If you’ve been through job interviews before, you probably already know that you should definitely send a thank-you note to your interviewer(s) afterward. And if you didn’t know that, then we’ve got a bigger problem. We have to admit, though, that even we have gotten tripped up from time to time trying to figure out what to say in these notes. Whether you send a physical card or an email, you want to make sure your message really stands out. Here’s how to write the best thank-you note ever.
1. Address your interviewers the way they introduced themselves in person.
When you meet your interviewers in person, they’ll likely introduce themselves. For example, if your interviewer’s name is Adam Jones, address him accordingly as whatever he called himself to you — Mr. Jones, Adam, etc. It might seem like a small detail, but you want your note to continue the conversation you had in person.
2. Thank them not for the interview, but for the conversation.
Don’t be too stiff in your note — there’s a way to keep the tone conversational without sounding sloppy. Say something like, “Thanks for having me in the office this morning. I enjoyed our conversation about X position, and I was able to learn a lot more about the scope and trajectory of the role.” It doesn’t scream, “Thanks for interviewing me!!!” which can sound a little juvenile and desperate.
3. Get specific.
Continue your note by mentioning something specific about the conversation that you enjoyed. For example, you could say, “I specifically loved hearing about your six-month plan for the brand and your update to the CMS.” Not only do you want to show your commitment to the company by getting so specific, but you want to remind your interviewer of the high points in your conversation. Likely, your interviewer is super busy and has gone through multiple interviews, so you want to help yourself stand out.
Unsplash/Hannah Olinger
4. Address any questions you may have come up with after the interview.
Questions are always important, even after the interview is over. More importantly, asking a few follow-up questions is a great way to keep the chat rolling through to email. After you’re done thanking your interviewer for the conversation and noting a few things you loved about the interview, ask a question or two that you genuinely thought about after it was over. For example, “I loved that we got to chat a little bit about your product development. Just to follow up, where do you see this role intersecting with this development, if at all?” Keep the question involved enough that your interviewer can’t just say yes or no, but not complicated enough that he or she has to type out an entire paragraph to answer you.
5. Make it clear that you’re excited to keep the conversation going.
A simple “I’m excited to keep the conversation going. Hoping to hear from you soon!” ending is the perfect way to close out your note. You want to let your interviewer know that you’re even more eager to be in the running for the position you applied for after the interview.
Extra: Write separate notes to each of your interviewers.
Sometimes, you’ll be interviewing with just one person, and other times, you’ll interview with 10 different people. While sending separate personalized notes to that many people can seem strenuous, it really is worth the effort. Make sure each note is tailored to your interaction with the person you spoke with.
