One of the most important things you can do after a great interview is writing a thank-you email. An interview thank you email is your second chance to highlight your skills, make a good impression, and showcase your follow-up skills.
Whether you meet with one person or many at a company, sending a thank you makes a huge impact. This is especially true when each note is thoughtful, reflects on the conversations you had, and even provides some additional information about your career.
We get it. Writing a unique thank you letter every time isn’t always easy. That’s why we put together some tips to help you through the process.
Timing is Everything
When it comes to writing your thank you’s, you should do it as soon as possible after the interview. Many suggest that within the first 24 hours is best.
It shows that you’re excited about the job and on top of follow-up. It also keeps you at the top of the hiring manager’s mind when looking at their feedback from your interview.
As they’re considering you as a potential hire, a thank you letter can also give them insight into additional skills or qualities you have that may not have been covered during the interview.
An Impactful Interview Thank You Email is Everything
There are a few things you want to include in every thank you letter you write. After all, if it’s a simple thank you with nothing extra added, it doesn’t seem sincere.
So, here are a few things you should include in your next thank you.
- Personalization around your conversation
- An appreciative tone
- Summary of your skills and qualifications
- Links to relevant projects or a portfolio
- Why you’re excited about the job
- Your contact information
Making your email as personal as possible is what will help you stand apart. If you had a great conversation about a trip to France, include a small mention of it.
Personalization helps give you more personality and showcases that you were really paying attention throughout the conversation.
Follow-up After a 2nd Interview
It’s one thing to send a detailed thank you after the first interview, but don’t forget to follow-up after the second interview as well.
A thank you after a second interview can be a little less formal. Go for short and sweet, and reiterate why you’re excited about the opportunity.
It might be easy to consider skipping the second email. After all, you’ve already thanked them. But don’t forget that they’ve taken the time to meet with you twice. Thanking them makes a huge impact.
Consider Snail Mail
A follow-up email is great. But consider dropping a real thank you note in the mail if you’re really excited for a role.
I’ve kept a thank you note on hand to drop into the mail right after an in-person interview in several situations. Not only did it inspire the hiring manager to reach out about how impressed they were with the note, but in almost all cases, I ended up getting the job.
I’m not saying it’s because of the thank you note itself, but taking that additional step to put pen to paper helps you stand out even more.
Writing an interview thank you email is a huge step in showcasing your appreciation and excitement. Don’t forget this simple, sometimes overlooked step the next time you have a great interview.