Most job seekers put hours into researching the company, crafting their resume, writing a cover letter, and preparing for their interview. Then after their job interview, they forget to send a thank-you email.
Sending a thank-you email is an essential part of the interview process.
Thank-you emails are an opportunity for you to stand out from other candidates in the interview process, reinforce your appreciation, and provide any additional information to the interviewer.
This article:
- Explains the importance of thank-you emails
- Outlines how to write a thank-you email after an interview
- Provides detail on what to include in your thank-you email based on your specific situation; and
- Provides templates and sample thank-you emails you can use to make your job search easier.
The importance of sending a thank-you email
Sending a thank-you email is important because it reinforces your interest in the job, allows you to answer any additional questions the hiring manager has about your qualifications or experience and ensures you make a good impression.
In short, a well-written thank-you note helps you stand out from other job seekers and increases your chances of landing a job offer.
If you include anecdotes from your conversation, it'll show the hiring manager that you actively listened and valued their time. These soft skills are difficult to teach in a work environment, so having them will make the hiring manager want to add you to the team.
How to write a thank-you email
Always send your thank-you email as soon as possible. If multiple people interviewed you, consider sending each person a personalized thank-you note.
Here's how you write a great thank-you email.
1. Choose a suitable subject line
You don't need to be fancy. Choose a subject line that is clear, concise, and understandable. Below are a few of the best thank-you email subject lines:
- Thank you for your time today!
- Thank you for the opportunity!
- Appreciate your time [insert interviewer's name]!
- I enjoyed meeting with you!
- Thank you, [insert interviewer's name]!
- Great talking with you
- I enjoyed our conversation!
- Excellent speaking with you!
- Thanks for interviewing me for the [insert job title] position
2. Greet your interviewer(s) by name
Always begin your thank-you email by greeting your interviewer by name. Remembering their name will personalize the message and show off your soft skills:
- Hello [interviewer name]
- Dear [interviewer name]
- [interviewer name]
If you interviewed with multiple people, you can either CC them and include their names in the email or, ideally, send a personalized thank-you note to each person you met during the hiring process.
3. Say thank you
In the first paragraph of your email, thank the interviewer for their time and mention the specific position you're applying for and the company's name. Many hiring managers are interviewing for multiple roles simultaneously, which will help them remember you.
For example, "[interviewer name], I appreciate you meeting with me today to discuss the remote product manager role at Canva."
4. Reiterate your interest and why you're a great fit
Next, you want to reiterate why you're interested in the role and why you're a great fit based on your experience, background, and skills. The interviewer should already know why you're potentially a good fit based on your resume and the job interview, so keep this brief.
If something impressed the hiring manager during your job interview, mention that. For example, you could write, "I wanted to reiterate my interest in the role. Canva is a generational company, and I've been an active user for years. I learned a lot about product-led SEO from my time at SurveyMonkey, and I'd love to help Canva continue to grow their organic channel."
5. Offer additional value
If you spoke about something in the interview or couldn't answer an interview question, your thank-you email is the perfect place to mention it. Not only will this make the interviewer like you more, but it'll also demonstrate how you can take something away and solve it even if you couldn't do it on the spot.
Suppose you talked about a new product management tool that the interviewer hadn't seen before during your interview. In that case, you could say something like, "We spoke about Productboard in the interview, and you said you hadn't heard of it but were interested in checking it out, so here's the link. I'm happy to answer any questions you have about it, too, even if you don't end up offering me the role. I set up and rolled out Productboard to my entire organization, so I can probably help with a few gotchas if you end up using it."
We recommend using the STAR method to structure your answer into a compelling story that is brief and memorable.
6. Offer to answer any additional questions they may have
Use your final paragraph to reinforce why you're the ideal candidate and invite your interviewer to ask any questions you didn't get to in the interview.
Don't forget to say you're excited to hear back.
7. Finish strong and include your contact information
Include your contact information at the end of the email. Either in the body or your signature. Then End your email with a professional sign-off like "Thanks," "Best," or "Sincerely."
Thank-you email templates
Below are several thank-you email templates you can use during the interview process.
Thank-you email template for after an in-person interview
Subject line: Thanks for interviewing me for the [insert position title] position
Hey [interviewer's name],
Thank you so much for interviewing me for the [job title] position at [company name]. It was great to learn first hand about your [strategy / challenges / company values / insights].
I enjoyed our conversation. It affirmed my interest in the position. I know I could significantly contribute to [specific goal or issue the interviewer raised]. It reminds me a lot of the work I did in my previous role as [insert current or most relevant position] at [previous employer], where I [insert STAR method answer that highlights your contribution].
My experience and values align with [company name], and I'm excited to have the opportunity to join your team. Feel free to reach out via [phone number] or [email address] if you need any more information.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Thanks,
[Your name]
Thank-you email template for after a phone interview
Subject line: Thanks for the phone call
Hey [interviewer's name],
I appreciate you taking time out of your day to talk to me over the phone today. It was great to hear more about the [job title] position at [company name]. Appreciate you providing me context on [strategy / challenge / company values / insights].
Looking forward to meeting you and the rest of the team for a virtual or in-person interview soon. I've attached my resume and cover letter that outlines my work experience in further detail. Feel free to reach out via [phone number] or [email address] if you need any more information.
Thanks,
[Your name]
Thank-you email template for after a second interview
Subject line: Great to see you again, [interviewer's name]
Hey [interviewer's name],
It was great to hear more about the opportunity at [company name], and I enjoyed meeting [new interviewer's names]. I hope you don't mind, but I've reached out to them separately to thank them for their time.
This interview round has affirmed my desire to work in the [team name] team at [company name].
After our first interview, I spent some time digging into [strategy / challenges / company values / insights], and I have some ideas you can read about here. Please let me know what you think. I'm happy to flesh out any points you feel are missing or need more detail.
Thanks again for the opportunity. I look forward to your final decision on the job offer.
Thanks,
[Your name]
Thank-you email template for when you receive a competing offer
Subject line: Following up on the [job title] position at [company name]
Hey [hiring manager's name],
Thank you for interviewing me for the [job title] role at [company name]. I'm excited about the opportunity to work at [company name], but I have received a competing offer for a [job title] position at [other company name]. My deadline to accept the offer is [date].
I'd be willing to turn down Quora if you want to hire me as a [job title]. Please let me know if you decide before the deadline I've established with [other company name].
I'm an excellent fit for the position and would love to work with you and the team. Please reach out if you have an update or need anything from me to help with decision-making.
Thanks,
[Your name]
Sample thank-you emails for after an interview
Below are several examples of thank-you emails you can use during the interview process.
Thank-you email template for after an in-person interview
Subject line: Thanks for interviewing me for the Senior Software Engineer position
Hey Michael,
Thank you for interviewing me for the Senior Software Engineer position at Eucalyptus. It was great to learn firsthand about how you're building digital healthcare companies that put the patient first.
I enjoyed our conversation. It affirmed my interest in the position. I know I could contribute to building out your internal tooling. It reminds me of the work I did in my software engineering role at Spaceship, where I helped build our internal fund administration platform.
My experience and values align with Eucalyptus, and I'm excited at the prospect of joining your team. Please feel free to contact me on 123-456-7890 or [email protected]. I look forward to hearing from you.
Thanks,
Joe
Thank-you email template for after a phone interview
Subject line: Thanks for the phone call
Hey Sam,
I appreciate you taking time out of your day to talk to me over the phone today. It was great to hear more about the People Operations position at Wealthsimple.
It was great to hear about how you're helping people do money right while taking care of your team.
Looking forward to meeting you and the rest of the team for a virtual or in-person interview soon. I've attached my resume and cover letter that outlines my work experience in further detail. Please feel free to contact me on 123-456-7890 or [email protected]. I look forward to hearing from you.
Thanks,
Mary
Thank-you email template for after a second interview
Subject line: Great to meet you again, Patrick
Hey Patrick,
It was great to hear more about the Product Designer opportunity at Opendoor and meet Clarence and Melony. I hope you don't mind but I've reached out to them separately to thank them for their time.
This interview round has affirmed my desire to work in the product design team at Opendoor.
After our first interview, I spent some time digging into your current marketing site design and I have some ideas about how you could improve it. You can read about them here. Please let me know what you think. I'm happy to flesh out any points you think are missing or need more detail.
Thanks again for the opportunity. I look forward to your final decision on the job offer.
Thanks,
Marcus
Thank-you email template for when you receive a competing offer
Subject line: Following up on the recruiter position at Looom
Hey Joe,
Thank you for interviewing me for the GTM recruiter position at Loom. I'm excited about the opportunity to work at Loom, but I have received a competing offer for a recruiter position at Quora. My deadline to accept the offer is 10 March.
I'd turn down that offer if you were to hire me as your GTM Recruiter. Would you be likely to decide before the deadline I've set with Quora?
I'm a great fit for the position and would love to work with you and the Loom team. Reach out if you have an update or need anything from me to aid decision-making.
Thanks,
Winnie
Tips for writing a thank-you email
- Send an email: While handwritten notes offer a personal touch and can distinguish you from other candidates, time is of the essence during an active hiring process, so send an email within 24 hours of your job interview.
- Use a clear subject line: Use something like "Thank you for your time, [interviewer name] or "Enjoyed our discussions."
- Email each interviewer separately: If you interviewed with multiple people, it's best practice to send a separate, personalized thank-you email to each of them.
- Show your enthusiasm: Companies want to hire staff who care about the role, company, and mission. A good thank-you note can reinforce your passion for the cause while emphasizing that you have the skills needed to succeed in the position.
- Include additional information: Your thank-you email is an excellent opportunity to share a crucial bit of related experience or other information you forgot to mention in the interview. You can also use it to answer any interview questions you couldn't answer.
- Proofreading your thank-you email: The best way to proofread your email is to read the message aloud before you send it. Reading your writing aloud makes it easier to catch grammatical errors and typos. Remember, the goal of your thank-you note is to reinforce why you're a good candidate, so it must be well-written and without error.
- Send yourself a copy first: Some email clients change formatting after sending the email, so keep the design to a minimum and send yourself a copy so you can double-check it beforehand.
Thank-you email FAQ
- Do you need to send a thank-you email after your interview? Yes, you need to send a thank-you email after your interview to maximize your chances of receiving a job offer.
- When should you send a thank-you email after an interview? Send your thank-you email as soon as possible after your interview, ideally on the same day.
- Should you send a thank-you email to each interviewer? Yes, you should send a personalized thank-you email to each interviewer. If you don't have everyone's contact information, send a thank-you email to those you do and ask for the emails of the other interviewers.
- How long should a thank-you email be? Keep your thank-you emails between 250 and 300 words.
- Do you send a thank-you email after a second interview? Yes, it's best practice to send a thank-you email after a second interview as you can reiterate your appreciation for their time and relay any additional information you want.
- Should you personalize a thank-you email? Yes, you should always personalize your thank-you emails to include things you discussed in your discussion. Personalizing each email reinforces why you're a great fit and increases your chances of making a good impression.
- Is a thank-you note or email better? Handwritten notes can offer a personal touch and differentiate you, but time is of the essence during an active recruitment process, so it's best to send an email.
- How can I send a thank-you email if I don't have the interviewer's contact information? You can typically find the person's email attached to the calendar invite, on the company's website, or you can get in contact with the person who organized the interview and ask for it. As a last resort, you can try to pattern match against other emails from the same company as companies tend to use a standard format for their employees' emails, like [email protected].
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