5 Tips for Writing a Thank-You Email After a Job Interview

A thank-you email is a note of gratitude sent as a follow-up after a job interview. When competing against other qualified candidates for a job opportunity, a post-interview thank-you note can help you gain an edge over the competition.

Thank-you emails can be sent to recruiters, hiring managers, prospective employers, and anyone that’s part of the interview process. When you are interviewing with a potential employer, be sure to ask the interviewers for business cards or contact information after the interview to follow up.

A thank-you email is typically sent within 24 hours after an interview, whether it be a phone interview screener, first interview, or second interview. The promptness of a thank-you email is key: It can help you stand out in a pool of job candidates and win the attention of a hiring manager making a quick hiring decision. The timeliness factor is why more job seekers opt to send thank-you emails over handwritten notes. You may send thank-you letters via snail mail, though, if you apply for jobs in more traditional industries or companies.

To craft a good thank-you message, be sure to include the following:

1. 1. Email subject line: Include your name or the job title in the email subject line, along with the words "thank you" to ensure that the hiring manager opens your email.
2. 2. Opening salutation: Start the email with the interviewer's name and thank them for their time. Reiterate your interest in the position and why you want the job.
3. 3. Personalize: Remind the potential employer of something you discussed during the interview. You can also expand your answer to one of the interview questions or provide additional information about yourself, such as links to your portfolio or examples of your work. You can also address critical areas of your cover letter or resume not discussed in the interview.
4. 4. Closing thanks: Thank the prospective employer again at the end of the note. Include your phone number and let them know how to best contact you if they have any additional questions. Tell them that you look forward to hearing from them, ending the correspondence with "best regards" or "sincerely," and sign off with your name.

A well-crafted thank-you email can ease your job search process and help you land a job. Follow these tips to write a practical note:

1. 1. Keep your email short. Your thank-you email should be short and sweet.
2. 2. Proofread your email. Look out for grammatical errors and typos before you send the thank-you email. Double-check the spelling of the company name and the hiring manager's name.
3. 3. Leave a positive impression. Avoid apologizing for anything that may have gone wrong during the job interview. You want to leave a good impression.
4. 4. Withhold questions. A thank-you email is an opportunity to reiterate your interest in the job and thank the interviewer for their time, not to ask questions. Wait until you receive a job offer to ask clarifying questions about the role or company culture.
5. 5. Personalize your thank-yous. If you are sending a thank-you email to multiple people in the same company, make sure the language is distinct and personal for each person.

After you send a thank-you email, wait for an update on the hiring process. You can send a follow-up email a week after sending the thank-you note if you have not heard from the hiring manager. If the hiring manager gave you a timeframe in the hiring process for when they will decide, wait to follow up until after the timeframe has passed.

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