Three Templates for A Perfect Interview Thank You Email

If you want to create a strong professional brand and leave a lasting impression with employers, you need to master the post- interview thank you email.

As soon as you leave a job interview, it’s best to follow up with a sincere, professional, and engaged thank you email. Make sure they know you appreciate their time and attention in meeting with you!

Before we dig into the mechanics of a great interview thank you email, though, know this: sending an email is not a replacement for sending a handwritten thank you note to your interviewer. I always advise folks to do both after an in-person interview. But it will take a day or two for your beautiful thank you card to arrive on your interviewer’s doorstep. Email has the advantage of delivering an instant dose of gratitude to the people who have the power to give you the job of your dreams.

When writing your post-interview thank you email, keep these three things in mind:

1. Keep it short: You don’t need to compose a long letter. Busy professionals already have too much email to read. So keep it short and sweet.
2. Keep it professional: Focus on the topics you previously discussed with the interviewer. This isn’t a time to go into personal details.
3. Customize it: It’s okay to follow a general template with your thank you emails, but make sure to add enough customization that your message doesn’t look like a bad “cut-and-paste” job. In every email, reference something specific to your previous conversation. At the very least, make sure you include the right company name and job title!

To help you out, I built three email templates for you to follow. Use these templates as a guide to build your own personal rockstar thank you email to send after job interviews!

Template for a Thank You Email After an Informational Interview

Are you conducting informational interviews with people in your industry? Informational interviews are casual one-on-one networking sessions, and they are one of the best ways to build a professional network and get the inside track on jobs. If someone has taken time out of their busy schedule to meet with you, you absolutely must send them a thank you email. Because showing some courtesy is the best way to leave a good impression with this valuable new professional contact. Plus, it’s a great way to start an ongoing correspondence so that you can start to build a professional relationship long-term.

Here’s my template for a thank you email after an informational interview or any personal meeting with a new contact:

Subject Line: Thank you from [[your name]]

Dear [[Contact Name]],

Thank you for taking time from your busy schedule to meet with me today. It was great to discuss career opportunities in [[industry/company/location]] with you! Your comments were insightful and gave me lots of ideas for my ongoing job search. I’m excited to follow up on your suggestions to [[contact/attend/apply]].

It was especially exciting to talk to you about [[reference the highlight from the conversation you had.]]

Again, your suggestions and time are so appreciated, and I hope to chat again soon! Please let me know how if there is a way I can return the favor, now or in the future.

Regards,

[[Your name]]
[[Your LinkedIn URL]]

Template for a Thank You Email After a Phone Interview

An employer may conduct phone interviews, or phone screens, with a dozen or more applicants for every job opening. You’re in a crowded field of candidates, all vying for the opportunity to interview in-person. One way to differentiate yourself is to craft a considerate post-interview thank you email as soon as you get off the phone.

Subject Line: Thank you for your time today.

Dear [[Contact Name]],

I appreciate having the opportunity to speak with you today about the [[job title]] position at [[company name]]. After our conversation, I’m very excited about this opportunity. I believe my skills and interests are a perfect match for this role.

I am particularly interested in [[aspect of job or hiring organization.]]

[[Add personal note, specific to the conversation or share a link to something you mentioned in conversation, like your personal website.]]

I appreciate the time you took to interview me today, and I look forward to having the opportunity to meet you in person.

If you need any additional information from me, please feel free to contact me at any time.

Again, thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

[[Your Name]]
[[Your LinkedIn URL]]

Template for a Thank You Email After a Job Interview (In-Person)

An in-person job interview is a huge opportunity. And employers tell us that the way candidates follow up is an important indicator of their interest in the position. Candidates who go silent after the interview come across as disinterested. So if you really want the job, take the time to write a sincere, customized email immediately after you end the interview, and send it the same day.

Subject Line: Thank you from [[Your Name]] – [[Position]]

Dear [[Contact Name]],

Thank you, again, for the time you spent with me today. I really enjoyed meeting you and exploring how I might be able to assist [[Organization]] as the new [[Job Title]].

After our conversations, I am even more confident that this position is a job I would enjoy, as well as one where I can be successful and make a valuable contribution.

I am particularly excited about [[aspect of job, particular challenge discussed, or note about the organization.]]

[[Add a personal note that is specific to the conversation or share a promised resource.]]

You mentioned that the decision on this position will be made in [[time frame provided by employer]]. In the meantime, if there is any additional information you need from me please let me know and I’ll get it over to you!

Again, I appreciate the chance to interview with [[Organization]] and am grateful for the time you spent with me.

Sincerely,

[[Your Name]]
[[Your LinkedIn URL]]

There you have it! Follow these templates, and make extra sure to customize them to your own voice and situation. Before you know it, you’ll be perfecting your interview follow-up and hearing back after more interviews. I’ll wish you luck with your next interview, because I know you’ve got the thank you email covered.