Thank-You Note Emails: The 4 Best After-Interview Samples

Sending a post-interview thank-you note is an integral part of the hiring process. In fact, candidates who fail to send a letter after conducting an interview may appear unprofessional or disinterested to hiring managers. There are numerous variables in play when you interview for a position. The last thing you want holding you back from securing a valuable opportunity is a simple gesture of politeness. Below, you’ll find helpful tips and insights to help you craft a compelling thank you note following your next interview.

When Should You Send a Post-Interview Thank You

You need to send a thank-you note, whether it’s your initial phone screening or your third video interview in the hiring process. This shows hiring managers that you’re engaged throughout every stage of the interview process. Remember that when an organization considers you for a position, you aren’t only being evaluated on your technical qualifications. Employers need to see that you have the emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills to fit with their team. Sending an after-interview thank-you note will signal your enthusiasm and professionalism as you connect with potential employers.

Interview Thank-You Emails Versus Letters

Thank-you letters and emails are both acceptable, but one may be better than the other depending on the situation. If you’re applying for a high-level position, such as a director or C-suite position, you may want to craft a longer, more formal thank-you letter using a stylized template. In most cases, a short email is the better choice. You don’t need to send six long paragraphs, but you do want enough content to show that you were listening during the interview and that you care about the opportunity in front of you.

How to Write the Perfect Thank-You Email After the Interview

When structuring your thank-you email, you should always refer to the hiring manager by name. Although you want to keep your note professional, it’s perfectly acceptable to use the interviewer’s first name in this situation since you’ve had a conversation together. You’ll want to mention a topic that interested you during the interview and how it aligns with your professional background. This will showcase that you were engaged during the conversation and have a genuine interest in the organization and its goals.

4 Best Interview Thank-You Email Samples

Your thank-you email may vary depending on the stage of the interview process you’re in. For example, you may opt for a more simple email following the initial phone screening but provide a more detailed letter after a one-hour virtual interview. In the following section, you’ll find four samples to help you make a positive impression on the hiring manager during each phase of the interview cycle.

Sample Email 1

In this sample, the job seeker has just completed their initial phone interview for a marketing position. They’re sending a short thank-you email to the hiring manager to show that they’re enthusiastic about the opportunity.

This thank-you note is effective because it hits all the right beats and isn’t overly long. The candidate references an important topic of conversation from the initial phone screening and directly relates it to their professional background. This shows the hiring manager that you’re not only listening but that you can also provide valuable contributions. In this example, the after-interview thank-you note is also careful not to overextend itself. You want to demonstrate your enthusiasm without coming off as desperate or overly eager.

Sample Email 2

In the following example, the candidate has completed the initial phone screening and the first formal job interview for a project manager position. They’ll be sending their second after-interview thank you email to the hiring manager.

You’ll notice that this email is slightly longer than the previous example. In this instance, the job seeker has spent more time discussing the job role, organization, and work culture with the hiring manager and thus has more room to comment. This post-interview thank-you email effectively showcases the applicant’s industry knowledge of Agile and Waterfall methodologies. When commenting on an area of interest, it’s important to be confident and respectful, as you don’t want to unintentionally sound arrogant.

Sample Email 3

Here you’ll find an example for a job seeker who has also completed two interviews. This candidate is applying for a position within the healthcare space and is moving forward quickly in the interview process.

This is an effective post-interview thank-you note because it touches on an essential topic from the conversation that genuinely encapsulates the hospital’s culture. By providing some insights into her own experience in patient advocacy, the candidate shows that her values are closely aligned with the organization’s mission statement. When highlighting a connection between yourself and a company, it’s important to be authentic, as you don’t want to risk seeming as though you’re only trying to pander to their needs. Rather, you want to reflect on how these values have played a pivotal role in your own career by citing specific experiences.

Sample Email 4

In the next example, you’ll find a post-interview note for a candidate who has successfully completed the initial phone screening and two additional virtual interviews. They’re pursuing a position as a program manager for a prestigious non-profit organization and are in heavy contention for the role.

This after-interview thank-you email is appropriate for this situation because the candidate has now had multiple conversations with the hiring manager to understand the organization’s goals and history. By highlighting a key accomplishment related to the non-profit’s current initiatives, they’ve shown that they’re both an expert in community outreach and have a proven history of interfacing with diverse populations and communities.

Frank Hackett

Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW)

Frank Hackett is a professional resume writer and career consultant with over eight years of experience. As the lead editor at a boutique career consulting firm, Frank developed an innovative approach to resume writing that empowers job seekers to tell their professional stories. His approach involves creating accomplishment-driven documents that balance keyword optimization with personal branding. Frank is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches (PAWRCC).