cover letter and thank you letter

FOLLOW-UP/THANK YOU LETTER FORMAT GUIDELINES

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Sending any thank you email after a job interview puts you ahead of over half of the competition. A great, personalized interview thank you email? That’s what will make you the frontrunner. The bottom line: yes, you always need to send a “thank you for an interview” email.

Here’s how to write a perfect thank you email after an interview in 7 easy steps:

1. Create a clear subject line

No puns, no jokes, go straight to the point. It’s the only way to make sure your thank you email gets opened. Sample subject lines for a thank you email:

• Thank you, [Interviewer’s Name]! • Thank you for your time and advice • Thanks for the interview yesterday • I enjoyed learning more about [Company Name] • Thank you!

Simple as that!

2. Open with a personal greeting

Address the hiring manager directly, by name. If you’ve interviewed with more than one person, send personalized thank-you notes to each of them.

3. Express your appreciation

Since it’s a “thank you email” open with a “thank you!” Be sincere and authentic when expressing gratitude or appreciation. Show that you care about the time the interviewers spent with you describing the details of your position.

(To see what I mean, check out the wrong example above again. See how many personal pronouns the candidate used. It doesn’t read like a sincere “thank you,” more like “I know I’m awesome.”)

4. Restate that you’re interested in the job

During the interview, your future employer wants to make sure you’re the right fit for the company. They also want to know you’re genuinely eager to join. Make sure to mention that in your thank you email.

If the interview made you realize the job is not right for you, clearly state that in your thank-you email. The hiring manager will appreciate your honesty, plus, you’ll help them save time.

5. Refer to something specific you discussed during an interview and make an offer

Identify what’s particularly interesting to you about the position and explain why. This way, you’ll make your email after an interview feel personalized. Refer to your skills and experience and show how you’re going to use them to help your future employer get what they want.

6. Say you can provide additional information and remind them about the established response deadline

How to end a thank you email after an interview? The golden rule is, be brief and polite. A succinct paragraph such as the one below will do:

Should you need any additional information from me that could assist with the decision- making process, feel free to contact me. I look forward to our call next week as discussed.

7. Close with a professional sign-off

Thank them again. Sign off with a “sincerely” synonym followed by your full name. Below, put your basic contact details: telephone number and email address. Optionally, add extra links (e.g. your LinkedIn, Twitter, or a personal website).

By the way… You probably have some more interviews ahead, right? Make sure you’ll come out on top! Read our complete job interview guide: Common Interview Questions and Sample Answers

Alright. Enough theory. See our customizable examples of thank you notes after an interview, choose one that fits your situation best, fill in the gaps with details, and hit “Send!”