra points that sway them in your favor.
That being said, thank you notes typically aren’t a make-it-or-break-it factor. Most HR professionals will agree that thank you notes are always great to receive, but few, if any, will dock you points if you skip out on it. Sacha Lyson, Director of People at Spot Insurance, describes post-interview thank you notes as a nice-to-have but not necessary to land a job at their company.
Like Lyson says, a thank you note can be a great way to keep you top of mind. They can remind an interviewer about your positive attributes and get them excited about the possibility of working with you. At the end of the day, your skills and experience will be the main deciding factor, but the small upsides make sending a thank you note worth it.
How to write a job interview thank you email
You’ll notice that we specified that, when done right, a thank you note won’t hurt your chances of getting a job. If you aren’t willing to put the time in to write a genuine thank you, you may be better off skipping this step altogether.
A poorly written note or generic template may work against you.
So what’s the secret formula?
A job interview thank you note should be short, sweet, and to the point. There’s no one way to build your thank you notes, but you should include the following at a minimum:
- Short subject line: Include a brief subject like “Thanks for your time!” or “Appreciate the opportunity to speak today”.
- Greeting: Start with a greeting “Hi [name]” or “Dear [name]”. Be sure to use the name that they introduced themselves with during your interview.
- The thank you: No thank you email is complete without actually saying thanks! Tell the interviewer you appreciate the time and opportunity to speak with them.
- Highlight one or two key points from your conversation: Make your thank you personal by highlighting a thing or two that stood out to you during your interview. This can be anything from something you learned about the company to mentioning something you have in common with the interviewer.
- Express interest in the position: Somewhere in the email, express your excitement for the role.
You can wrap up your thank you with another brief thanks and an offer to answer any further questions they may have. Sign off with a complimentary close, your name, and a way to reach you if they have any additional questions.
Suzanne Salzberg, Vice President of Talent at TextNow, shares a few tips for crafting the perfect thank you note in the video below.
Before pressing send, run through a quick check to ensure that:
- You spelled the name of the interviewer correctly
- You spelled the name of the company correctly
- There are no grammatical mistakes
- You included your contact information in the signature area of the email
“Every time you correspond or interact with someone during the interview process, it’s an interview,” Salzberg reminds jobseekers. Be sure you’re putting your best foot forward, even when it comes to saying thank you.
Interview thank you note example
Here’s an example of what your thank you note may look like. Keep in mind that this template should be used as inspiration— don’t just copy and paste!
If you were interviewed by multiple people, send a separate email to each person. Be sure to personalize each message and include something specific that only you two discussed.
The bottom line
A thank you email can be a great way to set yourself apart from other candidates. Though it may not be a must-do in the interview process, it is a nice gesture that can help win you some favor with hiring managers.
Remember, the best thank you notes are the ones that come from the heart. Always be sure to craft one that is specific to the person you spoke to.