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Post Job Interview Emails, Thank You or Follow Up
After a job interview, it's only natural to want an update on the hiring process, particularly if you feel it went well. Thankfully, sending an email to thank your interviewer or interviewers for their time and consideration is considered a professional courtesy. If you’re wondering how to structure your thank you and follow up emails, the difference between the two and when to send them you’re in the right place.
Post job interview emails, thank you or follow up
They say small kindnesses never go unnoticed and this is particularly true when it comes to interviewing.
Follow up emails are generally only sent to your interviewer, or perhaps your recruiting agency, when you are waiting for your next steps, or a job offer.
Thank you emails on the other hand can be sent much earlier along in the process and will go a long way to cementing you in the interviewers minds long after your interview is over.
This gives you a chance to thank an interviewer for their time, mention a part of the interview you enjoyed, or even clarify or elaborate on parts of your discussion. This is also a good opportunity to extend your interest in connecting via Linkedin.
A thank you email extends far beyond politeness as you can consider it an investment in your professional relationship and future. A well constructed email with context, attention to detail, and authentic gratitude can make quite a difference in the eyes of a hiring manager. It also gives you an opportunity to reach out to anyone who has assisted you along the way.
When constructing your thank you and follow up emails pay close attention to the follow points:
Tone of voice:
Regardless of the tone of your interview, keep your follow-up or thank you email professional and courteous. Be clear and concise about the purpose of your message.
Whether you're looking for an update on the recruitment process, or reaching out to extend your thanks, be clear with your intentions and get to the point.
Tip: Remember to always take a moment to perfect your spelling and grammar. If you’re still not 100% confident about your email, have a friend or family member look at your follow-up email to give feedback.
What to include:
Keep in mind that your interviewer or recruiter may have interviewed a range of people to find their perfect candidate so you’ll need to ensure you include your name, the day or date you met on and include any unique points discussed in your interview.
Tip: A thank you email is a great space to include any questions you may not have had time to ask during your interview, these can help to reinforce your interest in the position.
When's the best time to send them?
Timing is essential for sending follow up and thank you emails, and here are a few guidelines:
Thank you emails:
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Within 24 hours of a job interview
The perfect time to send your thank you email is within 24 hours of the final handshake or sign off. This can help you stand out from the crowd, and can be helpful if you need to clarify some details about your interview.
If you have multiple interviewers, send each of them a separate email and if you’re working with a recruiter, be sure to ask them for your interviewers’ contact information. -
1-2 days after a networking conversation.
This would include any networking and elevator pitching you’ve done at career fairs, shared office spaces etc.
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Within a week of someone being a reference for you.
Whether you get the job or not, it’s important to maintain relationships with those who have stood surety for your past performance, skills and helped you along the way.
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Once you’ve received your job offer or internship.
When you land a job or internship, and want to thank someone who helped you along the way, whether it was weeks or months ago.
Follow up emails:
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Two Weeks after an interview:
Your interviewer will generally set the expectation for when you can expect to hear back from them. If nothing is set, a good timeframe for a follow up is two weeks after the interview.
Who to send your email to?
Thank you emails can be sent to anyone who has ever helped you in your job search. Whether it’s an ex-colleague, a mentor or even a family member, it’s always important to be grateful to those who have helped you, as it will help you build your professional network.
Follow up emails should be reserved for the hiring manager who met with you or the recruiter who is managing communications between you and your potential employer.
Now that you have a good understanding of the difference between a thank you and follow up email, know who to direct them to and when’s best practice to hit send let’s take a look at a couple of examples that you can copy, edit and send off after your next job interview.
Thank you email templates:
Thank you email subject line examples:
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Thank you, [Interviewer’s Name]!
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Thanks for your time today!
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Thank you for the opportunity!
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Appreciate your time and advice.
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I enjoyed learning more about [Company Name]. Thank you!
Phone interview thank you:
Dear <Name>:
Thank you for your time< today or yesterday or the date> to discuss the position of <job title>. I appreciate the opportunity to learn more about this job, and I look forward to discussing this position in person <on date and time, if the in-person interview was scheduled>.
As we discussed, I have <months or years> of experience with <technology, tools, or qualification you have that seemed most important in the interview> which aligns with the roles and responsibilities outlined for this position. I look forward to meeting with the team to discuss this further.
I am excited about this opportunity at <organization name>, and I look forward to meeting with <you or person next meeting> on <date and time of the in-person interview set up in the phone call].
Best regards,
[Your name]
[LinkedIn Profile URL]
[Phone number — not your work number if you are employed]
In-person or digital interview:
Hi [Interviewer Name],
Thank you so much for meeting with me (today, yesterday). It was such a pleasure to learn more about the team and position, and I’m very excited about the opportunity to join [Company Name] and help [add something you’ll help the team do or achieve] with your team.
I look forward to hearing from you about the next steps in the hiring process, and please don’t hesitate to contact me if I can provide additional information
Best regards,
[Your Name]
After first-round of interviews:
Hello <Interviewer’s Name>,
Thank you for taking the time to meet with me <day or date>. I enjoyed our conversation about <specific topic you discussed> and it was great learning about the <Job Title> position overall.
It’s an exciting opportunity and a role I could succeed and excel in. I’m looking forward to hearing any updates you can share, and please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have questions or concerns in the meantime.
Best regards,
<Your First and Last Name>
After second-round of interviews:
Hello <Interviewer’s Name>,
Thank you for taking the time to speak with me <yesterday/Friday/etc.> about the <Job Title> position at <Company Name>. It was a pleasure talking with you, and I enjoyed learning more about the opportunity.
The information you shared about <Something specific about the job that interests you> sounded particularly interesting. I am confident that my skills will allow me to come in and succeed in this role, and it’s a position I’d be excited to take on.
I’m looking forward to hearing from you about the next steps, and please don’t hesitate to contact me if you need any additional information in the meantime.
Thank you again.
Best regards,
<Your First and Last Name>