4. How to Write a Thank-You Letter

What to include in a thank-you letter after an interview

To make your thank-you note as effective as possible, make sure to use a few standard elements. Most thank-you notes have the following features.

● Subject line

● Personalized greeting

● Note of appreciation

● Recap of your qualifications

● Prompt to take the next step

● Contact information

Subject line

If you email your thank-you note, you need a subject line that easily conveys your message. A short and straightforward subject line like “Thank you for your time” can work for most post-interview thank-you notes. If you plan to write a more informal message, try something like “Great to meet you today.”

Personalized greeting

Rather than starting to type your message right away, always begin thank-you emails with a salutation. “Hello [Interviewer name]” or “Dear [Interviewer name]” is ideal for most thank-you notes. Remember to use the name that your interviewer provided when you met, which may be a first name or a title.

Note of appreciation

When you begin writing the body of the message, start with an expression of your gratitude. Thank the interviewer for taking the time to meet with you. Include the job title here for clarity, as many hiring managers may be considering candidates for multiple positions at once. For example, you can state, “Thank you for taking the time to discuss the marketing manager position with me today.”

Recap of your qualifications

Next, provide a short recap of your experience and background. The interviewer should already be aware of these qualifications after reading your resume and meeting with you, so this section should be brief. Connect your qualifications to the position and its unique requirements to express why you are such a strong candidate for the job. For example, you can write, “My social media and search engine marketing expertise would make me an excellent candidate for this marketing role.”

Prompt to take the next step

To close the thank-you note, encourage the hiring manager to take the next step in the hiring process. Reference what you learned during the interview to complete this section since you may need to provide references or complete a second interview to get the job. For example, you can write, “Please don't hesitate to contact me to arrange a follow-up interview.”

Contact information

Finally, provide your contact information. The interviewer should already have these details on file, but listing them in your email can make it easier for the hiring team to contact you for additional steps. Include both your email address and phone number below your closing to streamline the hiring process.

Short thank-you note

This brief thank-you note includes all of the essentials in a straightforward manner. The highlighted areas require your action.

Date

Hello XXX (insert name of person that interviewed),

Thank you again for taking the time to meet with me yesterday afternoon. I enjoyed our

conversation about the XXX (insert the position) and appreciated learning more about

working with XXX( insert company name).

It sounds like a rewarding role, especially given the opportunities for collaboration and

advancement. I think my experience would make me an excellent candidate for the role.

I look forward to discussing this opportunity with you more. Please don't hesitate to

contact me if you need additional information about my references.

Thank you,

YOUR NAME
YOUR EMAIL
PHONE NUMBER