How to write the perfect interview follow-up email that will keep you front of mind for the hiring manager.
So you’ve just come out of an interview, you’re pretty sure you nailed it, and now you’re planning what to wear for your first day at your new job. But before you get carried away, there’s something you need to do to keep yourself at the front of the hiring manager’s mind: the thank you email.
We show you how to write the ultimate ‘thank you for the interview’ email, explaining why it’s important and how it can help you secure the job.
Why write a thank you email after an interview?
When you write a follow-up email after your interview, you give yourself another opportunity to influence the hiring manager’s decision. No matter how well the interview went, people are busy and can forget key things. A thank-you email puts you back in their minds and can swing things in your favor.
A thank-you email also offers a personal touch. It shows that you care, and could set you apart from other candidates who haven’t bothered.
Be sure to send your thank-you email no more than 24 hours after your interview. It’s a little thing that can make a big difference.
What to include in a thank-you-for-the-interview email
What you say, and how you say it, can make all the difference in your interview follow-up email. Here are a few key sections worth including:
• Subject line
• Personalized introduction
• Appreciation
• Experience recap
• The next step
An engaging subject line
The subject line is the thing people will see first in their email inbox. You should use this to convey the meaning of your message, so something simple like, “Thank you for your time today,” or, “It was lovely to meet earlier,’ can do the job in a quick, succinct way.
There are a few ways you can get people to click on your subject line.
• Make it personal . Using someone’s name in a subject line makes them pay attention.
• Use verbs . Saying something like, “Read more about why I’m right for this role” gives the reader an action to take.
• Keep it short.
A subject line should be a quick, catchy call to action. Don’t overcomplicate it.
A personalized introduction
Don’t go straight into the meat of your email. Start with a quick hello, keeping it as friendly or formal as the interview was. If they used their first name, you should use it too. If they wore a suit and insisted you call them Sir or Miss, that’s the route to follow.
The same goes for the salutation you choose. ‘Hello’ might work for most people, but others will prefer a ‘Dear’.
A little appreciation
Now for a tiny bit of sucking up. Only a touch, we promise. Start your emailing by expressing how grateful you are for the interviewer’s time. Be sure to include the job title so they can put two and two together. Something like, “Thanks for your time earlier. It was great to discuss the position of <job title> with you face to face and get the chance to explain why I think I’m right for the job,” would be perfect.
Remind them of your experience
Recap what makes you so good for the job. This could just be a few lines that go over what you discussed in the interview, or even link to some examples of work that would back your experience up.
Try something like: “As mentioned, I believe my experience in running multiple financial projects would make me a great fit for the role. Having led teams of accountants in the past and overseen highly successful auditing procedures, I am confident I have what it takes to succeed in this position and am looking forward to helping your business continue to grow.”
A nudge to take the next step
Time to wrap things up. Let the hiring manager know that you’re open to further communication and that you’re ready to start work. If you have a notice period to work though at your current job, it could be worth mentioning that too as the quicker they hire you, the quicker you’ll be ready to rock.
Go for something like, “Please feel free to contact me if you have any further questions. I’m excited about what we can do together and look forward to hearing back from you.”
Don’t forget to include your contact information such as your email address and phone number.