Writing a Post-Interview Thank You
WHAT IS A POST - INTERVIEW THANK YOU?
A post-interview thank you is exactly what it sounds like -- a thank you message that you send to the person or persons who interviewed you. The best way to send this message is by email. Some websites suggest that sending a thank-you message via regular mail ("snail mail") is also OK, but in this day and age, that's not advisable. Snail mail takes much too long, and it's important to reach out quickly after the interview. In addition, don't send your thank-you by text, unless that's the primary way the interviewer wants to communicate. Otherwise, text is too informal and not a good way to send a well-developed message.
IS IT REALLY NECESSARY TO WRITE A THANK-YOU? IF SO, WHEN?
It's very important to send a thank-you, and you should send it on the same day of the interview or at most, within 24-hours. It shows that you're polite and professional. It also gives you the chance to add a few constructive thoughts about the interview itself, the company, and your qualifications for the position.
QUICK TIP #1: If more than one person interviewed you, then each of them needs to get a thank-you email. Before leaving the interview, make sure you get their business cards (or names/contact information). You can send them a group thank-you or send a separate, slightly different message to each of them
QUICK TIP #2: There's one alternative to sending a thank-you by email. If most of your contact with the interviewer has been the online portal through which you applied for the job, then feel free to send the thank-you through that portal as well.
ADDITIONAL GUIDELINES FOR WRITING THANK-YOU EMAILS
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Thank-you emails are short, often about 2 brief paragraphs.
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Keep the tone professional, even if the interview seemed somewhat casual.
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Be authentic. That means, for example, when you read thank-you samples online, use those samples for helpful guidance, but then try to write something that truly sounds like *you*.
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As always, proofread the text to make sure there are NO ERRORS.
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Have a strong subject line. When you send an email, the first thing people see is the subject line. Thus, you want a clear, strong subject line that will make the interviewer want to read the email itself. Try to keep the subject line to about 45 characters or less, including spaces, because that's typically the maximum that will be visible in the subject line area.
QUICK TIP #3: Use full words! These days, we often use shortcuts on social media and when texting. For example, we might write: Many thx 2 u 4 ur help. This isn't appropriate in any part of the job application process, including thank-you emails. Thus, regarding the example above, instead of using shortcuts, you would write: Many thanks to you for your help.
FUNDAMENTAL COMPONENTS OF A THANK YOU EMAIL
A. Subject Line (as discussed above)
B. Opening greeting: Refer to the person in the way that they've indicated. If they told you to call them by their first name, then use their first name. If they want you to use their professional title and last name, then do that. If they haven't specified, then use the appropriate title (Mr., Ms, Dr., etc.) and the last name.
C. Express your appreciation for the interview.
D. Refer back to something in the interview that was of particular interest to you (about the company and/or position you're seeking) and mention why learning that information was important to you.
E. Very briefly link your background with what they're doing.
F. Ask about next steps and offer to provide additional information.
G. Professional Closing
HERE'S AN EXAMPLE:
Situation:
The interview took place with "Anna" at a solar energy company called "Going Green". You applied for a lead reception position that will put you into contact with all of their clients, vendors, and other business associates.
Sample Thank-You:
Subject line of the email: Thank you for the interview / Lead Reception
Dear Anna:
My sincere thanks for today's interview. It was extremely helpful to learn more about Going Green's many solar projects, particularly the complex project that you're developing in Amesbury. I was also quite intrigued by the company's future plan to expand into other green technologies that will help protect our environment.
I have long believed in the values that Going Green embraces and would be truly gratified to join your company and contribute to those efforts. As we discussed, I have prior experience as a lead receptionist at a similar company, and in that role, greatly enjoyed the challenges and professional interactions of a busy front desk.
I look forward to the possibility of continuing on in your hiring process. If you have additional questions for me, please let me know.
Sincerely,
Joanne Shea
SOME ONLINE RESOURCES ABOUT WRITING A THANK YOU
Note: We don’t endorse every detail that the sites provide (and they may not fully agree with each other on certain points). But each of the sites contains a lot of valuable information.
BONUS: Here's a website page that talks about why it often takes somewhat long to hear back from a company after interviewing: