Thank You Email After an Interview (4 Best Samples + Template)

You've just had a great job interview, and you're feeling good. However, you're curious about what happens next. You're thinking about whether you'll get a second interview or be brought onto the team.

Instead of stressing about what is to come, make sure you send a thank you email after an interview. It might feel like after the interview, all you need to do is sit back and wait to hear from someone. However, that isn't true.

As soon as you get home from an interview (or get off the phone or video software), there are things you can do to increase the chances you're hired.

This guide will look at whether you need to send a thank you email after an interview, why sending the note is essential, and how to write an exceptional thank you email. We'll also share some excellent thank you notes to get your creative juices flowing and provide a template you can use for your thank you email.

If you need something else to take your mind off of things, learn more about questions to ask in an interview in case you have another. You can also look at behavioral interview questions, so you'll do even better if further interviews are in your future.

Do You Always Have to Send a Thank You Note After an Interview?

It's not a requirement to send a thank you note for an interview, but there's no good reason to avoid it. It's one of the best ways of following up after an interview to keep your name fresh on the hiring manager's mind. So, it isn't mandatory, but you should do it for the best chance of getting the job.

Lots of parts of the hiring process have changed over the years. For example, after you go through the job search and put in a job application, you might have an interview over video or even through the phone. Of course, you still answer some interview questions, but the format might be different.

Maybe you need to provide a link to your LinkedIn, share sample work, or deliver additional information to show your qualifications. Things have changed but what hasn't is the need for a thank you letter. It shows appreciation for meeting with the manager and can now be done by email for a more straightforward process.

Why Sending an Interview Thank You Email is Important

Sending a thank you email has several advantages, even over the older method of crafting a handwritten letter after an interview.

For instance, you get to remind the employer about your skills and education in an email, just like a letter. However, you can also share your relevant social media accounts, link to a portfolio, or provide any online sources that paint you as a great candidate.

In addition, it gives you the chance to bring up anything else that wasn't covered in the interview itself. This can be a great way to cover something important that you forgot or didn't have time to mention when interviewing the first time.

After an interview, you can use your notes to think about your experience. While you do so, something crucial may come up that you wish you'd asked. These questions can be placed in an interview thank you email or saved for a second interview.

How to Write a Perfect Post Interview Thank You Email

When you're wondering how to write a thank you email after an interview, a few pointers can help a lot. The post interview thank you email should be professional and show how much you want the position you're in the running for. The tips below will help you craft the best thank you after the interview is over and you're moving forward.

Use the eight tips below to make sure your follow up interview email is one that gets noticed – and, more importantly – impresses the person who reads it.

Tip 1: Keep It Professional

After working through things with a recruiter to get the first interview, you don't want to make a mistake in your thank you email. Whether you have an in-person, phone, or video interview, you compete against other job seekers. That means you should keep your follow up email professional.

Go over the email or letter before you send it and make sure it reads well and has a professional tone for whoever reads it.

Tip 2: Choose a Simple Subject Line

As one of the qualified candidates to get a position you want, you need to be sure your email is read. You can add the company name, name of the position, your name, and/or the words "thank you" in the email subject line to clarify what the message is about.

Adding your name and a thank you will make it more likely that the hiring manager will see your email and knows that it's something important to read.

Tip 3: Express Appreciation for the Interview

You've sent a cover letter showing why you're interested in the job. But now that you've had an interview and know more about the company culture, make sure to show appreciation for the interview. This can be a great way to promote your candidacy by showing you care about the interviewer's time and efforts.

Thank the interviewer as a person for interviewing you, and be sincere about the things you write in your after interview email.

Tip 4: Address Issues in the Interview Phase

The hiring process can be challenging, and sometimes you need to talk about complicated things. If you want to walk away with a shiny new job title, address any issues that came up in the interview. Maybe you wish you'd had a chance to ask a question or better explain something. This is the time to bring those things to light.

Being open about what's on your mind shows that you're willing to communicate, even about things that might be difficult. Now is your chance to clarify things.

Tip 5: Express Your Interest in the Position

After an in person interview, you want to ensure the prospective employer knows you still want the job. Reinforce that desire in the email and make the follow-up an additional way to sell yourself. Talk about how interested you are in the job, what qualifications you have, and how you'd contribute to the team.

Let the person interviewing know how excited you are about the opportunity. It could lead to another interview or even new hire paperwork.

Tip 6: Mention a Point from the Interview

Make sure you personalize the email by speaking about a skill, experience, or problem that the hiring manager cares about. The trick is to choose something that can segue into one of your strong skills and why it makes you an excellent fit for the organization in the position you want.

By bringing up a specific skill, you can show how you'd fit nicely on the team and be an excellent hire for the company.

Tip 7: Ask About Further Questions

Interviewers are humans, just like everyone else. It's far from uncommon for them to forget to ask a question when in the moment of an interview. Open up the line of communication by asking them if they have any additional questions. There might be something they hoped to bring up but forgot.

This shows you're attentive, aware, and willing to answer questions. It also gives them an opening to ask anything that wasn't requested in the moment.

Tip 8: Proofread Before Sending

Typos, bad grammar, and other writing mistakes can happen, but you should try to avoid them in your thank you letter. That's why you should run a spellcheck and grammar check before you send the email to the interviewer. Word has spellcheck, and you can use Grammarly to check for other issues.

Ensure the thank you letter after an interview looks great and reads well before sending it on to the hiring manager's inbox.

4 Great "Thank You for the Interview” Email Samples

Now that you have some tips on making your letter great, we want to share a thank you letter after an interview sample. We'll share several options, so you can choose your favorite when you craft your own thank you letter after your interview. Keep in mind that these work well for in-person interviews, as well as a thank you email after a phone interview. Many can also be tweaked or used as-is for a thank you email after a Zoom interview.

Sample 1: Quick Thank You Note

Subject Line: Valor Marsden – Thank you for the sales interview!

Hello Wren,

Thank you for making time to speak with me yesterday morning. I enjoyed our conversation about the Associate Sales position and appreciated learning more about how the position works with the overall team at ABC Company.

The role sounds rewarding, especially with the opportunities for advancement and collaboration with other teams. In addition, I believe my master's in business would make me an exceptional choice for the position.

I look forward to hearing back from you to discuss the opportunity further. Please contact me if you have any additional questions or need more information about my references.

Thanks,

Valor Marsden [email protected] 123-456-7890

This is an excellent sample thank you email after an interview. It shows a short but clear subject line, features appreciation for the interview, and delves into the person being interested in the position. It also talks about what makes this person qualified for the job. Finally, the email example opens up the floor for additional information and provides contact information.

Sample 2: Formal Thank You Email

Subject Line: Colee Everett – Nurse Position at ABC Hospital

Dear Dr. Benson,

Thank you for making time to speak with me about the RPN position yesterday afternoon. It was inspirational to have an insightful conversation about patient care, and I was honored to hear your professional insights about the hospital's values.

The details you provided about this position and the future goals of the nursing staff convinced me that this role would be an ideal match with my qualifications. I believe my Master of Science in Nursing from Stonybrook University and seven years of work as an RN would make me a valuable contributor to the hospital team.

Please feel free to contact me with any other information you might need. Thanks again!

Warmest regards,

Colee Everett [email protected] 123-456-7890

In some situations, formality makes the best impression. If that's the case for you, this might be the best thank you email after an interview to emulate. The email is highly professional while offering thanks, explaining why the interviewee is good for the job, and expressing how the workplace is inspiring. It hits all the right marks without going overboard.

Sample 3: Detailed Thank You Email

Subject Line – Erik Stiles Senior Editor Position

Hello Misha,

Thanks for speaking with me this morning about the Senior Editor position. I appreciated getting to know more about the responsibilities and how the role works. The way the writing and marketing teams work together sounds excellent for optimizing performance and reaching relevant goals.

The position as Senior Editor sounds like an enriching role, especially with the opportunities for advancement and additional leadership. I believe my master's in English from Stonybrook University and my 10 years of experience writing and editing make me an excellent candidate for the position.

I'm looking forward to speaking about the opportunity with you more in the future. Please don't hesitate to reach out to me to arrange a follow-up email.

Thank you,

Erik Stiles [email protected] 123-456-7890

Details can be good whether you're sending an email or mailing a handwritten note. It shows that you took the time to gather your thoughts before sharing all your insights about the interview. This can easily factor into the hiring decision if a few people move on to the next round of interviews.

Sample 4: Informal Interview Letter of Thanks

Subject Line: Luca Kharitonov – Thanks for the interview!

Hello Leo,

Thanks for taking time out of your day to talk with me yesterday. Our conversation about the backend programming position was inspiring, and it was great to learn more about the role.

This job sounds exciting, and I think that my master's degree and experience make me an ideal candidate.

Please reach out to me if you'd like to discuss this further. I look forward to hearing from you!

Thanks,

Luca Kharitonov [email protected] 123-456-7890

If you're applying somewhere reasonably informal in terms of communication, you can do the same. This may also work well if you're in a situation where you're applying internally or already know the person interviewing you. Again, you want to be professional but informal wording, and a shorter letter may work in these cases.

Editable Template for a Successful After Interview Thank You Email

Now that you have some examples to use for your interview follow-up, we want to share something else. This is a simple email template that you can use to create a personal email to the person who interviewed you. All you need to do is plug in your information, make any changes you want, and send it in:

Hello (Interviewer's Name),

It was great to meet with you (today/yesterday/etc.) to discuss (role you applied for) at (company name). The position sounds perfect for me, and I believe my experience in (skill) would make me a great candidate for the job. In addition, my (type of degree) in (degree subject) offers insight that would help me thrive.

If you have additional questions, please get in touch with me. Thank you for meeting with me about this exciting opportunity.

Best wishes,

(Your name) (Your email address) (Your phone number)

When to Send Your Thank You Email After Interview

When you have your interview, you should make sure to ask what the next steps are in the hiring process. This will give you insight into when you should hear back about the available position, testing, or whether or not you got the position.

You should also take this into account when choosing the right time to send the interview thank you letter. In some cases, the process may take weeks or months. In others, it could be a matter of days.

Whatever the case, you should send the thank you note in a timely manner and then respect the process by not contacting them until they reach out again.

The general consensus is to send your thank you email between 24 and 48 hours after the interview. This gives you time to think about the experience and craft an excellent email for the employer. It’s short enough that the employer will still have you fresh on their mind but you aren't immediately emailing when you might not have processed the interview.

However, there are always exceptions to the rule. For example, if you know that the hiring decision will be made nearly immediately, you can send a letter before 24 hours pass.  If you know it will take longer, you can wait another day to send the follow-up after the interview.

The good news is that the interview thank you note is short and straightforward to write. It won't take much time to get through it, and then all you have to do is wait to find out the results!

Key Takeaways About Writing a Follow Up Email After Interview

Sending a thank you note after an interview is generally expected and offers benefits to you and the person who interviewed you. It keeps you on their mind and gives you another chance to sell yourself. In addition, the manager learns more about you and may envision you in the position.

So, use the information above to craft a great email and send it to the hiring manager. Then you can say you followed all the standard steps. You never know; it could be the key to moving forward and ending up in a great job with the salary and benefits you've hoped for.

FAQs

Is it OK to send a late thank you note after an interview?

There's never a point too late to send a note of thanks in the interview process. If 48 hours have passed and you want the job, send a message if you are still interested. Sending it could be what gets you into the next round of interviews.

What if I forget to send a thank you after an interview?

It never hurts to send a late thank you note after the interview if you want the job offer. Consider a snail mail response to make a unique impression. While sending a note within 48 hours is standard, it's better to send one late than not at all.

Do you send thank you after the second interview?

It's an excellent idea to send an interview thank you note after a second interview. Career advice experts recommend it. This is true even if you are sending the note to the same person who handled your initial interview. It's an excellent opportunity to show your interest in the position.

How do you send a thank you note for an interview if you don't have the interviewer's email address?

If you have access to a business card with contact information, try that. Otherwise, you could send a thank note after an interview to the person who scheduled the interview. Make a note to the assistant or secretary to pass the message on to your interviewer.

What should you do if you forget the interviewer's name?

If there is a recruiter, they can provide a name and phone number. This will give you information for the thank you for the interview email. If there was no recruiter, call the department, ask for the company operator, and ask. You can also check the spelling of the name at this time.

How soon should you send a thank you email after a phone interview?

After a phone interview, it's appropriate to send a thank you interview email within 24 to 48 hours. Keep in mind that the rule of thumb is to send the email within one to two days. It might seem drafted or generic if it's sent out too early.