12 Thank You Email After Interview Examples

A thank you note following an interview is a way to make another connection with the interviewer.

In addition to thanking them for their time, you can remind them of your skills or include any additional information you should have mentioned during the interview.

A thank-you email or note may feel like a formality in the hiring process, but showing gratitude and appreciation is not a step that should be skipped. While you may not be hired by the prospective employer for this position, they may be more likely to keep you in mind for other positions if you’ve been gracious during your interview(s).

However, please remember that while thank-you notes are a nice gesture and another contact point, they may not impact whether you are offered the job or make it to the next round of interviews.

Some interviewers or hiring managers may not care if they receive a thank you message. But others may disqualify you for NOT sending a thank-you. The result is not something that can be easily predicted.

Below, I’ve included the post-interview thank you note examples and tips.

Note: This post contains affiliate links. If you use a link and purchase, I will receive a commission.

Handwritten Thank You Note After Interview vs. Email

Mailing a handwritten thank-you note may make you stand out. According to Forbes, the preference for handwritten notes or emails after an interview depends on the industry.

Will snail mail be too slow? Also, if you need more confidence that a handwritten note sent in the mail would reach your interviewer promptly, email the thank-you note. If you know someone already working there, ask them how mail is handled to learn if emailing or mailing the thank-you would be better.

If you’re interviewing for a job that is not local, email a thank-you note. The goal is to have your thank-you note arrive before second-round interviews or hiring decisions.

A handwritten note will need to fit on the notecard or could be written on professional stationery. Depending on the situation, you may want to write a longer letter; however, the note can be kept simple and short for most jobs.

An email can be longer, but the interviewer may only read it if it’s shorter. In most situations, sending an email after the interview is acceptable.

Also, some say the post-interview thank you is a waste of time.

After Interview Thank You Note DOs and DON’Ts

DO start over if you make a mistake in a handwritten note.

DO thank everyone who interviewed you. If someone didn’t ask questions, you could still thank them for your time.

DO send a thank you when interviewing for an internal position.

DO mention a topic from the interview. This will help them connect the note to you, as they could interview many other candidates.

DO send a thank-you note or email after the interview you are no longer interested in the position. You can still thank them for their time and for explaining the position.

DO include when you call them to follow up. 

DO spell names correctly.

DO double-check your spelling and grammar. You can use Grammarly (affiliate link) to check your grammar for free.

DON’T send a thank you email from the parking immediately after the interview. Wait at least an hour. You don’t want it to seem like you had the thank you email written before the interview.

DON’T use Mrs. if you are unsure if the woman is married. Stick with Ms.

DON’T say anything untrue. You want to look as good as possible, but lies are not good.

DON’T mention salary or money.

Job Interview Thank You Examples

Knowing what to say in a post-interviewer thank you note can be challenging. My template and some examples will help you get started. You can also check out this template on the Prepary, which goes over in detail what to include in each sentence.

What to say is dependent on the position and context of the conversation.

Do not copy/paste examples from this site (or any other site!). Use the samples to help you generate your own words. If you start with an example, update it to make it relevant to you, the interviewer, and the position.

After Interview Thank You Template

Notes:

  1. This after-the-job interview thank-you template can be used in an email message or a handwritten note.
  2. The template can be used for a phone interview, Zoom interview, video interview, or in-person interview.
  3. Use the first name of the interview unless you addressed them as Mr./Mrs./Ms. during the interview.
  4. The template is designed for a first interview. For a second interview, you can adjust the wording as needed.
  5. Your message can be personalized by mentioning something specific from the interview.
  6. Replace words [in brackets] as appropriate for your situation.

First Interview Template

Dear [Interviewer name],

Thank you for interviewing me on [day of interview] for [position/job title]. I appreciate the opportunity and your interest in me.

[Sentence mentioning something from the interview]. [Sentence confirming your interest and skills].

[Say when you will follow up with a call to check on the status of the job.]

Sincerely,

Your Name (or Signature for handwritten notes)

Include any other contact information you’d like to provide, such as your phone number, email address, or LinkedIn profile.

Second Interview Template

Dear [Interviewer name],

Thank you for meeting with me again on [day of interview] for [position/job title]. I appreciate your continued interest in me.

[Sentence mentioning something from the second interview].

[Say when you will follow up with a call to check on the status of the job.]

Sincerely,

Your Name (or Signature for handwritten notes)

Include any other contact information you’d like to provide, such as your phone number, email address, or LinkedIn profile.

Email Subject Lines for the After Interview Thank You

You’ll need the recipients’ email addresses for email thank you messages. If you were given business cards, they usually include an email address.

If you only have the email address for the recruiter or hiring manager, you can ask them to forward the email to those that you interviewed (no guarantee that they will).

Keep in mind that the hiring managers may be interviewing for several positions and many positions concurrently. So, the job title you applied for should be included in the subject line.

  • Thank you – [Job Title]
  • [Job Title] – Thank you for the interview
  • [Job Title] Interview – Thank you

Thank You After Interview Example #1

Dear [Mr. Last Name],

Thank you for meeting with me on Tuesday to discuss [position/job title]. I appreciate your time and explaining the position for me.

My skills in game design will allow me to bring value to the game development time. I have over five years of experience with [game software company uses]. I was happy to hear that you are also a Tetris fan!

I also have used [program not mentioned in the interview] and can share my knowledge with the team.

I will call you at 10:00 on Monday to check on the status of the position.

Sincerely,
Your Signature
555-555-5555

Thank You After Interview Example #2

Dear [Interviewer name],

Thank you for meeting with me on Tuesday to discuss [position/job title]. I am thankful for the opportunity and the time you spent explaining the position in detail.

After learning more about it, I am very interested in joining your team. My past work with problem-solving will make me an asset to [company name]. I found your “what would you do” scenarios intriguing!

I will plan to follow up with you at 10:00 on Monday to check on the status of the position.

Sincerely,
Your Name

Example #3 – For Interviewer That Didn’t Ask You Many (If Any) Questions

Dear [Interviewer name],

I enjoyed meeting with you last Tuesday about [position/job title] in your department. I appreciate that you took time out of your day to meet with me.

It was a pleasure meeting you and learning more about the position. I would enjoy working on your team.

Sincerely,
Your Name

Thank You After Interview Example #4

Dear [Interviewer Name],

I appreciate the time you set aside to meet with me on Tuesday to discuss [Position/Job Title]. I am excited about the position after learning more about it.

I was surprised to learn that we both know [Name]! As I mentioned in the interview, [He/She] is the reason I became interested in [Work Related to Position].

My skills with [Program Relevant to Position] would allow me to quickly contribute to the success of the projects on your team. I also enjoy learning new programs and will commit to learning [New Program] as soon as possible.

I will follow up with you at [Time of Day] on [Day of Week] regarding this position.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

Thank You After Interview Example #5

Dear [Interviewer Name],

I am grateful for our discussion last week on [Day of the Week] about [Position/Job Title]. After learning more about the requirements, I am confident I would excel in the position.

As we discussed during the interview, I have [Number] years of experience with [Program]. I enjoy showing others the lesser-known features of [Program] as they can improve productivity and make the program easier to use.

I was excited to hear your plan for expanding the team and increasing the number of programs used. I have used many programs, such as [Program Names]. I tend to keep up with the latest programs and learn them quickly.

I will call you next week at [Time of Day] on [Day of the Week] to follow up on the status of this position.

Best Regards,

[Your Name]

Thank You After Interview Example #6

Dear [Interviewer Name],

I was very excited to meet you last [Day of the Week] about [Position/Job Title]. I’ve been interested in working for [Company Name] since I read in [News Source] that they are debt-free. Avoiding debt aligns with my personal values.

After learning more about [Position], I feel that it would be a great fit. I enjoy working with others in a team environment and have spent the last [Number] of years working on marketing projects. With the skills I have in [Program Name], I would fit in nicely with your team.

Also, I want to let you know that I’ve worked with [Employee Name] in the past at [Previous Employer]. We were in the communications department and worked on several projects together.

I will contact you next week at [Time of Day] on [Day of the Week] to follow up regarding the status of this position.

Regards,

[Your Name]

Thank You After Interview Email #7 – Declining the position

[Interviewer Name],

Thank you for taking the time today to interview me for [Position]. I appreciate the time you took out of your day. After learning more about the position, I am no longer interested in pursuing this opportunity. I feel like I would not be a good fit based on the details you shared.

[Company Name] sounds like a great company. If other positions open up that are related to [Area of Interest], I will reapply.

I enjoyed meeting you and learning more about [Company Name], and I hope our paths may cross again.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

Thank You After Interview Email #8

[Interviewer Name],

I am grateful for the time we spent together on [Day of the Week] discussing [Position]. As I shared in the interview, I feel that that position would be a great fit due to my experience with [Required Skill].

I was also excited to learn that [Company Name] is on the leading edge of technology and uses the latest versions of all programs. I believe this helps to keep [Company Name] ahead of the competition. The team environment sounds conducive to solving issues as I like to talk through my ideas with others.

I also enjoyed hearing the stories about your cats learning to get along. I’ve rescued a few from my backyard and can relate to the challenges.

I will follow up next week at [Time of Day] on [Day of the Week] by phone regarding the status of this position.

Kind Regards,

[Your Name]

Thank You After Interview Email #9

[Interviewer Name],

Thank you for discussing [Position] with me on [Day of the Interview]. Now that I’ve had time to reflect on the interview, I continue to be excited about the position.

I would fit in at [Company Name] with my writing abilities. As I mentioned in the interview, I’ve written hundreds of articles about [Topic] as a freelancer. I would enjoy sharing my knowledge about [Topic] with your team members.

I appreciate that you shared that you have also spent time in [Branch of Armed Forces]. I learned the value of discipline and hard work while serving.

I will follow up at [Time of Day] on [Day of the Week] by phone regarding the status of this position. Meanwhile, feel free to contact me if you have any further questions.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

Example #10 — To thank someone you had contact with, but did not interview you (ex. recruiter, administrative assistant).

Dear [Name],

Thank you for your efforts in organizing my interview for [Position] with [Primary Interview Contact]. I appreciate how quickly you returned my emails regarding the interview time and for help with directions once inside the building.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

Second Interview Thank You Email

Dear [Name],

Thank you for meeting with me again regarding [Job Title] last Friday. I enjoyed our chat and learning more about the work your team does.

I continue to feel excited about the position and was intrigued by the [project name] we discussed. My background in [relevant skill] would be beneficial for this type of project.

I’ll send a follow-up email at the end of this week if I do not hear from you before then.

Best Regards,

[Your Name]

You may also like:

Author: Heidi Bender

Title: Writer

Expertise: Thank You Notes

Bio:

Heidi Bender is a writer and author who founded Tons of Thanks. She aims to help people write thank-you notes by providing examples and tips. She is the author of She is the author of A Modern Guide to Writing Thank-You Notes.