After a job interview, it is customary to send a thank you letter to your interviewer. In fact, many interviewers see the thank you note (i.e. whether or not they send one) as an important tool for evaluating a candidate.
Traditionally, a thank you letter was sent by mail or delivered in person. Now you should only send one by email. Since email is less formal than a letter, it can be confusing to know what to include in a thank you letter/email. But no worries – we have broken down each part of the thank you email to help clarify everything!
Subject line
Keep it is simple and appropriate. Use something like, “Thank you” or “Thank you for the interview.” Nice and simple!
Addressing the person
Next address the interviewer by name in a casual manner. Don’t use Mr./Ms. as this is way too formal. You want to be viewed as a part of the team. No team (at least no fun team) ever addresses coworkers as Mr./Ms. You can keep it as simple as, “Hi John.”
Body
The body of your letter should be short and concise, but long enough to convey your message. Font size, style, and color should be conservative and easy-to-read. Take a couple sentences to thank your interviewer for taking time out of their day to speak with you. To make it more personalized, acknowledge specific things you learned from them.
For example:
“Thank you for taking the time to interview me today. I appreciate the helpful information you shared on your expectations for the position and what makes a candidate successful in the role.”
Additional information
Only provide additional information IF the person specifically requested it. Or if there is something blatant you forgot to mention in the interview, this is an appropriate time to do so.
Closing
You should express your interest in the role and close with an appropriate ending.
For example:
“I enjoyed meeting everyone on the team and learning more about the company and its mission. I’m excited about this potential opportunity and look forward to hearing back from you. Please let me know if you need any additional information.”
Ending
Like the introduction, make the ending informal. Do NOT say “Sincerely” or “Respectfully.” These are way too formal. Instead say either, “Best” or “Thank you” with your name and simple contact information.
Exhibit professionalism
Think of this thank you email as part of your actual interview process. You want to leave the company with a good impression of you. You wouldn’t want your interviewer to think you are sloppy or unorganized. In a thank you letter, people will expect you to use casual yet professional language.
A few other things to be aware of to keep it professional:
- Don’t use slang (cool, lit, bro, etc.)
- Double check your spelling and grammar
- Proofread!
As you proofread your email, make sure you organized your thoughts and conveyed your message in a polished manner. Keep in mind, a thank you email is as much of a part of the interview process as anything else. Making sure to send a well-written thank you email will set you apart and give them one more reason to give you the job!
