How to Write a ‘Thank You’ Email After a Job Interview

If you just finished a job interview or landed an interview — congratulations! Neither of those milestones are easy to reach. Both take hard work, but you’re not done yet.

Whether you nailed the interview or are prepping ahead of time, remember that hiring managers may be paying very close attention to how well (and how quickly) you send a ‘thank you’ email after the interview.

The Importance of a ‘Thank You’ Email

When you first got the news that you booked an interview, it was probably a huge relief. You might have felt grateful if there was an advisor who helped you find this job opening, and hopefully you felt pride in yourself for the big accomplishment.

At the end of the day though, it’s the organization you’re interviewing with that decided to give you the opportunity. That’s something to be thankful about, so express it.

That’s the whole point of writing a ‘thank you’ email — to show that you understand the opportunity presented to you and that you value the time of every team member involved.

But that’s not the only thing it shows. A ‘thank you’ email is a great opportunity to show off some intangibles such as empathy, communication, efficiency, and enthusiasm for the role.

‘Thank You’ Email Template

Sending a ‘thank you’ email shortly after your interview is advised — within a few hours if you can, but certainly within the first 24 hours. This template might be able to speed things along.

Feel free to copy and paste this template to use for when you need to send a ‘thank you’ email or simply use this a guide. But remember, if there is an opportunity to make this more your own, take it.

Perhaps there was a funny anecdote shared or something you were genuinely interested about during the interview. Don’t be afraid to use that in your ‘thank you’ email. It shows that you were engaged in the conversation.

Now, what if the interview that took place was just the first in a series leading up to getting the job? Should you send a ‘thank you’ email to the second or third person you speak to? The answer is YES.

Just as the first interviewer was taking the time to get to know you and giving you an opportunity for a role, so are the other people down the line.

Once again, this is just another chance to show how comfortable you are communicating to several people within the organization — something you may have to do anyway on the job.

Refer to the email template above if you need inspiration for your second or third ‘thank you’ email. Think of it as a productive creative exercise by finding ways to personalize each one with references that are specific to the interview that took place.

Your ‘thank you email’ can set the tone for the remainder of the hiring process following that first interview, so don’t miss the opportunity to show why you’re the right person for the job and to show that you care.