Career Advice
How to Write a Thank You Email After an Interview (with 4 Examples!)
Writing a thank you email after a job interview is like adding icing to a cake.
You can have cake without it, but adding icing just adds so much more flavour, and leaves a sweet, memorable sensation in your mouth.
Sending your interviewer a thank you note after speaking does just that – it leaves a stronger first impression of you and makes you a more memorable candidate even after the interview is over.
So how do you write an effective Thank You Email?
In this article, we break down all you need to know about thank you emails. We cover:
- Why Write a Thank You Email (Objective of a Thank You Note)
- How Soon to Send a Thank You Email
- What Sections to Include in Thank You Emails
- What Not to Write in Thank You Emails
- 4 Real Samples of Thank You Emails You Can Use
- 3 Additional Tips to Writing Effective Thank You Emails
Why Write a Thank You Email (Objective of Thank You Notes)
It is the easiest way to leave a positive impression on the interviewer after the interview ends.
Writing this email is an act of courtesy thanking them for their time, and shows your sincerity in applying for the role.
They also act as an opportunity to clarify any remaining questions you might have forgotten to ask during the interview, or to repeat something you think the interviewer might have missed.
How Soon to Send Thank You Emails
If possible, send the thank you note immediately after the interview!
The points discussed during the interview are still fresh in your head, and it is a neat way to wrap up your interview.
What Sections to Include in Thank You Emails
What sections or information you write in your thank you email depends on the format you choose.
However, some common elements in Thank You Emails include:
Subject Line
Open your Thank You Email with a concise subject line that clearly conveys your email’s intent.
Some examples of effective Subject Lines include:
- “Thank You for Your Time”
- “Thank You for the Interview”
- “Great Meeting You Today”
Personalised Greeting
Next, begin the email with a personalised greeting, such as “Dear <Interviewer’s Name>”
Do not start with a ‘Dear Sir/Madam’!
Express Gratitude
It’s easy and effective to start your email by expressing sincere thanks to the interviewer.
Some examples include:
- “Thank you for taking the time to speak with me today.”
- “Thank you for discussing more about the Account Manager role with me today.”
- “Thank you for sharing with me more about the Account Manager role today.”
At this point, you may wish to reiterate your genuine interest and excitement about the company and role.
You could also repeat a point you wish to emphasise, or why you are a suitable fit for the role.
Note that this should only take about 1-2 short sentences! Do not write too lengthy sentences or repeat what should have been discussed in the interview.
Indicate Interest in Following Up
Before you close off, indicate to the interviewer that you are open to address any questions they might have.
For example, you could conclude with this line:
“Feel free to let me know if you require further information from me, or have any other questions for me. Thank you.”
Leave Your Contact Information
Finally, don’t forget to leave your contact information!
You might wish to leave your mobile phone number here to make it as easy as possible for the interviewer to contact you if necessary.
What Not to Write in Thank You Emails
The Thank You Email could be the last chance to set a positive first impression. Therefore, avoid these mistakes when writing them!
Asking for Interview Outcomes
It’s unlikely that your Interviewer or Hiring Manager would make the hiring decision immediately after the interview.
Thus do not ask about the interview outcome right after the interview! It could leave a sour impression of you as a candidate, and hurt your chances.
Discuss Salary
Do not discuss salary after the interview, especially if this is only the first or second round of interview.
As with the above, it creates an impression of impatience and unprofessionalism.
4 Sample Thank You Emails After an Interview
Now that you’ve learnt the structure of Thank You Emails and what to avoid writing in them, how do you actually write one?
We’ve written four examples that you could adapt and use!
Sample Email 1: Short and Simple
Hi Mr. Leung, Thank you for taking the time to meet with me yesterday to discuss the Marketing Manager position at XYZ Company. Feel free to let me know if you require any further information from me. I look forward to hearing the next steps. Warmest Regards, |
Sample Email 2: Formal
Dear Mr. Leung, Thank you for meeting with me yesterday to discuss the Marketing Manager position you are trying to fill for XYZ Company. I really enjoyed our conversation, and believe my background in marketing communications and management makes me a strong match for this position. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any additional questions for me. Thank you again for the opportunity to speak yesterday, and I hope to hear from you soon. Sincerely, |
Sample Email 3: Detailed
Dear Mr. Leung, Thank you for meeting with me yesterday to discuss the Marketing Manager position you are trying to fill for XYZ Company. I really enjoyed our conversation, and believe my background in marketing communications and management makes me a strong match for this position. I am especially grateful for your explanation of the unique structure of the Marketing team and how it closely collaborates with both the Sales and IT teams. I’m excited to learn more. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any additional questions for me. Thank you again for the opportunity to speak yesterday, and I hope to hear from you soon. Sincerely, |
Sample Email 4: Informal
Hello Mr. Leung, Thanks once again for yesterday’s interview, and for sharing with me more about the Marketing Manager position at XYZ Company. I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about the role and company! I’m excited to contribute my skills in B2B Sales and Marketing to boost readership for the company’s insightful content. Feel free to let me know if you require further information from me. Looking forward to hearing the next steps. Best, |
3 Final Tips for Writing Thank You Emails
Before you go, here are 3 final tips for you when you’re writing Thank You Notes.
1. Be professional and courteous! Don’t come off as desperate.
As a candidate, you don’t wish to come off as impatient or desperate to the interviewer.
This evokes a negative impression of you, and could appear unprofessional.
These behaviours could negatively influence the outcome of your interview.
2. Don’t ask for an outcome immediately after the interview.
As shared above, it is unlikely that the interviewer or hiring manager will make the decision upon the end of the interview.
Therefore, do not pressure or rush them to give you an outcome immediately.
3. End off with a prompt for the interviewer to follow-up with next steps.
If this has not been discussed in the interview itself, another way to end your Thank You Email would be to express interest in the next steps:
“Looking forward to hearing the next steps.”
This could also be a good way to follow-up with the interviewer in a subsequent email, if you have not heard back on an interview outcome after some time.
We hope you’ve found this article helpful in writing your own Thank You Email after your interview.
If you found it helpful, why not check out our follow-up email article?
It’s written for candidates who have been waiting for an outcome for some time, but have yet to hear a response.
All the best in your job search!
ResumeWriter Tip: Never spam your interviewer! Send just ONE thank you email after the interview as a courteous gesture to thank the interviewer for his time. Don’t ask if you got the job right after the interview.