Interview thank you– what to write. It was only your first interview with the company but you know that job is yours. You could tell by the look your future boss gave you as you shook his hand after a flawless interview. You nailed it.
But wait, you’re not done yet! Don’t forget that thank you note. It can make or break the deal. Without it, your employer may think you don’t pay attention to details, you don’t have any manners, or maybe you don’t even want the job.
Is a Thank You Note Really Necessary?
Short answer: It sure doesn’t hurt.
One manager I spoke with said it’s not that he cares to be thanked necessarily, but he believes that someone who doesn’t write a thank you shows a lack of interest in the job, a lack of thoroughness, and is basically not a serious candidate.
And there’s more. Say the company really likes you and keeps asking you back. Do you need to write an interview thank you note after multiple interviews in the same company? The answer is YES. What if it was a phone interview? Yes. What if there was a panel of people– write each person? Yes. Gosh that’s a lot of creative thanking. Good thing you found this website.
How Should It Be Sent?
How to deliver these interview thank you notes? These days, email is fine but no texting. Use your best judgment; if you’re interviewing with an old-school company, maybe email isn’t their thing. But most of the time, email is convenient and more importantly, FAST. You don’t want your potential boss waiting for your snail mail while your the other candidates have thanked him days ago. A job search tip: Do both– email them and then follow up with a “real” thank you note. It couldn’t hurt.
A thank you note should be looked at as a follow-up note. You’re circling back to the hiring manager to remind him or her that you’re the best candidate. Your note should focus on what the manager wants; it should clearly tell them that you understand what the company needs and how you can help. You should also take this opportunity to briefly recap your past accomplishments.
So within 24 hours of your interview, copy one of the following interview thank you note samples below. Adjust according to common sense, add relevant details, and say hello new job!
Interview Thank You Note Samples
Dear Mr. Moody:
Thanks for taking the time to meet with me about the account executive position yesterday. The job seems like a very good match for my skills and interests. The strategies you outlined are just my style and I know I would hit the ground running.
In addition to my 8 years of experience in your industry, I will bring strong writing and leadership skills as well as a ton of energy to your team. I’ve also got solid organizational skills and know I could help bring order to the areas you mentioned.
I am very interested in working for you and look forward to hearing from you soon.
Sincerely,
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Phone Interview Thank You Note:
Dear Mr. T,
Thank you for taking the time to talk to me this morning. I’m attaching my resume as requested.
The editing position seems like a great fit for my skillset. I’ve been writing for the travel industry for 5 years and am very familiar with the areas your company needs covered, as we discussed. One thing I forgot to mention on the phone is that I’ve never missed a deadline.
Again, I appreciate your meeting with me today and look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
To a Recruiter:
Dear [Recruiter],
I appreciated the chance to talk to you on the phone the other day about the accounting position. I know my attention to detail and strong organizational skills will make me a good candidate at another firm, if not [Company X].
Thanks again for your help with my job search. Please call me at 555-555-5555 if you have any questions.
Regards,
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Dear Mr. Gates,
Thank you for taking the time to discuss the sales engineer position at Company X with me. After meeting with you and Ms. Green, I am further convinced that my background and skills coincide with your needs. In addition to my education and experience, I will bring excellent attention to detail and ingenuity to this position, as we discussed.
Thanks also for introducing me to the team and showing me the campus. I know I would enjoy working with you and your group, though I worry about how many more of those outrageous cookies I’ll eat from the cafeteria.
I look forward to hearing from you concerning your hiring decision. I appreciate your consideration.
Sincerely,
More Interview Thank You Notes:
Mr. Lewis,
It was a pleasure to meet you this afternoon. I was impressed with your department’s energy and positive attitude. I would definitely enjoy being a part of that and know I could contribute even more creativity to your already cutting-edge group.
Good luck with the guitar lessons. I hope we get another chance to discuss music– I don’t often find people who like The Buzz as much as I do!
Best regards,
Dear Mr. Tuttle,
I enjoyed speaking with you yesterday regarding the sales position. I have a new respect for Tuttle & Sons after hearing about its humble beginnings. Your plans for further expansion sound exciting and I hope I can contribute to your future success with my CRM experience and entrepreneurial background.
Thank you for taking the time to meet with me and introduce me to Mr. Cobb. I look forward to seeing you again.
Sincerely,
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Dear Tom,
Thank you for taking the time to discuss the accounting position with me. After meeting with you and Lisa, I am sure that my background and skills fit your needs. In addition to my education and experience, I will bring excellent attention to detail and organizational skills to this job.
I look forward to hearing from you concerning your hiring decision. I appreciate your consideration.
Sincerely,
