How to Write a Post-Meeting Thank-You Email

As a recruiter, I've received and written many thank-you notes The difference between the good and bad ones comes down to one word: Intent If you think the intent of a thank you note is to thank the team You're doing them wrong Many thank you notes I see follow the same format -Greeting -Thanks -Closing It's generic, boring, and doesn't come across as genuine And it tells me your intent isn't where it should be It tells me you're doing it to check a box And then complain that you didn't get selected And bash interview notes as a waste of time If you interviewed with someone or a team and you're finding it hard to write a thank you note Don't bother sending it That should be a sign that the role/company isn't the right fit for you A good thank you note is easy to write because it's genuine and authentic It shows that you are truly thankful for the opportunity It shows that you value the connection you just made and want to build on it And it shows you want the opportunity The anatomy of a good cover thank you email is simple: -Greeting -Expressing gratitude/thanks for the interview -Mentioning 1-2 specifics from the conversation that stood out to you -Reinforcing your interest in the role and company -A personal touch over established commonality in the interview -Closing statement Bonus: sending it within 24-hours of your interview Example: "Dear Dave, I wanted to thank you again for taking the time to interview me for the project manager role at Exelon. I appreciated having a candid conversation with you and learning more about what you are looking for in a candidate; particularly how the person in this role will have a major role in managing the new renewable assets and solar projects. I've looked forward to the possibility of working at Exelon for quite some time, and our conversation today only reinforced that further. By the way, I know you mentioned you are an avid Bulls fan. If you've got some time, I'd recommend "The Old Man and the Three" podcast by 343 Productions. They just had Joakim Noah on the show, and I have a feeling his discussion on his time with Derrick Rose and where the team is heading now would be right up your alley. Take care, Jordan" That thank you note is sincere and memorable, and adds some personal touches from the conversation Don't write a thank you note just as a formality Do it because you are legitimately thankful And if you struggle to write one Maybe that's your sign of saying this isn't the right fit for you And that's okay too

We recently interviewed a candidate who truly stood out following their final interview. After meeting with a panel of four interviewers, they took the time to send personalized thank you notes to each panel member. In every note, the candidate referenced a specific question or insight shared during the interview - it was a 5 star demonstration of attention to detail. Thank you note or not, she would have received an offer, so the level of thoughtfulness was the cherry on top for an incredibly qualified candidate. It wasn’t just about ticking boxes—it showed engagement, professionalism, and the kind of soft skills we look for in a great hire. When it comes to thank you notes, here's a rundown of best practices: Do: - Send your thank-you note within 24 hours. - If you had a panel interview, personalize each message—mention something unique from each conversation. - If you have the hiring manager’s (HM) email, feel free to send the note directly. If you don't, email the recruiter to ask AND include your note to forward in the case they can't provide it. - Use the thank you note as an opportunity to reinforce an area in which you felt wasn't your strongest, or to answer a question you may have not been able to nail in the moment. Don't: - Send a copy-paste thank you note [the two line, generic message that's sent about 90 seconds after an interview doesn't hold a whole lot of weight]. Recruiters and hiring managers, what qualities make a thank you note stand out to you? #recruitmentrevealed

Think interview "thank you" emails don’t matter? Let me tell you why they're so important... Last week, I interviewed seven candidates for an executive role. Only ONE followed up with an email. And guess what? That person was also our most qualified candidate. But their "thank you" email sealed my vote. Here’s why: 1️⃣ It showed professionalism. They thanked me for my time and highlighted how much they valued our conversation. That’s not just polite, it’s essentially required. 2️⃣ It was personal. They mentioned (and expanded upon) something specific that we discussed during the interview. Shows they're an active listener with attention to detail. 3️⃣ It reinforced their interest. They didn’t just say they wanted this job; they explained why they were excited about joining our team. Genuine enthusiasm stands out. 4️⃣ It demonstrated confidence. They closed with, “I am confident I can bring value and would love another opportunity.” Bold, yet classy. During our exec meeting, we discussed all candidates. When asked who impressed me most, I said, “Only one sent me an email.” That email wasn’t just words—it was strategy. Here’s my advice: → Send that "thank you" email within hours. → Keep your tone professional but warm. → Resurface a specific part of the interview. → Reiterate your excitement and unique value. It’s not about being overly formal or writing an essay. It’s about leaving one last impression. Small actions like this can make a BIG difference. What’s your take? Would you send that email? #interviewtips #jobsearch #opentowork

After 9 years in recruiting at Salesforce, here’s my PSA to every job seeker out there: Don’t underestimate the power of a thank-you note. Seriously. I’ve sat through thousands of interviews. When it came down to two equally strong candidates, the deciding factor was often: 👉 The follow-up. Not just any thank-you note but a thoughtful, personalized one. Let me give you a real-world example: 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝟭: Betty crushed the interview. She sent a quick, polite thank-you email. Nice gesture, but it was generic. Nothing wrong with it, just didn’t move the needle. 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝟮: Cindy also nailed the interview, but she followed up with tailored thank-you notes that included: ✅ A sincere thank-you for the time and insights. ✅ A brief recap of the conversation. ✅ One personalized takeaway from that specific person. ✅ A clear reminder of her enthusiasm for this team and this role. Cindy got the offer. It’s not magic. It’s intentional. A well-written thank-you note shows that you're: ✔️ Paying attention ✔️ Engaged ✔️ Professional ✔️ Excited to contribute So here’s your reminder: Don’t rush past the follow-up. Take 15 minutes to make it count. It’s a whole lot easier than restarting your job search from scratch. — Follow Mallory Byers for more behind-the-scenes hiring insight ♻️ If this helped you, share it or tag someone who needs the reminder. How do you follow up after interviews?