Career Advice / Job Search

Here's why you need to send thank you emails after an interview

. 4 min read . Written by Vanshika Goenka
Here's why you need to send thank you emails after an interview

What’s the next thing you do after having just interviewed for a job you really want? Well, this question could have varied answers but sending a thank you note/email to the person you just met with is essential.

Why? Well, for starters because it’ll give him or her sense of how sincere you are and how much you want the job. But that’s not all. A thank you note post an interview meeting also shows how courteous you are and could end up being the reason why you get an upper hand over others, especially for client-facing jobs.

Post-interview thank you emails give a sense of sincerity and show the candidate’s keenness for the offered position. It also makes your application stand out,” shares Dhara Desai, senior HR executive at a Mumbai-based content marketing agency.

Keep these points in mind while sending a thank-you note

  • Send your note out within 24 hours of the interview.
  • If you met with more than one person, send each one of them separate emails. Don’t send a group email. Also, use different formats for each one of them.
  • Keep the subject of the email simple. Thank you for the opportunity works best for all formats.
  • Go beyond saying ‘thank you for your time’. Use the email as an opportunity to reiterate the fact that you are interested in the role, and would be a great fit.
  • If there is something you forgot to mention during an interview, add that in the email. You can also send out an online link to your work. “I often have candidates writing back with their experience in a certain field or salary expectations but it would be so much better if that came along with a thank you note,” says Fatema Sheikh who works at an Andheri-based recruitment firm.
  • Keep it short and precise. Be sincere and add in a reference from the interview. Sending a generic email is worse than not sending the email.
  • Sign off with an ‘I look forward to hearing from you’. “This is a good way to express your desire for a quick response without directly asking ‘When are you actually going to make the decision?’” shares Dhara.
  • Reread your email before hitting send. The last thing you want to do is send a grammatically incorrect email.

To help cultivate the habit of sending thank you emails, we’ve put down a few thank you email formats that’ll come in handy for any kind of job interview. Bookmark them for future use.

Email formats for sending a thank you note after an interview

Sending a thank you note to your interviewer

Dear [Interviewer’s Name],

Thank you for your time yesterday. It was really nice meeting you and learning more about your business approach. It helped me understand the role better.

I admire the mission that drives your business and my past experience will help me step in the role of [the name of the position you’re applying for] at your company.

If you need any additional information from me, please feel free to contact me. Looking forward to hearing from you.

Thanks again for your time.

Yours sincerely,

Name and signature

Sending a thank you note to the HR manager

Dear [HR’s Name],

I am writing this email to thank you for your time and assistance during my interview today/yesterday. I appreciate your kind words that helped me sail through the meeting.

The role sounds exciting and with my past experience, I could succeed and excel in it. I am looking forward to hearing any updates you can share. Don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.

Warm regards,

Name and signature

Sending a thank you note after a second interview

Dear [Interviewer’s Name],

Thank you for meeting with me again. I am even more certain that I will be able to help deliver great results working as [the name of the position] with your organisation.

I am particularly interested in your innovative ideas [include an example] for the role—they sparked some ideas of my own and left me with the sense that we’d make an excellent collaborative team.

Please let me know if there’s anything else you need from me to move the process forward. I look forward to hearing from you on [the established date] as discussed.

Have a great day.

Best,

Name and signature

Sending a thank you note with updates about your work

Hello [Interviewers Name],

Thank you so much for meeting with me today. I really enjoyed learning more about your company.

To follow up on our conversation about [add as per your discussion] I’ve attached a short document for your perusal. I would be happy to discuss it further.

I look forward to being a part of such an innovative, hardworking, and passionate team of individuals. Please let me know if there’s anything else I can provide to make your hiring decision easier.

Best

Name and signature

Sending a thank you notes with follow-up questions

Dear [Interviewers Name],

Thank you for the opportunity to visit with you and see your facilities [insert day]. I was very impressed with the functioning of your firm.

I wanted to ask whether your organisation follows a 5-day work week and what is the appraisal process you follow? I am sorry I missed asking this during the interview.

Awaiting your response.

Thank you,

Name and signature