Post-interview Thank-you
Summary
A thank-you note should be sent after every interview with an employer. It used to be customary to send a handwritten letter, but today, an email is much more common and is perfectly acceptable. Send the note within 24 hours after the interview, or a week if mailing a letter. Even in cases where your interest in the company is low, a simple word of thanks as a follow-up to your interview can help keep your options open for the future. You should always try to leave a good impression.
The note or letter should be sent to the person with whom you had the interview. If you had an interview with more than one person, you should extend a thank-you to each person with whom you spoke. If you met with more than 6-8 people, you can thank just the person who coordinated the interview, though an individual email to each interviewer is always preferred.
Content
A thank-you note usually has three main paragraphs.
Thank the interviewer for meeting with you and refresh his or her memory by stating the time and date of your meeting as well as the position discussed and the topics that were covered.
Reaffirm your interest in the organization. You may want to mention any personal characteristics, work experience, or other information that may be pertinent to the position but was not mentioned in the interview. If you feel any of your responses were inadequate during your interview, this is also the opportunity to provide a more well thought out response.
Wrap up what you have said in the preceding paragraphs and offer the employer a phone number where you can be reached for further questions. Another phrase thanking the employer for his or her time and consideration is usually added to close the letter.
Sample Thank You Letters
Example One
Dear Mrs. Robinson,
Thank you for the opportunity to interview with you on Tuesday, June 9th at the University of
Virginia’s Career Center. The management trainee position at EFG Corporation we
discussed is of great interest to me, and I am confident I could fulfill the exciting responsibilities
required of the person in this position.
I was particularly impressed to learn more about the various phases of the management training
program. As we discussed, I have had numerous leadership positions at the University of
Virginia which have prepared me to meet the supervisory challenges and demands your program
presents. In addition, my double major in history and English has required extensive writing and
public speaking assignments which would also allow me to succeed as a manager at EFG
Corporation.
Thank you again for your time and consideration. I look forward to learning more about the next
step in the application process and to possibly working for your organization in the near future.
Respectfully,
Lisa Snow
Example Two
Dear Mr. Smith,
Thank you for the opportunity to complete a Zoom interview with you for the legal
assistant position at FP&M. I enjoyed our discussion concerning this position and
why you find FP&M such a fantastic organization for a new graduate from the
University of Virginia.
I am very excited about the opportunity to start my legal career at FP&M. As I finish
my last few papers and exams at the University, I recognize the importance of
research skills, and I believe my ability to take large amounts of complicated
information and extract the most relevant pieces for oral and written reports will
serve me well as a legal assistant.
I look forward to hearing from you in the near future. I appreciate the hiring
timeline you provided during the last few moments of our discussion. Please let me
know if I can provide any additional information in support of my application for the
position.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Claude T. Fitsall