How to Write a Thank-You Email or Letter After an Interview

You just got an interview! You may feel excited, nervous, or maybe a bit overwhelmed. When you’re feeling so many emotions at once you might not know what to do next. Don’t worry - that’s perfectly normal! Here are some ideas on how to tackle the situation, and crush the process end to end.

Don’t wait too long to send a thank-you note.

When you receive an offer or have just finished an interview, there is no reason not to send a thank-you note. You can send it immediately after the interview if you receive an acceptance. But, if the hiring process is still underway, wait until you receive an acceptance or rejection letter. That’s because you want to reiterate your thanks to the hiring manager, but you also want to let the company know that you are still interested in the position. When you do send your note, make it personal. Don’t write a one-page general letter. Instead, write a short letter that highlights your interest in the position and why you are a good fit for the organization. If there were some key points you didn’t have time to communicate make sure to add those in as well. Things like my experience on x project in the past would bring a lot of value to being a key contributor to y project that the team will be working on next month.

Even if the hiring process is finished, follow up.

The best way to show your interest in a job is to keep sending follow up until you hear back from the hiring manager. If you’ve landed the role great, if you didn’t this is a great time to ask for feedback to learn more about how you can improve in your next interviews.

Always send a follow-up email or letter.

No matter what method you use to send your thank-you, you should keep the communication flowing. If you wait too long to send a thank-me note, or if you send an email or letter that is too short or general, you may lose the chance to keep the hiring process going. The best way to keep the hiring manager interested in keeping you on their list is to send a longer, more personalized thank-you note once you receive an offer. Keep the communication flowing with any follow-up notes. Once you send your initial note, you can send a handwritten note, a digital message, or a handwritten note via digital system. If you are using a paper-based hiring system, you can also use a hand-written note to send a letter. While not all hiring systems allow this, it is a great way to keep the hiring process flowing.

Don’t be afraid to ask for the job.

If you didn’t receive an offer or an acceptance letter, don’t shy away from asking to be considered for the job. This might seem intimidating, but it’s important that you don’t let this get in the way of receiving an offer. When you have an interview and do not receive an offer, it’s natural to feel disappointed or maybe even a bit stressed. You might be worried that your hard work was not rewarded. Don’t worry - that’s perfectly normal! But, it’s important that you don’t let this get in the way of the hiring process. You want to look for opportunities to keep the hiring process going. One way to do this is to ask for an interview. While this might seem like a small thing, it shows the hiring manager that you are interested in the position and that you are a good fit for the company.

Be yourself in your follow-up communication.

No matter what steps you take to follow up on a job interview, it’s important that you keep the communication flowing with the hiring manager. This is because there is no reason to stop the hiring process once you have an offer. If you have not received a response after a few weeks, follow up again. If you have received an acceptance or rejection letter and have not started to follow up, it’s time to take action. Whether you send a handwritten note, a digital message, or a letter via digital system, keep the conversation going with the hiring manager. This is a great way to show them that you want the job and that you want to be considered for it.

‍