Thank-You Letter to Send After an Interview Sample

How to Write an Interview Thank-You Note or Email

Interview Thank You Letters

The Balance/ Hugo Lin

After an interview, whether it's over the phone, through video chat, or in person, you should always send a thank-you letter to your interviewer. Sending one is good manners: it's always polite to pass along appreciation when someone takes time from their day for a conversation.

What to Include in an Interview Thank-You

In addition to showing good manners, your thank-you note is an opportunity to distinguish yourself as a candidate, stand out from the crowd of jobs, and gain an edge in the hiring process.

Here are a few things you can accomplish in your thank-you note:

Remind the interviewer of your conversation: As part of the hiring process, interviewers often speak with a lot of people, making it easy for them to forget the particulars of each candidate. How can you stand out? A well-written, thoughtful thank you letter reminds the interviewer of your candidacy and is a callback to your conversation.

In your note, you can reference specific moments from your conversation.

Fix any missteps: Did you flub the answer to a question? Forget to mention something obvious and meaningful? Your thank-you note is the perfect opportunity to clean up any mistakes you made in the conversation, rephrase anything you put poorly during the interview, and add vital information you neglected to mention.

Reinforce your candidacy: As well as seeking to make a connection with the interviewer, so that you are a memorable candidate, it's also important to be clear about why you're a great candidate. What makes you a strong choice for the position? Now that you've spoken with someone at the company, you're likely more aware of what's involved in the position than you were when you initially applied for the spot.

Use the information you've gathered during the interview to pinpoint in your thank you letter what you would bring to the company and to mention aspects of the job that particularly appeal to you.

Open the door for future communications: In your note, mention your interest in the position. If this is your dream job, say so! Show off your enthusiasm for the position and company, and create an opportunity for the interviewer to ask follow-up questions, request references, and generally be in touch.

Sample Job Interview Thank-You Letter

This is a job interview thank-you letter example. Download the job interview thank-you letter template (compatible with Google Docs and Word Online) or see below for more examples.

Screenshot of a job interview thank you letter sample
©TheBalance 2018

Sample Job Interview Thank-You Note #1 (Text Version)

Nancy Applicant
123 Main Street
Anytown, CA 12345
555-555-5555
nancy.applicant@email.com

May 22, 2020

Carter Lee
Director, Publishing
ACME Media
123 Business Rd.
Business City, NY 54321

Dear Mr. Lee:

I sincerely enjoyed meeting with you yesterday and learning more about the content associate position at ACME Media.

Our conversation confirmed my interest in becoming part of ACME Media. I was particularly pleased with the prospect of being able to develop my own article ideas with the head of the bureau, and develop my multi-media skills.

I feel confident that my experiences both in the workplace and in the classroom would enable me to fill the job requirements effectively. Please feel free to contact me if I can provide you with any further information. I look forward eagerly to hearing from you, and thank you again for the courtesy you extended to me.

Sincerely,

Nancy Applicant (signature hard copy letter)

Nancy Applicant

Sample Job Interview Thank-You Email Message

Here's an email message example thanking the interview and reiterating the candidate's interest in the job.

Subject: Charlie Applicant - Thank You

Dear Ms. Lee:

It was very enjoyable to speak with you about the assistant account executive position at the Smith Agency. The job, as you presented it, seems to be a very good 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. My artistic background will help me to work with artists on staff and provide me with an understanding of the visual aspects of our work.

I understand your need for administrative support. My detail orientation and organizational skills will help to free you to deal with larger issues. I neglected to mention during my interview that I had worked for two summers as a temporary office worker. This experience helped me to develop my secretarial and clerical skills.

I appreciate the time you took to interview me. I am very interested in working for you and look forward to hearing from you about this position.

Sincerely,

Charlie Applicant
charlie.applicant@email.com
555-123-4567

How to Send Your Note or Email

If you are sending an email letter, there is no need to list your return address or your contact's address. Include your name and "thank you" in the subject of the message. List your contact information in your signature.

Remember to always personalize your thank-you note to the specifics of your interview.

A targeted, personalized thank-you note is much more meaningful than a generic one.