Best Practices for Thank-You Notes After Interviews

Most people don’t send thank you notes after an interview. They spend more time trying to give clever answers than getting to know the interviewer. And barely take any notes during the interview, so they tend to forget the conversation. But I know folks who’ve had tremendous success after sending thank you notes. They send all notes within 24 hours after the interview. And typically hear back from the recruiter or hiring manager quickly. Here’s why you should send a thank you note: ⭐ It shows your people skills and professionalism ⭐ It helps you stand out from the crowd ⭐ It leaves a positive first impression I sent this exact thank you note back in 2017 and landed my dream job at one of the largest tech companies in the world. To land this role—I did 6 interviews and needed majority approval. I sent 6 thank you notes, got a unanimous YES, and secured the last spot in that start class. Here’s a breakdown of this note: 🔴 Address the email to the person who interviewed you and make sure you spell their name correctly 🟡 Thank the person for their time and consideration 🟠 Briefly highlight why you want to work at their company 🔵 Call out an aspect of the conversation that was particularly interesting or share a helpful hook to help them remember what you spoke about 🟢 Express your continued interest in the job opportunity I recommend sending a thank you note within 24 hours after every interview. Please reshare this breakdown so others have a better shot at landing a great role ♻ #interviews #hiring #recruiting #jobhunt #thankyou

The “thank you email” is poorly named. It’s not about perfunctory gratitude for a job interview. But it can 100% help you stand out in the market today. And since I can’t come up with a better name (“follow up email” .. blah), here are some tips for candidates when writing thank you emails to stand out and improve opportunities: ➤ Send within 24 hours, but not 2 minutes after an interview.  This gives you time to reflect and write something tailored. Truthfully, there’s optics here, too. You want to convey to the interviewers that you’re able to take time to process - and that you have the organization skills to remember to send. ➤ Don’t neglect the recruiter / screener. A great thank you email can help move them from indecision on your candidacy to a submission. In fact, I'd recommend sending an email to every single person who interviews you. ➤ Share an authentic insight (briefly) from the call. Simple framwork 1. WHAT you learned, and 2. WHY it was impactful. ➤ If next steps were discussed, share a recap. This shows initiative and organization skills, and can also help you keep the hiring team on top of their process. ➤Don’t expect a response, but consider using a reply or follow up on this email if needed for clarity on your candidacy (some might disagree with me here). What are some other tips you’d offer for thank you emails? #interviewing

Thank you notes matter. - They should be more than one sentence. “Thank you for your time. I remain very interested in the role” is not thoughtful. - They should be sent within 24-48 hours - They should reflect on the conversation you had, what you learned, and/or any insights that might help you stand out. - They should be sent to each interviewer (if you met with 10 ppl, you should send 10 individual notes) - They should be personalized. Copy and paste is lazy. - They should remind the interviewer why you’ll be great for the role - sell your skills and experience. Sending a thank you note is less about the tradition and custom. It gives the interviewer insight into how you communicate, how you think, and how curious you are. It also lets them know how engaged you were during the interview as well as your level of interest.

Aced an interview and feeling pumped? **Don't let the momentum die! ** Sending a thank-you email within 24 hours shows you're super interested and totally polite. Bonus points for mentioning something specific you learned about the company during the interview. Here's how to make your email shine: Subject Line: Keep it clear! "Thank You - [Your Name] - [Job Title]" is perfect. Open Strong: "Thank you, [Interviewer Name], for taking the time to chat with me today about the [Job Title] position." Reiterate Your Enthusiasm: Briefly say why you're excited about the role and the company. Highlight a Specific Detail: Did you learn about a cool project or company value? Mention it! This shows you were paying attention and are a good fit. Close with Confidence: Thank them again for their time and politely express your interest in next steps. Keep it concise and professional. A well-crafted follow-up email can make a BIG difference! #interviewtips #careeradvice

While thank you notes don't take the place of interview preparation or experience, they do remind the hiring team who you are among a sea of applicants. Other benefits of a well-crafted note: - Shows the hiring manager how you'd interact with potential customers (ie. communication skills) - Reemphasizes your qualifications and interest in the role - Opens the door for further dialogue Lourdes Olvera-Marshall, who teaches networking and career management courses at NYU, says “The thank you note starts during the interview.” She recommends jotting down notes while you’re interviewing, so you can make your follow-up message more meaningful. Best practices: Timing: DON'T send it immediately after the interview DO send within 24-48 hours Content: DO express gratitude, personalize, reiterate your interest in the role & why. DON'T be generic, complain, bring up compensation, be overly casual Length: DO keep it concise. We recommend 3-5 sentences or 1-2 small paragraphs. DON'T send 1 sentence or a long novel with a lot of docs attachments Bonus tip: If you interviewed with multiple people, send individual thank-you emails to each person with personalized details from your conversation. Have you received a thank you note that stood out? I'd love to hear why! Kester Search Group, LLC ® Molly White Jones Lee Kester

Welcome to the art of sending a thank you email after your interview. 📧 In the hustle and bustle of job hunting, it's easy to overlook this seemingly small gesture, but its impact can be profound. Here are a few reasons why taking the time to express your gratitude matters: 1️⃣ Shows Appreciation: Sending a thank you email is a thoughtful way to express your gratitude for the opportunity to interview. It shows respect for the time and effort the interviewers invested in meeting with you. 2️⃣ Reiterates Your Interest: This is your chance to reaffirm your enthusiasm for the role and the company. Reinforce why you're a great fit for the position based on what you discussed during the interview. 3️⃣ Highlights Your Professionalism: A well-crafted thank you email demonstrates your professionalism and attention to detail, qualities that are highly valued by employers. 4️⃣ Keeps You Top of Mind: Sending a thank you email keeps your name fresh in the minds of the interviewers, especially if they are interviewing multiple candidates. It's an opportunity to make a lasting impression. 5️⃣ Opens a Channel for Follow-up: Use the thank you email as an opportunity to ask any follow-up questions or seek clarification on anything discussed during the interview. It shows your commitment to the role. Here's a simple structure to follow when composing your thank you email: 📌 Start with a warm greeting, addressing the interviewer(s) by name. 📌 Express your gratitude for the opportunity to interview. 📌 Mention a specific aspect of the interview that resonated with you or reaffirmed your interest. 📌 Reiterate your enthusiasm for the role. 📌 Offer to provide any additional information if needed. 📌 Express your eagerness to hear back and next steps. 📌 Sign off with a polite closing. Remember, personalized and genuine content is key. Avoid generic templates and tailor your message to reflect the unique aspects of your interview experience. Sending a thank you email is more than just etiquette – it's a strategic move that can help you stand out in a competitive job market. Don't underestimate the power of expressing gratitude. 🙏✨ #JobInterview #CareerAdvice #Gratitude #Professionalism

Do 'thank you' notes after an interview really matter? One of our clients told us last week, "We really appreciated the thank you note that Maris sent last week after their interview. It was hard to decide between so many talented candidates and ultimately we decided on Maris and it came down to the thank you note." Studies show up to 80% of hiring managers find them helpful and like to get them, but less than 25% of applicants send one. Sending one can be an easy way to stand out. What I recommend: Timeliness - send it same day or early the next day via email. HR will often submit feedback within a few days of an interview. Personalize - did they mention a town or something about their personal life? Mention that in your note to show you were listening. Summarize - how your skills & accomplishments will add contribution to their firm. This could also be an opportunity to address any concerns that came up during the interview. Remember to say, thank you and restate your interest in the position.

Did you know that sending a simple thank you email after a job interview can make a difference?   Surprisingly, only 24% of candidates actually send these messages, yet a whopping 80% of HR managers find them helpful!    Crafting a thank you email doesn't have to be a daunting task. It can take less than a few minutes of your time.    Here are some valuable pointers to keep in mind:   💡 Keep it concise 💡 Mention specific highlights from the interview or topics you discussed 💡 Add a personal touch. For example, if you talked about the interviewer's weekend plans to watch a show/sporting event, wish them an enjoyable time   Remember, there's no need to overcomplicate it!    If you're still unsure how to start, here's a template to help you out:     Hi [NAME],   I'm grateful for our conversation regarding the [JOB TITLE] position. Your insights provided valuable information about the opportunity.   Our discussion has further fueled my enthusiasm for this position. I'm particularly excited about utilising my [RELEVANT SKILLS] to contribute to [COMPANY GOALS], especially in relation to the [SPECIFIC PROJECT] your team is working on.   Please feel free to contact me if you have any additional questions. I look forward to hearing from you.   Best wishes, [YOUR NAME]   #interviewtips #interviewadvice #jobsearch

After a decade in recruiting, here is my 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗶𝗽 you might be missing in your interview process that is costing you getting the job. After being  in 1000s of interviews  I did a  deep dive into the final decision making process when there are  2 equally qualified candidates for 1 role. The candidate who had sent a personalized thank you note got the job more times than the other. 💌 Sending a thank you note isn't just a courtesy—𝗶𝘁'𝘀 𝗮 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁 𝘄𝗲𝗮𝗽𝗼𝗻! 🥇 It can end up being the tie breaker that makes you stand out from the other qualified candidate you are up against  Here is an example of 2 qualified candidates I worked with. ----- > Example 1: Betty left her interview and followed up with a generic yet kind email for the team ❌ 𝐵𝑒𝑡𝑡𝑦 𝑑𝑖𝑑𝑛𝑡 𝑑𝑜 𝑎𝑛𝑦𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑤𝑟𝑜𝑛𝑔 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝑠ℎ𝑒 𝑗𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑑𝑖𝑑𝑛𝑡 𝑡𝑎𝑘𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑜𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑡𝑜 𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑤 ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑠𝑘𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑤𝑎𝑦 𝑠ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒. 𝑊ℎ𝑖𝑐ℎ 𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑑 𝑢𝑝 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑗𝑜𝑏. ------> Example 2: Cindy left her interview and sent individual thank you emails that consisted of these 5 things… ➡ Thanking them for their time ➡ 2-3 line recap of the interview ➡ At least 1 take-away learned from each member in the hiring team ➡ Reiterating your excitement about working for this team specifically. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐚𝐥 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦. A well delivered Thank you might feel like additional  work, but so is starting over in another interview process, its worth the extra 15 mins!  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 🎯 𝑀𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑟𝑦 ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒, 𝐸𝑥-𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑟𝑢𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑛𝑒𝑑 𝐶𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑒𝑟 𝐶𝑜𝑎𝑐ℎ - 𝐹𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑤 𝑎𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑔 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑟 𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑒𝑟 𝑡𝑖𝑝𝑠!  ♻ 𝑠𝑎𝑣𝑒 & 𝑠ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑡𝑜 ℎ𝑒𝑙𝑝 𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝑡𝑜𝑜 𝑖𝑓 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑓𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 ℎ𝑒𝑙𝑝𝑓𝑢𝑙!

Are thank-you notes passe? Nope. They are still a relevant part of any job interview process (and a handy networking tool). Here's a few strategies I follow: Timing 🕘 For email, it's not a deal-breaker to email same-day. But I prefer to wait until the next morning. This allows your momentum to spread over two days rather than one. You also allow the interview to breathe a bit. For hand-written, mail them as soon as you can. Mode 🖋 This really depends on the timeline of the job search. If the decision turnaround is quick (less than a week) I would send an email next-day to all those you interviewed with. This can be a group email or separate emails. If the decision turnaround is longer (a week or more) I would do hand-written notes. You have the time and it shows a little extra effort. Send one to everyone who participated in the interview. Content 💬 You only need two things here - 1️⃣ Reference something specific with that person (no duplicates!) 2️⃣ Keep it brief. Thank-you notes by themselves won't win or lose you a job, but they act as a confirmation to the hiring manager - either for you or against you. Very possible it won't matter if you send them. But also possible that they are the last item on the scale to tip it in your favor ⚖ DM me for more interview tips ➡