Send a thank you email after an interview to leave a good impression.

After an interview, you'll probably have a multitude of feelings — from relief to bewilderment to excitement. An interview will do that for you. It's exciting, stressful, and overwhelming all at once.

These positive stresses are amplified when you're left with uncertainty on how to proceed post-interview. 

  • What do you do now? 

  • Do you send a follow-up thank you email after the interview? 

  • How soon should you send a thank you email after an interview?

  • What do you say in a thank you email after an interview? 

This article will be your guide to post-interview thank-you emails.

Should I send a thank you email after an interview?

The answer is “yes,” you should send a thank you email after an interview. Why? Because it's an important step that allows you to influence your fate. 

Hiring managers, recruiters, and HR managers receive dozens of applications and inquiries for positions at a time, so taking steps to ensure your application is at the top of the list is an excellent way to keep them engaged. Sending a thank you email after the interview is also courteous, gracious, and just plain nice — this is a good way to appear to a potential employer.

If you're ready to say thanks but don't know where to start, below is everything you need for your post-interview thank you.

When should you send a thank you email after an interview?

Most companies have a multi-step hiring process that normally kicks off with a phone or video call interview. You can say thanks after each and every round. Why? Because saying thanks demonstrates that you're appreciative, and appreciative people are generally happy people, which is a desired quality in the workplace. 

Related reading: How to Make a Great Impression During a Phone Interview

The timing of the thank you email after your interview is also important. Send it immediately after, and your thank you may come off as insincere. Send it too late, and your follow-up may come off as an afterthought. 

Ideally, wait at least a couple of hours to send your thank you email after the interview, though be sure to send it within 24 hours. A benefit of waiting till the next day is that, by then, the interviewer may have had some time to think about and discuss your application with potential hiring managers. 

Think of your thank you note as a reminder that you exist. When would you like that reminder to pop up? Allow some time for things to happen so that you may continue to be at the forefront of the selection committee's mind.  

How should I send my thank you email after the interview?

Choosing the right communication method is integral. Consider how the interviewer chose to communicate with you. If it was via email, your interviewers may not want to receive a phone call. Certain generations are less likely to use the phone than others — you may want to give that some thought, too. 

Also, consider the company culture of your prospective employer. For instance, you wouldn't send a snail mail thank you note to a high-tech startup organization. And generally, snail mail is only used in rare instances in today's world of job interviewing. 

The generally accepted medium is email because it allows you to be articulate, communicate quickly, and it is widely preferred. A thank you email after your interview is great because you can format it and send a clean, well-thought-out message. 

You can also provide links to relevant information, like online resumes, profiles, or portfolios. Another benefit of email is that it doesn't require an immediate response, such as a phone call would, and the interviewer can get back to you with more information once they have it. 

Related reading: 7 Tips For the Morning of Your Interview

What should I say (or avoid) in an interview thank you note?

The goal of your messaging — from the resume to the interview to the thank you note — should be to get the receiver to want to know more about you. From writing a cover letter to writing a post-interview thank you message, you want to motivate them to read on. That said, let's first start with what you should not include in your thank you note. 

What NOT to say in a thank you email:

  • Don't tell the reader why you deserve the job. Instead, focus on how you're qualified for the position and why you're excited about the opportunity.

  • Avoid trying to explain why you aren't good at interviewing. This sounds like an excuse.

  • Don't make too many assumptions about the next steps or request to bypass the process.

What you SHOULD say in a thank you email:

  • Keep it brief. Thank you messages do not need to be complicated. If brevity is your style, then own it. Keep it short, simple, and to the point.

  • Share your gratitude. Express your gratitude for the interviewer's time, your interest in the job opportunity at hand, and your desire to make it to the next round of interviews. 

  • Emphasize your qualifications. Be sure to reinforce your qualifications for the position based on what you learned about the role during your conversations with each interviewer. 

  • Show that a connection was made. If you want to take it to the next level, add a personal connection. Companies want you to want what they're selling, so show them you do. Show them you were listening and that it excited and energized you. You can add why you enjoyed the conversation and what specifically you discussed or learned that resonated with you.  For example, if you learned about their company culture and their emphasis on employee learning struck a chord with you, then you can say that in your thank you email. 

You can elevate the methods above by providing more information. Volunteer links to personal blogs, portfolios, profiles, and useful information that help the interviewer get to know you as an individual or, better yet, demonstrate your applicable competencies to the job.

Who do I thank in the email communication?

Always thank everyone who was a part of the process. First off, if they have an HR person who has been involved, they should remain your key point of contact and be copied on any emails you send to members of the interview team. 

HR will often be the person consistent through the full cycle of hiring, meaning you may interview with different groups and individuals, but HR will be the one coordinating it. Keep them at the forefront of your messages and in the loop. HR can also distribute to any individual involved for whom you may not have contact information.

Stand out with a follow-up thank you email after an interview 

Keeping true to yourself and the goal of your message will guide you in writing your own stellar interview thank you email. The best advice: make it genuine.

Click on the following link for more interview advice.

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This article was originally written by Gabrielle Garon. It has been updated by Ronda Suder. 

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