Write a strong opening.
You don't want to start your thank you note the same way you would a casual text to your best friend. “Heyyy,” is not a good opener for this type of letter. Instead, address the person by their full name and use a formal greeting like “Dear Mr. Smith” or “Dear Ms. Johnson.” After that, you can jump right into the main body of your message and then close with a sign-off like “Respectfully yours,” or “Best regards.”
Before we get into what should be included in your thank you note after an interview, let's go over what should not be included: emojis (no matter how tempting), anything confessional (keep it professional), and any details that weren't covered in the interview itself (like if you're considering other job offers).
Be specific with your thanks.
- Be specific with your thanks. It's easy to start your thank you note off with something like, "Thank you for the opportunity to interview." This is a good way to begin your note and it's polite, but it's not going to help you stand out.
You can say thank you in a much more memorable way by being more specific. Go back through your interview and write down everything that you appreciated about the process. Then focus on thanking the interviewer for specific things they did or said during their time with you. Some examples include:
- Thanking them for their time, especially if they had to reschedule or travel to meet with you
- Mentioning that there was something in particular that stood out about the interview, whether it was a question or an answer
- Thanking them for introducing you to someone else at the company who helped you get a better understanding of what working there would be like
What are you most excited about?
In the middle of your thank you note, you want to share something that shows that you really listened when they were talking about the company and what they are doing. This is also a great time to show your enthusiasm for the position or prove why they should hire you.
Our idea here is pretty simple. You're going to try to find a few things that have come up in the conversation and talk about how those things really excite you.
For example, if your interview was with a startup and they talked about offering competitive benefits packages, you could say something like:
In our interview I was particularly excited at the opportunity to be part of an organization that provides competitive benefits packages both for its employees and their families. As a working mother, I think it is critical my children receive proper care during school vacations so I can remain focused on my work responsibilities.
Share your enthusiasm.
Make it clear that you’re keen to work for them and the specific reasons why. It’s important that you don’t simply repeat statements from your CV or covering letter; instead speak about aspects of the company, team or role that appeal to you. For example:
- I was really excited to learn about your new venture into the Chinese market, and would love to be part of growing this business area.
- I really enjoyed learning more about how your technology has revolutionised the way marketers can reach consumers, and would love to help grow this division of your organisation.*
- I am truly excited by the opportunities this job could bring me, particularly as there will be plenty of scope for international travel.
Remind them of why you're the right choice.
As you close the interview, a manager or recruiter might say something like, "Do you have any questions?" If you do, ask them. Then leave on that question. You don't need to thank them for their time again. But once you're out of the office and have time to reflect on your conversation with the interviewer, it's likely that you'll think of some additional questions or points you wish you had made. This is your chance to make those additions before they've forgotten about your (hopefully awesome) interview experience!
Make the closing sincere.
- Make the closing sincere.
The closing paragraph is where you should re-state your gratitude for the opportunity and ask for any follow up information (if appropriate). It’s also where many people trip up because they don’t know what tone to strike with their sign off. Consider these guidelines:
Handwritten note: Close with “Sincerely” or “Regards,” and nothing else. You don’t need a comma after the first word, but consider including one before your signature. A handwritten note is much more personal than an email, so leave it at that!
Email: Close with “Best,” or “Thanks again.” If you are sending an email and want to be more casual, then something like “All my best” or even just “Best regards” can work too!
Proofread, save and send.
- Now it's time to proofread. It can be tempting to send off a note quickly, but it's worth it to slow down so you don't make any embarrassing mistakes. Read your note out loud to hear how the words sound. Make sure that you've used the correct personal pronouns for each recipient (that is, either "you" or "they"). Look for spelling and grammar errors, which can diminish the quality of an otherwise strong message.
- If you're happy with your note and its content feels unique, save it in a new document—you'll want to keep the content around for future occasions when you need a thank-you message template!
- Once your note is ready, hit send! You should always send a physical letter after an in-person interview; when we say "email," we mean sending an electronic version of that letter instead of printing it out on paper and mailing it through snail mail.
Thank you notes are an important formal gesture in the interview process
- You should send a thank you note after every interview. Period.
- It's quick, it's easy, and it's free.
- If you don't do this, your chances of getting a job are slim to none.
- Sending a generic note is better than nothing at all, but if you want to get ahead of the pack and impress potential employers, the message needs to be personalized with details about your conversation.
- This is also a good opportunity for you to reflect on the interview and think about what else you could have said or what kind of questions you could have asked.