There’s one small thing that job candidates can do to potentially make a big difference as they navigate the hiring process—send a post-interview thank-you note.
Sending a thank-you note after an interview can help you make a positive impression on a recruiter or hiring manager, and it sets you apart from equally qualified candidates who don’t take this simple step.
“One of my biggest tips for job interview success is to follow up after every interview, regardless of the position, with a thank-you note,” said Abby Hoeh, a career coach and the founder and owner of consulting practice Life Work Balance in Arvada, Colo. “The reason for doing this is that it demonstrates how appreciative you are for the interviewer’s time and the opportunity to interview for the position, and it gives you a chance to bring up anything you may have left out during the interview that shows why you are the best candidate for the position.”
Sending a thank-you note after an interview shows your engagement with the process and creates a positive connection with the interviewers.
“No matter how well your interview went, many hiring managers squeeze multiple interviews into their busy schedules,” said Christopher Littlefield, an international speaker specializing in employee appreciation and workplace culture and the founder of Beyond Thank You, a training and coaching firm in the Washington, D.C., area. “A thoughtful message helps you leave a lasting positive impression after the interview is over. Busy themselves, leaders don’t want to invest time in a candidate who is not invested in the role they’re hiring for. A thank-you message confirms that you’re both interested and excited about the role and worth following up with.”
What to Include in Your Thank-You Note
Your email should be short, sincere, and sent within 24 hours of your interview, Littlefield said.
Sending the note the same day demonstrates your interest in the job and keeps you top of mind with interviewers as they meet with other candidates. Be sure to send your thank-you note using the same email address you used when applying for the job.
“Address the email to the person who interviewed you and make sure you spell their name correctly,” Littlefield said. “If you interviewed with multiple people, it’s a good practice to send each person a brief message as well.”
If sending multiple notes, take the time to personalize the content of each message by using personal conversational hooks based on the conversation you had with each interviewer.
The note should be concise and clear, thanking the person for their time and consideration, while also expressing your genuine interest in the role and emphasizing why you’re a good fit for the job. You can also offer to answer any follow-up questions. Close your email by reiterating your appreciation for the interview and asking about next steps.
Hoeh said that “if you feel you’re short on time you can use an AI tool like ChatGPT to create a first draft, but you’ll want to edit any AI-generated response to make it more conversational and seem like it’s coming from you. Be sure you take the time to edit it and make it your own.”
What to Avoid
Littlefield said there are some common mistakes to avoid when writing post-interview thank-you notes. They include:
- Being too verbose (and running the risk of sounding desperate). “Remember that the intention of the message is to say thank you, not to pick up where your interview left off,” Littlefield said.
- Making requests that create additional work for the interviewers.
- Writing poorly. Don’t forget to review your email for grammar and spelling before you send it. Sending a note with typos or addressed to the wrong person is going to make you stand out for the wrong reasons.
“You may send your message and get a response in minutes, or you may never hear back at all,” Littlefield said. “Either way, investing 15 minutes to express your appreciation may be the difference between getting the job or getting lost in the crowd.”
