Writing a Thank You Email After an Interview: Timeline and Examples

Everyone likes being thanked. That’s not just speculation — statistics back it up. One survey discovered that about nine in 10 hiring managers (91%) said they appreciated receiving a thank-you message from candidates.

This doesn’t always impact your chances. Only 22% of employers reported being less likely to hire an applicant who failed to send a thank you. But still — that’s more than one out of every five employers who will look elsewhere if you skip this step. Is it worth taking that chance?

Of course not. You want to maximize your ability to find the best job for you. Turning to a top recruiter, like SmartTalent, can help. You’ll get connected with the best employers for your skills and background.

Even with this assistance, you want to do everything possible to impress potential employers. With that in mind, here is a guide for writing a thank-you email after a job interview:

Follow-Up Quickly

Don’t wait to send your thank-you note. As soon as you get home from your interview (or immediately after a remote interview ends), begin composing your response. If it’s late in the day, you can wait until the next work day. But get to the task quickly.

As you send your thank you, think about the rest of your follow-up strategy. What will you do if you don’t hear back from the company? Find out the firm’s expected timeline and plan accordingly.

Don’t push too hard or make yourself a nuisance. But periodically check in with the firm to gather information and build a rapport.

Pick the Right Person (or People) to Thank

You can’t thank a corporation. Rather, direct your appreciation to individuals. After all, these people will ultimately make the decision whether to hire you or not.

In the interview, make sure you note the people involved in the process. Later, you can discover their email addresses and send them an appropriate thank-you message.

Making a connection in an interview can greatly improve your chances of getting hired. This gets easier when you know you represent a good fit with the organization. SmartTalent can put you in these situations. Reach out to SmartTalent to find the ideal opportunities for you.

Keep It Brief

A two-word note is probably too short. Your email should say more than a simple “thank you.” However, don’t indulge too much. You have a relatively straightforward message to deliver.

A short thank-you email will be more effective. Stick to a few choice sentences, showing your appreciation and noting your ongoing interest.

Think About What You Want to Say

Yes, you want a brief message. However, that doesn’t mean you should dash off a thank-you note in a few seconds.

After all, this email could impact your ability to land a job. Get it right. This involves thinking about what you want to say and spending the appropriate time crafting your message.

Here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Create the right tone — professional, but upbeat and sincere
• Include a greeting and sign off
• Proofread to eliminate errors
• Restate your interest in the job

Include Specifics

Start with a general template for your thank-you note. This will give you a base for your message, so you don’t have to start from scratch each time. Consider something like:

“Thank you so much for taking the time to meet with you today. It was great talking to you about this opportunity. I appreciate the chance to learn more about the position.”

From there, customize your email to include some details from the specific conversation you had during the interview. This signals that you took the time to write a personalized note. At the same time, it gives you a chance to briefly highlight some points of interest that you want to underline.

This can include comments like:

• “I was intrigued by the description of your upcoming product launch.”
• “It’s exciting to hear that this position involves travel.”
• “I appreciated you walking me through the details of the day-to-day routine.”

To land a job, you want to optimize each part of the process. That includes getting your thank-you note right. It also means finding the best way to locate great employers. SmartTalent can give you the support you need to connect with the best companies for you.

Contact SmartTalent today to learn more.