Did it go well? You think it did, but there is always the uncertainty of not really knowing what an interviewer thought of your answers and overall presentation.
You begin to search: Do employers like thank you emails after interview? And what to say in thank you email after final interview.
It is not easy. Hiring managers do not give much away and as a candidate you may leave with very little insight on what your chances are. Still, it is important to say thank you professionally after an interview.
Did you know that only a quarter of job applicants send a post-interview thank you? And yet, your follow up email after an interview is precisely what your prospective employer is waiting for.
So you are quite right to search what to say in thank you email after final interview. Keep reading to find out.
Why Write a Post Interview Thank You Letter?
Still uncertain? Still searching do employers like thank you letters after interview?
In short, yes, at the least it shows good manners. Do not make the mistake of thinking that they were simply doing their job by interviewing you. In all areas of life, etiquette in all of its forms should prevail!
Don’t forget, your well-written CV may be excellent, but the recruiter took the time to read it and set up a phone interview, the formality of a follow-up email after an interview to say thank you should be the least you can do.
Besides basic etiquette and social norms, don’t forget that the hiring manager who interviewed you could be holding the key to your future.
Imagine how daunting it is for the recruiter who has a desk piled with good CV’s and cover letters. Trying to make a short list of those candidates is not easy.
Out of hundreds of applications, each CV and its accompanying cover letter should be read and considered. Then there is the rigorous task of setting up interviews and the mental energy required to ask and listen to carefully constructed questions.
In this whirlwind of information, you need to make sure that your name will stand out. Are you still wondering: do employers like thank you emails after interview?
When you say thank you professionally after an interview, it gives you the opportunity to mention anything you forgot to highlight in the interview. It shows you have manners, that you are enthusiastic, proactive and have taken the time to reflect on the interview.
Like every other step in the job application process, this should be done carefully which is why you have been Googling: what to say in thank you email after final interview!
Don’t miss our article on tips for landing a first job.
Writing a Post Interview Thank You
So what is the best format to say thank you professionally after an interview. Is it a phone call? Text message? Send flowers?
Keeping everything professional, while also personalised, every step of the way, is key to your success. You have already adapted your covering letter and CV to suit each position, in the same way, you should treat your thank you follow up email after an interview, the same.
That’s right, your thank you should be in writing. While your overarching tone should be one of courtesy and appreciation, here are some other tips to ensure the business-like tone of your letter.
- Follow the business letter format but without the subject line. Be sure to use the interviewers name and not ‘To Whom It May Concern’
- Refer to the position you have applied for
- Touch on an aspect of the interview that was meaningful to you or that you would like to comment on further.
- Indicate again how you have researched the company by mentioning an aspect of its mission statement that resonates with you.
- Instead of ‘Yours Faithfully’ sign off with the ‘Sincerely’ or ‘Warm Regards’ – never be so casual as to say ‘cheers’ or similar.
Make sure that your follow up email after an interview is not long winded. If it is in a word document letter format, make sure it fits on one page.
You should say thank you professionally after an interview, but timing is crucial. Don’t leave it, send your post interview thank you within the following 24 hours and no later.
Now, don’t miss our article on how to write a winning cover letter.
Sending a Follow Up Email After an Interview
Are you still on the fence, are you still searching: do employers like thank you emails after interview?
If you missed the above, in short, saying thank you professionally after an interview is important, but you need to do it in a business like format and within a day of your interview.
Should you post your post-interview thank you letter?
No, today’s accepted communication norms are about convenience and speed –and in the case of just concluding a phone interview, speed is critical.
Remember that the hiring manager is not waiting around your thank you letters, he or she is probably on the next phone interview by the time you have your thoughts, on what to say, together.
But what do you think his or her reaction will be upon returning to their workstation to see your name pop up in an email soon after the interview?
It is likely that they will be impressed. Not only that, your name and the fact that you have follow-through and etiquette will be reinforced in their mind.
At this point, you may be back to Googling: what to say in thank you email after final interview.
If so, keep reading, Superprof has the answers.
Firstly, hopefully, you took advice from our article on how to prepare for a phone interview by taking copious notes. Now is the time you can put them to work.
Review your notes to find anything specific that the interviewer said that you would like to emphasise as really resonating with you. Here are some examples that could trigger an idea that is relevant for you:
In the first paragraph you could say: ‘Thank you for taking valuable time to discuss the various aspects of the xyz position with me.’
Your second paragraph could touch on: ‘I was particularly interested by your comments on XYZ as this aligns with my ABC.’ In this way you are reiterating the connection between you and the job.
A third paragraph could be clarifying something important that the interviewer was trying to impart. For example: ‘I understand that the position means extensive travel to challenging environments, but I am well prepared for this.’
A ‘Sincerely’ to close and you are done.
If you feel the interview did not go well, there is still time to hone your interview skills by checking out our article on how to prepare for the phone interview.
What Not to Write in Your Thank You Note
Now that we have satisfied your curiosity about do employers like thank you emails after interview and what to say in thank you email after final interview – here are some cautionary tips on what not to do!
- Less is more: regardless of how lofty your ideas, keep them concise. Be succinct by using short paragraphs and not long winded dissertations. Hiring managers are busy.
- Be sincere: Don’t write a follow up thank you because it is the right thing to do. Be sincere and this will come across in your communication.
- Avoid the template: Be original do not spam the hiring manager with a hollow templatised thank you that you found on the internet.
- Don’t follow them on social media: This is just a step too far and could be construed as unprofessional at this stage of your relationship.
5.Drawing attention to any interview faux pas: your thank you letter is not the place for you to backtrack on answers or try to explain why you may have not been at your best.
- Format your thank you in a business like letter or email, but don’t try to make your email look like a formal letter. It will not need your date, contact information or company address. An email can look like an email.
Finally, always proof read and spell check your correspondence before you send it. If it is something as important as a follow up email after an interview, you may even want another pair of eyes to look it over.
Now, find out more about writing an outstanding CV.
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