The good news is that you can generally send your note via email–a paper letter isn’t usually necessary.
The Benefits of Sending a Thank-You Email
A thank-you message via email has a couple of important advantages over the old-fashioned, paper-and-ink variety of a thank-you letter. For example, with an email, you can do more than remind your prospective employer of your qualities and skills–you can actually show them off by including a link to your online portfolio, LinkedIn account, or professional social networking profiles.Another benefit of a thank-you email is that you can get your thank-you message out immediately, rather than having to wait for the postal service to deliver a letter. In fact, you can send and write your thank-you email on the same day.
Send One Email to Each Interviewer
What if you’re interviewed by several people? First of all, ask for a business card at the conclusion of the interview–that way you'll have the contact information for each thank-you email. Then, send email messages to each person you interviewed with.Be sure to modify your email so each interviewer gets a unique thank-you message. They will know if you sent the same message to each of them.
What to Include in Your Email Message
In addition to thanking the person you interviewed with, your thank-you note should reinforce the fact that you want the job, so view this thank-you as a follow-up "sales" letter. In other words, restate why you want the job, what your qualifications are, how you might make significant contributions, and so on.Your message is also the perfect opportunity to discuss anything of importance that your interviewer neglected to ask. For example, if you didn’t have a chance to explain why you thought that you would fit in well with the company culture, you might briefly state this in the email.
Finally, use your letter to address any issues and concerns that came up during the interview, including topics you neglected to answer as thoroughly as you might have wished. For instance, if you feel that you botched an interview question, you could explain your answer in more detail here.
Keep in mind, though, that the thank-you note should be brief and to-the-point. A couple of brief paragraphs are sufficient. Here are tips for writing a strong thank-you email.
Use a Professional Subject Line
In the subject line, provide just enough information about why you are sending the email. Include the phrase “thank you” and either your name or the title of the job you interviewed for (or both). Some examples of subject lines include:- Thank You–Firstname Lastname
- Thank You–Job Title
- Thank You–Firstname Lastname, Job Title
- Thank You–Job Title, Firstname Lastname
- Job Title, Firstname Lastname–Thank You
Keep It Brief
Keep your message concise. The interviewer will not want to read a very long thank-you email. Focus on saying “thank you” and briefly reiterating your interest in the position.Edit, Edit, Edit
Remember to proofread. Proofreading is just as important in email as it is in other forms of correspondence. Be sure to check spelling and grammar. Also, keep a copy in your "Out" mailbox or “cc:” yourself so you have a copy of each message you've sent.Example of an Email Thank-You Letter to Send After a Job Interview
The example below will provide you with a template to use for your own thank-you email. Keep in mind that this sample is only to give you a sense of how to format your email and demonstrate what information should be included. You’ll need to tailor it to reflect your own circumstances.Subject Line of the Message: Thank You–Assistant Account Executive Interview
Dear Mr./Ms. Last Name:
I enjoyed speaking with you today about the assistant account executive position at the Smith Agency. The job seems to be an excellent match for my skills and interests.
The creative approach to account management that you described confirmed my desire to work with you.
In addition to my enthusiasm, I will bring to the position strong writing skills, assertiveness, and the ability to encourage others to work cooperatively with the department.
I appreciate the time you took to interview me. I am very interested in working for you and look forward to hearing from you regarding this position.
Sincerely,
Your Name
Email Address
Address
City, State Zip Code
Phone Number
[LinkedIn URL]
[Website URL]
Do:
Send your email right away—within 24 hours of the interview—to thank the hiring managers and confirm your interest.Include all your interviewers in the email or send separate emails to each person who spoke with you. Keep in mind that if you do the latter, your messages should vary somewhat, so that the recipients don't compare notes later and feel like they just got a chain email (as mentioned above, it’s a good idea to gather business cards, or make a note of the interviewers’ names during the meeting. This is to ensure that you know whom to address).
Include the name of the position in the subject line and the words "thank you." This will ensure that the hiring manager sees your response and knows that your email is important.
Remind the interviewer of your qualifications, making sure to mention any keywords in the original job listing (or those that came up during the interview itself).
Provide links to your online portfolios and other professional sites and networks.
Don't:
Stalk your interviewers. Initiatives such as a thank-you email and a follow-up a week or so later are more than enough. Beyond that, you're not promoting yourself; you're stressing them out. Remember that your goal is not only to show the hiring managers that you’re qualified but to convince them that they want to work with you. Repeatedly hounding them with follow-up emails won’t build your case.
Send anything that makes you look bad. This includes personal social media profiles that contain unprofessional pictures or behavior. Err on the side of caution when determining this. You might see nothing wrong with a photo of you enjoying a margarita on a tropical vacation, but the hiring manager might feel differently.
Be too casual. No memes, internet acronyms, etc.
Send misspelled, grammatically incorrect emails, or anything that hasn't been proofread by a trusted friend. Even professional editors make mistakes when they try to work on their own. Get another set of eyeballs to look over your work before you hit "send."
By sending a thoughtfully expressed “thank-you” email immediately after your interview, you’ll affirm the positive impressions you made during your talk, keep your candidacy “top of mind” as final hiring decisions are made, and demonstrate that you have the good manners and proactive communications skills employers desire in their personnel.
By sending a thoughtfully expressed “thank-you” email immediately after your interview, you’ll affirm the positive impressions you made during your talk, keep your candidacy “top of mind” as final hiring decisions are made, and demonstrate that you have the good manners and proactive communications skills employers desire in their personnel.
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