Thank You After Interview Email

Learn to write a thank you email after your interview to increase the chances of getting hired

Author: Rohan Arora
Rohan Arora
Rohan Arora
Investment Banking | Private Equity

Mr. Arora is an experienced private equity investment professional, with experience working across multiple markets. Rohan has a focus in particular on consumer and business services transactions and operational growth. Rohan has also worked at Evercore, where he also spent time in private equity advisory.

Rohan holds a BA (Hons., Scholar) in Economics and Management from Oxford University.

Reviewed By: Kevin Henderson
Kevin Henderson
Kevin Henderson
Private Equity | Corporate Finance

Kevin is currently the Head of Execution and a Vice President at Ion Pacific, a merchant bank and asset manager based Hong Kong that invests in the technology sector globally. Prior to joining Ion Pacific, Kevin was a Vice President at Accordion Partners, a consulting firm that works with management teams at portfolio companies of leading private equity firms.

Previously, he was an Associate in the Power, Energy, and Infrastructure Investment Banking group at Lazard in New York where he completed numerous M&A transactions and advised corporate clients on a range of financial and strategic issues. Kevin began his career in corporate finance roles at Enbridge Inc. in Canada. During his time at Enbridge Kevin worked across the finance function gaining experience in treasury, corporate planning, and investor relations.

Kevin holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, a Bachelor of Commerce Degree from Queen's University and is a CFA Charterholder.

Last Updated:September 30, 2023

After an interview, many assume that the hiring team will contact them with the next steps and that their job is complete. This, typically, is not the situation. Therefore, some steps should be taken within the first few hours after the interview to increase the chances of being hired. 

Following the interview's conclusion, it is crucial to follow up with a thank-you note as soon as possible. This note shows that you, as the candidate, are still interested in the position and have learned something from the interview. 

Following a thank-you note, a candidate could be asked to move further in the interview process or receive other benefits. Some of these include

  • Reminding the employer of your qualifications and skills
  • Invited for another interview
  • Mention anything that was unsaid during the interview

This allows the candidate to not only thank the hiring team but to establish a relationship with them that can continue through the hiring process and potentially through the job. This generally is done through an email rather than a physical letter to the employer. 

Some key points to include in the email are: 

  • General thank you to the interviewer for their time
  • Re-enforce why you are qualified for the job
  • Link your portfolios (Examples include LinkedIn, Online Portfolios, etc.)
  • Offer a platform for the interviewer to ask any questions. They may have questions that they forgot to ask during the interview.

These points are important because they show the hiring team your goals after the interview. In addition, many employers look for these emails on time after an interview to see whether a candidate is truly interested. 

Thank You After Interview Email Example

Often, individuals struggle with what to include in the email and what to leave out. Below is an example of a thank you email that has been constructed using the key elements mentioned above. 

Example of a Thank You After Interview Email:

Hello [hiring manager], 

Thank you for speaking with me today about the Summer Analyst position with WSO. Our discussion was informative, and I learned much about the Rockefeller Capital Management environment. 

Specifically, it was notable how enthusiastic people who work at WSO are about the organization and their jobs. In addition, I like how you said being a summer analyst would involve working in a team. Working in a team is becoming increasingly important as it allows for more organic connections and new ideas. 

After learning more about this position, my ability to work in a team with a multitude of people and to advocate for myself are good skills for this position. In addition, gaining this internship will allow me to bring innovation and new ideas to the organization in the coming years. 

I am very interested in the possibility of working with WSO and would appreciate a follow-up from your team during this process. Please do not hesitate to contact me by email at ________ or by phone at ________. Thank you again, and I look forward to hearing from you. 

Best, 

__________ - Name 

__________ - LinkedIn or Online Portfolio Link

Another important note regarding the construction of the email is the subject line. The subject line should be brief but catch the interviewer's eye, so they read the email. Some examples include the ones listed below:

  • First Name Last Name - Thank You For Meeting Today!
  • Job Title Interviewed For - I Enjoyed Speaking To You This Morning!

This email could also be sent as a document; in that case, it should have more of a professional header. This header should include key information about the candidate, the interviewer, and other important information. 

On the thank you email, with the heading from above, it would look like this as an example: 

  • Candidate's First and Last Name
  • Candidate Address
  • Candidate Phone Number
  • Candidate Email
  • Interviewer First and Last Name, Position in the Company
  • Company Name
  • Company Address
  • Date Document is Written/Sent

Example

Dear [Mr. or Ms. recruiter's Last Name],

I want to extend my gratitude to you once more for our conversation earlier today regarding the role of [insert position name here]. Learning more about the role and [Company X] was interesting.

As I indicated to you before while we were talking, the contributions I could make to your work using my [skills and expertise in a certain field] would be especially helpful [area or project types].

Please let me know if there is anything else I can do to help you make a decision and if there is anything else that I can supply. We should be able to communicate again soon.

With best regards,

[Your name here]

This information is at the top of the document and is easy for the company to access if they have further questions. This formatting technique can also be used for emails but is more commonly seen for thank-you letters sent as a document (PDF, etc.). 

Keeping the email short and sweet is important because the interviewer won't read a long, boring email. Rather, an email highlighting the positive and good points from the interview should be used. 

The exact length of the email should depend on what is needed for the role, and it should be based on the industry and personality of the interviewer. However, regardless of the email's length, the note displays constant interest in the position. 

What to Avoid in a Follow-Up Email

Sending a thank you email after an interview is extremely positive and will aid in the hiring process, but some things should be avoided. 

The following four points are examples of the possible content that should be avoided in a thank-you email. 

1. Grammar and Spelling errors

Before sending the email, ensure to check the grammar and spelling of the email. If needed, have someone read over the email to have another set of eyes on it. A good source that could be used is Grammarly which can be installed on most desktops and laptops. 

2. Sending the Email after 48 hours

Sending a thank, you email too late after the interview has taken place risks the interviewer moving on and the email getting lost in their inbox. Therefore, timing the email is crucial; you must email the interviewer within 24 hours after the interview is finished. 

3. Overwriting 

Keeping the email short and sweet is key to writing the perfect thank you email. The interviewer may not want to read a lengthy email but rather an email that gets to the point quickly. 

Often when people overwrite, it indicates a sense of nervousness and will lead them to discuss topics that may make them look bad. 

4. Formatting Mistakes

You are still creating an impression through this email, so if there are formatting errors, that could reflect how you do your job. Confirm the email is professional and follows the same format to ensure it is at its best. 

5. Apology for Anything that Went Wrong in the Interview

The email should have a positive tone; therefore, without mentioning any issues, it will keep that tone. Not drawing attention to these concerns but rather bringing up positive moments and positive characteristics instead could help in the hiring process. 

The only exception is if you believe the issue was bad enough and needs to be discussed. 

Making Your Email Unique

Hiring Managers, Human Resources, Interviewers, and other types of people on calls and are in interviews all day may receive thank you emails from candidates constantly, but you want yours to stand out. 

Whether you formed a connection through a specific experience or where you grew up (for example), bring it up briefly in the email to show it meant something to you, as it probably meant something to them as well. 

This also shows that you, the candidate, did not copy and paste a thank you email template and put your name and company information in it. 

Some other ways to make the email unique are:

  • Bring up what stood out to you about the job or internship
  • Bring up something that you discussed outside of the role

Hiring managers probably prefer to avoid reading cookie-cutter emails all day and want people to recognize and connect with them. Therefore, customization in these emails is key and can go a long way in hiring. 

Some examples of what to say could look like this: 

  1. “I like how you said being a summer analyst would involve working in a team. Working in a team is becoming increasingly important in the workplace as it allows for more organic connections and new ideas.” 
  2. “After the interview, I took your suggestion and tried one of the new Holiday drinks at Starbucks, which was awesome!”
  3. “I remember you mentioning that you were going to the Yankees game last night. I hope you enjoyed the game because the weather was gorgeous!”

These are just a few examples of how you can customize the thank you email shortly. Something so small as acknowledging what the interviewer mentioned during your time with them can go a long way. 

When and how to send an email expressing gratitude following an interview?

You may want to write a thank-you note to the person who interviewed you, but you're not sure when the right moment is. To answer your question in a nutshell: three hours. You may have heard of a 24-hour rule before, but it does not make sense to put this off for such a long period.

You don't want to come off as pushy or desperate, but at the same time, you don't want to appear passive, either. This sounds like going on a first date, doesn't it?

You should send a thank-you email following an interview for three different reasons: 

  • Demonstrate civility and good manners
  • Leave one more reminder of why you are suitable for the job
  • To restate your interest in the position.

Don't be concerned; this thank-you note for the interview should be brief and to the point.

When Is The Best Time To Follow Up After An Interview?

During an interview process for a job, you should be sure to ask one of the following questions: 

"What is the next stage in your recruiting process?" This should provide you with an estimate of when you can expect to hear back from the company.

Nevertheless, let's say the recruiter promised they'd get back to you by Wednesday, and it's already Wednesday afternoon. What should you do in this situation? In such a case, it's high time for action, don't you think? 

There is no harm in sending a brief follow-up note to the interviewer to inquire about the company's decision-making process status.

An illustration of what should be expected during an interview follow-up email:

Example

[Mr. or Ms. Recruiter's Last Name],

I'm hoping everything is going well with you. I wanted to see if you had decided about the position at this point [Position name]. If this is not possible, can you kindly let me know when a decision might be made?

Please accept my sincere gratitude, and do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about the credentials I bring to the table.

Sincerely,

[Your name here]

If you are still waiting to hear within twenty-four hours, email the interviewer and ask where in the decision process your application is. 

Most people looking for work invest a lot of time developing a CV and being ready for an interview. However, Thank-you emails following interviews are something that many people spend less time on, but they should.

Because sending a thank-you message to an employer does leave a good impression on them, it is astonishing how many people apply for jobs without first doing the necessary follow-up.

It is a simple task to complete, and doing so can set you apart from other candidates who are similarly qualified but do not send an email following an interview. 

A thank you email is needed after a video interview because you should thank the interviewer and company for taking the time to watch or listen to your interview. 

What should be included in an email of gratitude following an interview?

The following is a list of the essential components that should be present in nearly every thank-you message sent after an interview, along with some additional suggestions:

  • First, acknowledge that you appreciate the interviewer's time.
  • In a brief statement, restate why you are interested in the job and why you would be a suitable candidate.
  •  Give some thought to including something you and the interviewer discussed in the thank-you email while getting to know each other. This will help the email come across as more personable.
  • Make it clear that you are available to answer any queries they may have.
  • Either provide pertinent samples of your previous work or provide a solution to a problem brought up during our talk regarding the organization.
  • Before you close your message, express gratitude for the interview and inquire about the subsequent stages.

Final Considerations for a Follow-Up Email

After the interview, some final considerations for the follow-up email. You can also design a one-of-a-kind thank-you email by mixing and matching components of the sample texts provided. 

However, there are a few more topics to consider that are connected to this topic, such as the following:

1. Write a concise topic line.

In the email's subject line, you may put "Thank you for the interview" or add something along the lines of "Following up on our interview."

2. Send an email to several potential interviewees.

If you had more than one person interview you, you should send a special thank-you note to each individual, albeit one slightly different from the others. 

You might accomplish this by discussing a topic that the two of you have discussed exclusively, such as your mutual fondness for canines or where you both grew up.

3. Read the email over very carefully.

Please do not send your note until you have thoroughly read it many times to ensure that it is free of any mistakes. 

If you send a note riddled with errors, you will achieve the exact opposite of what you want: you will stand out for all the wrong reasons. So instead, ask a trusted friend to look it through.

4. Choose the right moment.

It is ideal for sending a thank-you email by twenty-four hours after the conclusion of your interview. This implies that you are interested in the position you are applying for. 

Additionally, it keeps you at the forefront of the minds of the individuals you've met with as they consider other possible prospects.

As a final point on follow-up emails, ensure that you come off as authentic in your message. For example, consider what you would say if you expressed your gratitude in person to make the email a little more personal. 

Even a more formal thank-you email sent after an interview should not be generated from a template but from a real person who wrote it. 

Here are seven helpful tips from an expert on acing an interview so you can use these key considerations discussed in this article to land the job. 

Researched and authored by Emma McCarthy | LinkedIn

Reviewed and edited by Parul GuptaLinkedIn

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