A simple thank-you note is appropriate after a job interview, regardless of the circumstances. Job seekers who feel two thank-you notes are overkill should revisit the reasons why candidates send thank-you notes to their interviewers, especially if the second interview was with a different person. Show
When you're looking for a job, your motivation is to show your interest in the job. Saying "thank you" just to the first interviewer doesn't adequately convey your interest in the job when the selection process includes multiple interviews. Reviewing how to write a thank-you for second interviews will help you make a better impression. Different Types of InterviewsRecruiters conduct preliminary screening via phone and, in some cases, the first-round interview. Because the recruiter has taken the time to review your resume and application and construct questions to obtain more information about your work history, the appropriate thing to do is show your appreciation for his time. However, just because you send one thank-you note to the recruiter, it doesn't mean you shouldn't express your appreciation for subsequent interviews, particularly when different interviewers are involved, explains TopInterview.com. Common Interviewing EtiquetteWhenever a recruiter or hiring manager sets aside time to interview you for a job, it's proper etiquette to send a thank-you note to express your appreciation for the person's time. Your thank-you note should be emailed within 24 hours of your interview; a thank-you via postal mail should, ideally, be sent the same day. In some cases, sending a thank-you note to the interviewer can set you apart from your competition. At a minimum, a thank-you note indicates you're conscientious about following up after a job interview. Second Interview Followup OpportunityGenerally speaking, a second-round job interview is conducted by the hiring manager for the purpose of learning more about your professional traits and to determine whether you will be a good fit for the organization. The initial stage in the interview process verifies whether you have the requisite skills and qualifications to do the job. Therefore, the hiring manager probes a little deeper to see if you have the qualities that your potential co-workers have or if you add even more to the department in terms of skills and work traits. Your thank-you note should double as a means to re-cap important information you want to reinforce with the interviewer, or add information you forgot to cover during your second meeting, advises Virginia Tech's Career and Professional Development blog. If you demonstrate your appreciation for the time it takes to interview you on more specific topics related to the job, you could show that you're not only the best-qualified candidate but the candidate with the best follow-up. The Content of the NoteIf you're going to send thank-you notes to interviewers for each round in the selection process – which you definitely should do – a boilerplate form letter is a poor choice. If two interviewers conducted the second-round interview, send different thank-you notes to each person. However, if a panel of four to six people participated in a panel interview, send one thank-you note and send each panel member a copy of the note. Tailor your thank-you note so it restates points you discussed during the interview. In addition to expressing your appreciation for the interviewer's time, recall two to three points that you or the interviewer mentioned during the interview. Conclude your thank-you note by reiterating your interest in the job. If you use a P.S., that information will stand out, so add something you want to make an impression on your potential employer. Add a header to begin generating the table of contents Scroll to Top Are you wondering if you need to send a thank you email after an interview? The answer is always yes. Sending an interview thank you email can significantly increase your chances of standing out as a candidate. It shows strong communication skills, thoughtfulness, and demonstrated interest in the position you’re applying for. The hiring process is tedious and hiring managers might easily meet with dozens of candidates just to fill one position. As a hiring manager, if you were torn between two equally qualified candidates in your job search, a thank you note after an interview that thoughtfully demonstrates these traits can be a big push in your favor and it’s a courteous way to let a hiring manager know you value their time. How to write a thank you email after an interviewThis blog will cover the key components of a thank you email after an interview, provide a sample interview thank you email, and review frequently asked questions. Key components you should include in your thank you email:
Start with a simple subject lineBefore the interviewer even reads your email, the first thing they’ll see in their inbox is your subject line. Given the number of emails we all receive daily, you want to make sure your subject line is clear and direct. Schedule a free consultationContact us to schedule a complimentary consultation to discuss your college counseling or career coaching needs.Here are some examples: Thank you – [job title] interview Thank you – [job title] Thank you – [job title] consideration Use a personalized and professional greetingDepending on the organization, what their company culture is like, and how the interview went, you may choose to greet with a formal salutation or greet them by their first name. When to use a formal salutation:
When to use their first name:
Thank the InterviewerBegin by thanking the interviewer for their time. You’ll want your words of appreciation to come off sincere but simply stated. Some examples: I wanted to thank you again for taking the time to speak with me today. Thank you for interviewing me this morning. Thank you for meeting with me to discuss the [job title] position. Reiterate interest in the job and company, and what you bring to the tableSending a thank you email reinforces your interest in the role you’re applying for. After thanking the interviewer, express your excitement for learning about the role and company. Reiterate why you feel you’d be a good fit for the company based on their culture and values. Example:It was a pleasure learning more about the role and company. I love the company’s dedication to uplifting the homeless community in Los Angeles, a mission that is close to my heart as I volunteer at the homeless shelter twice a week.Highlight portions of the interview unique to youYou should aim for your interview to be a conversation rather than a Q&A session. Remember that the point of the interview is to go beyond your qualifications and get a sense of your fit with the company culture. Demonstrate that you can get along with the team by engaging in conversation outside of the interview questions. This will also make you more likely to stand out from other candidates. You can recall one of these specific moments from your conversation in your thank you email. The more unique and specific, the better. Perhaps you connected over a hobby, show, the same hometown, college, etc. Follow up on this conversation to remind the interview of the connection you made. Examples:I also enjoyed connecting over our time volunteering with the Peace Corps, it’s been a while since I met someone that also served in Ghana.It was such a nice surprise to meet a fellow Trojan.It’s great to meet someone that loves plants as much as I do!TIP: Express eagerness to come backWrap up your interview thank you email by expressing your eagerness to hear back and move forward in the hiring process. 3 best samples of thank you emails after a job interviewNow that we’ve reviewed all the elements of a successful post-interview thank you email, let’s take a look at an example of how to put one together and follow up successfully after your interview. Here is some sample thank you emails: Sample 1Hi Jessica,Thank you so much for taking the time to meet with me today. I enjoyed the opportunity to learn more about the position and the company.After interviewing with you, I am certain I’m qualified for this role. My experience as a Customer Service Manager at Silver Financial Solutions closely aligns with the functions of the Client Success Manager position at Cloud Nine Technologies. As discussed, I would be excited to implement more training materials and team-building exercises with fellow employees.In addition, I enjoyed learning about the company. I was especially intrigued by Cloud Nine Technology’s commitment to giving back. As a volunteer at my local Boys and Girls Club, I know how influential mentoring can be for at-risk children.Again, thank you for your time. It was so nice meeting someone that loves plants as much as I do! If you have any questions or need additional information, please feel free to reach out to me. I look forward to hearing from you.In this example, the candidate uses a casual greeting and starts by thanking the interviewer for their time. Then they restate their experience and qualification for the role using specific examples of what was discussed in the job interview.Sample 2Dear Mr. Valdez,I would like to thank you for meeting with me to discuss the Lead Analyst role at Gateway Tech. I was quite impressed by the company’s dedication to innovation and accessibility.As I mentioned, I believe my experience in analyzing impact and expanding reach will make me a great asset to the next phase of projects at Gateway Tech. I am particularly excited to discuss how we can implement these ideas to reach your ambitious demographic goals, which I’ve helped accomplish in my previous role.I look forward to hearing from you soon and am happy to answer any additional questions you might have.This thank you email uses a formal greeting and tone that is more fitting of the company culture. They reiterate their interest in the company/role and mention specific goals that were discussed in the interview.Sample 3Hi Lauren,Thanks again for taking the time to meet with me yesterday. It was a real pleasure to get to know you and the work you’ve been doing.After speaking with you, I am incredibly excited to be a part of your marketing team and help take your audience reach to the next level. I’m thrilled you liked my idea on social media outreach and I would love to bring that expertise into this role.Please do let me know if there are any next steps or additional information I can provide as you continue in your hiring process. I look forward to connecting again soon!This example focuses on the candidate’s potential contributions to the company and recalls specific ideas that were discussed in the interview process. This emphasizes the candidate’s value and what they would bring in this role.Thank you email after a job interview: editable templateHere’s a template you can use for your own thank you letter after an interview: Subject line: Thank you – [job title] interview Dear [interviewer], Thank you for taking the time to meet with me [when] to discuss the [job title] position. It was great to learn more about [company name] and the work you’re doing. As I mentioned, [highlight your experience/skills and how they’d suit the role]. Again, thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing from you soon and am happy to answer any additional questions as you continue your hiring process. Thank you, [your name] When to send your thank you email after your job interviewYou should always aim to send a thank you note as soon as possible following your interview. Send the thank you email after an interview within 1-2 business days of having your interview, preferably the same day if possible. It’s best to write a thank you email right after the interview since the experience is fresh on your mind and theirs. If it’s already been a few days after the interview, go ahead and send a thank you email anyway. If it’s been a week or more, at this point, it’s best for you to follow up on your application status and include a thank you message. FAQsIs it OK to send a late thank note after the job interview?Yes! Sending a late thank you note is better than not sending one at all. What if I forgot to send a thank you after my job interview?If you haven’t heard back from the interviewer, you can still follow up on your interview process and include a thank you message in your email. If you receive an email back from the interviewer, you can always respond to their message and include a short thank you. Everyone appreciates gratitude! Do you send thank you after the second interview?Yes, you should still send a thank you email after the second interview. It doesn’t need to be as elaborate or recall the same points you brought up previously, but you should still show appreciation for the interviewer’s time. How do you send a thank you note for an interview if you don’t have the interviewer’s email address?You can still find a way to send a thank you email!
As a last resort, you can probably figure out one employee’s email address based on someone else’s in the company. Most companies will use a standard format for employee emails. Some common examples are:
What should you do if you forgot the interviewer’s name?In the event that you forgot, misheard, or don’t quite know the spelling of the interviewer’s name, don’t let this deter you from writing a personalized greeting. There are ways you can cross-reference to make sure you get the right name and still make a good impression:
How soon should you send a thank you email after a phone interview?As soon as possible! Whether your interview is in-person, online, or over the phone, aim to send a thank you note within 1-2 days after your interview. How do you address multiple interviewers in a thank you email?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.
Should I send thank you email to all interviewers?It's recommended that you send a thank you email after each job interview you attend. Doing so shows the employer that you appreciate their time and, just as importantly, that you're still interested in the position.
When to sending thank you email after interview to multiple interviewers?It's best to send a thank-you email within 24 hours of your interview. Doing so demonstrates your interest in the job. It also keeps you top of mind with those you met with as they consider other candidates.
How many applicants send a thank you email after an interview?For better or worse, sending a 'thank you' email is often the tipping point for candidate success. But with 80% of hiring managers confirming they take post-interview thank you emails into account, and only 24% of candidates actually sending them — that's a whole lot of talent that could be getting an unfair shake.
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