Top Resumes conducted a survey that found that 68% of employers acknowledge the importance of a Thank You Email After an Interview.
Every job seeker should take the initiative to show gratitude to the potential employer regardless of how they think the screening went. At the very least, a thank you email after an interview will help solidify the company’s opinion of you as a professional. Besides, the hiring managers might decide to leverage a thank you email as a criterion to break some close ties.
Having noted that, here are some of the corporate accepted elements of a thank you email after interview;
- A simple, appreciative subject line
- A personalized greeting
- An appreciation messages
- A quick roundup of your qualifications
- An encouragement to advance to the next stage
- Precise contact information
Using Thank You Email Templates
Templates present some vital advantages when it comes to creating a thank you email after an interview. One of the main advantages lies in the consistency and uniformity of the email, especially if you are sending each member of the interview panel their own email. Templates also reduce the chance of error and incompleteness. This is because all you have to do is follow and fill an already established and proven framework. Additionally, utilizing premade templates saves time and makes the entire process easy and stress-free.
How Thank you Email Differ From a Letter
A thank you email after interview is basically a digital letter sent over via email, while a note or letter is a physical handwritten or printed letter sent by traditional mail. Does it go without saying that a note or letter adds more personality and emotion to your message, but is it really the best option? Experts advise going for an email because it is modern, easier for the interviewers, and above all, time-saving. However, there are some cases that you might consider going the traditional way, like if you live close to the company’s address or if you were interviewed for conventionally traditional jobs, such as party planning.
Benefits of a Thank you Email
Basically, an interview is like a dialogue, and it is always courteous to terminate meaningful conversations with a thank you message.
Sending a well-written note will earn you the following benefits:
- A thank you email gives you the opportunity to communicate any important information you might have left out during the interview, probably due to pressure on nerves.
- It shows that you are enthusiastic and excited about the position.
- A quality thank you email will potentially give you an advantage over other candidates because
- It portrays professionalism and good manners.
- It gives you an opportunity to reiterate on why you are the best fit for the opening.
- It is an opportunity to demonstrate your attention to detail and ability to follow through, a desirable trait especially in the sales domain.
Writing Guide of a Thank You Letter After Interview
Crafting a worthwhile post-interview thank you email is not as easy or casual as one might think.
Here is how to come up with a powerful email that will make a positive impact;
Write a concise subject line
It is best to keep the subject line simple, uncomplicated, and straightforward. Use words such as ‘thank you’ and ‘appreciate’ to sound professional.
For Example:
‘Appreciated your time today’ or ‘Thanks for the session’ could suffice as examples of an ideal subject line.
Include a personalized greeting
Write the correct name of the interviewer you are addressing based on how they introduced themselves during the interview. Instead of writing ‘dear madam’ write ‘dear Dr. Richardson’. You may address the individual as dear (position of the officer) if they didn’t provide any name when you were making acquaintances. If you engaged with multiple officials and have all their names and contacts, don’t hesitate to send each a personalized thank you email after the interview.
Convey gratitude
Since the primary purpose of the note is to thank the interviewer for hosting you, start with indicating how grateful you are for the way they took their time to interview you. Remember to capture the job title to avoid confusing the official.
Here is a good example of an expression of gratitude:
‘’Thank you for the session today. I appreciate you taking the time to discuss the position of the junior developer with me.’’
Recap your qualifications
In this section, quickly outline the qualifications that make you ideal for the job. Highlight some of the key skills covered in the job listing and anything else that you might have discussed during the interview. Be sure to outline how the skill could help you make a significant contribution to the company’s goals.
‘’My expertise in both front-end and back-end languages would come in handy in the delivery of modern, responsive software designs. ‘’
Demonstrate your passion
Job interviewers often like to see that you love what you do and that you have taken a liking to their company. Demonstration of passion is an addition that can make you stand tall among other applicants. Indicate your love for what you do and why you are determined to work for the company.
Have a look at the example below.
‘’My love and experience for programming is deep-rooted and would make me a game-changing addition to the team. (Company name) is one of the best software companies, and I would love to be part of the many adventurous projects you work on’’.
Summarize interview highlights
Show the interviewer that you were keen during the interview by bringing up a few key points discussed.
‘’I became even more interested in the role when you highlighted that your company offers sponsorships for distinguished certifications to promising developers. ‘’
Add a prompt to take the next step
After assuring the interviewer that you are indeed a great fit for the position, ask them to contact you for any questions or subsequent procedures of the hiring process. Tell them that you look forward to the next engagement.
‘’Please feel free to contact me around the clock for any questions or continuation of the screening process.’’
Finish with professional sign off
Professional correspondence calls for a sign-off that measures up. Use options such as best regards, kind regards, and sincerely, to name a few. However, you can go for ‘cheers’ if the position in question is in the informal sector or if the application in question is internal. Remember to add your contact information at the very end of the thank you email after the interview.
Best regards,
Your name
Your tag (frontend & backend specialist)
Your email
Samples of after interview thank you email
Have a look at this sample;
SUBJECT: THANKS FOR YOUR TIME TODAY
Dear Dr. Richardson,
I appreciate you taking the time to discuss the position of a junior developer. The interview atmosphere was comforting and the conversation was very friendly. I enjoyed learning how junior developers can grow into senior employees in a relatively short period.
I was very excited when you shared your master plan to drive your company to the very top in the next 5 years, especially when you noted how you plan to strategically nurture exceptional talent within the company.
I believe that my natural passion for code, expertise in both frontend and backend areas, and willingness to extend my knowledge will be a great addition to the company as we all chase the dream you deliberated.
I look forward to more discussions about the position. Please don’t hesitate to call me around the clock to communicate about the next step in the screening process.
Best regards,
Your name
Your tag
Your email
Types of Thank you After Interview Emails
Here are different classes of thank you emails to choose from depending on the nature of the interview in question.
A More Formal Thank You Note
Some lengthy, senior position interviews, such as bank VP, will require you to show the corporate side of yourself in order to potentially gain more favor with the panel. A formal thank you note is naturally lengthier and written in an official tone.
Download: Microsoft Word (.docx)
An Informal Approach to a Thank You Email
Some industries, such as entertainment, prefer to have informal interactions. Also, small startups may try to encourage employees to uphold an informal culture, but this is not always the case. The trick with this type of thank you email is to recall the aura in the room and replicate the same energy in the texture of your text.
Download: Microsoft Word (.docx)
Detailed Thank You Note
Sometimes you may feel like you left out certain pieces of information that could help you land the job. This letter is your chance to communicate these details. Avoid insinuating to officials that you were not attentive during the interview session by mentioning some interview highlights that you earlier talked about.
Download: Microsoft Word (.docx)
Simple and Short Thank You Letter
This is the simplest of all, suitable for entry-level and mid-level applicants. Though short, it captures all the critical information. Text in this type of thank you email should be direct, precise, well-mannered, concise, and polite.
Download: Microsoft Word (.docx)
Thank You Email after Second Interview
If you sent a thank you note after the first interview, it’s only sensible to send one after a subsequent interview. The new thank you note must reflect the seriousness of the interview. If, for example, you discussed deeper details about a certain upcoming project, proceed to offer preliminary ideas relating to the execution of the project. Don’t forget to add how best you think you can contribute to the project’s success.
Download: Microsoft Word (.docx)
Mistakes to Avoid While Writing
Avoid the following mistakes as they could potentially reduce the quality of your email:
Avoid dwelling on mistakes you made
The pressure inside the room might have caused you to answer a question incorrectly, but a thank you email is no place to bring that up. Instead, concentrate on appreciating the panel’s time and add important information that you might have omitted.
Avoid overwriting
It’s wise to keep your text short and direct, capitalizing on gratitude and a reiteration of your interest. Most interviewers are busy people who do not have time to go through long emails that they are not sure are likable.
Don’t resend thank you emails
The main goal of a thank you email after the interview is to show appreciation and further present you as a worthy candidate. As such, hounding the interviewer will bring you out as nagging, and might just put them off.
Avoid sending grammatically incorrect emails
Mistakes are unacceptable in almost all walks of the professional space. To avoid sending a badly written copy, proofread the email for correctness. You can also leverage online resources to correct any mistakes, and probably pass the document to a friend for a final inspection of grammar.
Avoid sounding desperate
As much as you would want to impress the interviewers, choose your words wisely. Employers hate to employ individuals who beg for jobs.
Tips for Sending a Thank you Email After Interview
The following tips will help you compose top-level thank you emails:
Make sure you are timely
Be sure to send your email within 24 hours from the time of the interview. If the session ended in the morning hours, there is no harm in thanking your interviewers at 3 pm.
Email each interviewer individually
Try to influence the interviewers individually by sending a personalized email to each of them. That way they will all have you at the back of their minds during the remaining part of the hiring process.
Customize the email personally
It helps to write a 100% authentic and personalized thank you email after the interview so that the interviewers can continue to understand where you are coming from and relate with you organically. The interviewers need to feel that the email was sent as a follow-up from the session and not lifted from some online generic template.
Pitch a solution to a problem in the company
Ideally, the employer is looking for a person who can fill a missing gap in the company, and this person needs to be a problem solver. If you can showcase how to handle a certain problem highlighted during the interview, go ahead to communicate the same. There is not much harm in accompanying the thank you email with an attachment and asking the interviewer to check it out in the email.
Fortify your interest in the job
The interviewer already knows you want the job, but it doesn’t hurt to add more information about why you are interested in the opening. However, you should avoid sounding desperate at all costs.
Show anticipation next engagements
Interviewers want to go for a candidate who is excited to join the team. As such, express your desire to answer any questions they might have in the course of the hiring process.
Proofread
Proofreading ensures that you send a correctly formatted thank you email after the interview. Besides, it helps you determine if you addressed the email to the correct individual.
Terminate your email the right way
After all, is said, don’t forget to thank the interviewer once more. Don’t forget to let them know you are eager to participate in the subsequent rounds of the screening process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some of the frequently asked questions pertaining to thank you email after the interview.
A subject line is a concise and clear statement that is ideally the opening statement of a thank you email. ‘Thank you for your time is a good enough subject line.
It is easy to overlook the importance of sending a thank you email, but you should send one. For starters, it displays professionalism, dedication to filling the position, and your value for good communication skills.
A conventional thank you email should be about 85-150 words. However, you can go up to 200 words if you applied for a senior position with long hours of interview sessions.
Send a thank-you email within 24 hours from the time of the interview. On your end, the content discussed in the interview will still be fresh in your mind during this time. On the interviewer’s end, they will see that you are indeed interested in the job opening.