How To Write An Interview Thank-You Letter (With Examples)
Updated 30 October 2023
If you have recently attended an interview, it is a good idea to write to the hiring manager and thank them for their time. Writing a suitable thank-you letter can help you show your interest to employers. Doing so can also help the employer remember you and increase your chances of getting the job. In this article, we explain what an interview thank-you letter is, discuss what to include in it, list the steps to write one and provide a template, and some examples, along with a few tips, to help you write your own letter.
Please note that none of the companies, institutions or organisations mentioned in this article are associated with Indeed.
What Is An Interview Thank-You Letter?
An interview thank-you letter is a letter or an email that a candidate sends to an employer to thank them for an interview they recently attended and restate their interest in the particular job. It is a chance for you to show appreciation to and leave a positive impression on the interviewer. You can also use the letter to highlight specific points from the interview that you feel make you an excellent fit for the job. This may help the employer pay attention to your application while shortlisting the candidates.
Writing a thoughtful thank-you letter is also a great way to establish a connection with your interviewer. It is a chance for you to convey your personal thoughts to them in an authentic but formal manner. Doing so can also cause the employer to notice your efforts and enthusiasm towards the job.
Related: How To Write A Professional Thank-You Letter
The Major Parts Of A Thank-You Letter
The following are the main components of a thank-you letter:
Salutation: Use this section to address the reader of the letter.
Opening statement: The opening statement explains the purpose of the letter.
Main paragraph: This includes the main content of the letter, including your interest in the position and a summary of your qualifications.
Call to action: End the letter by thanking the reader and letting them know that you look forward to hearing from them.
Closing statement: Use a professional closing towards the end of the letter.
Related: How To Write An After-The-Interview Thank-You Email
How To Write A Thank-You Letter?
Here are the steps you can follow to write a thank-you letter after your interview:
1. Include your contact information
Insert a heading with your contact information in the letter. This includes your full name, contact number and email address. Make sure that the information you enter is accurate and current. This can help you ensure that the employer has the correct contact information if they decide to contact you. Also, mention the date on which you are sending the letter.
Related: Different Forms Of Business Letters (With Examples)
2. Start with an opening statement
Begin your letter with an opening statement and express gratitude towards the reader. Thank them for taking the time to interview you for the job. This also lets the reader know the purpose of your letter. This section can also be an excellent opportunity for you to reiterate your interest in the job. Let the employer know that you are excited about working for them.
Related: How To Write An Appreciation Email (With Tips And Examples)
3. Mention specific points from the interview
In the paragraph following the opening statement, write about some specific points from the interview that can help establish that you are a great fit for the job. For example, you can highlight the skills that the employer is looking for in a candidate and match them with your abilities. Consider mentioning how your experience can help the company achieve its goals. You can also write about the vision or values that you share with the company to establish a connection.
Related: How To Write A Thank-You Message For A Mentor (With Samples)
4. Close with an optimistic tone
End the letter with an optimistic tone. Thank the reader again for the interview and for reading the letter. Let them know that you look forward to hearing from them. After this section, add closing salutations depending on your letter's degree of formality. If it is a formal letter, include appropriate salutations, such as Sincerely. If your letter is semi-formal or casual, use salutations such as Best regards or Warm regards.
Related: How To Write A Job Offer Acceptance Letter (With Samples)
Thank-You Letter Template
The following is a template that you can use to write your own thank-you letter:
[First name] [Last name]
[Phone number] | [Email address] | [City], [State/Union territory]
[Date]
Dear [Interviewer's full name],
Paragraph 1
[Write the opening statement, thanking the interviewer for their time.]
Paragraph 2
[Use this section to summarise your skills and experience. Relate them to the job requirements.]
Paragraph 3
[Thank the interviewer again and close with an optimistic tone, and a call to action.]
[Closing salutation],
[Signature]
Related: Thank-You Message For Colleagues: Writing Tips And Examples
Thank-You Letter Examples
Here are some examples of thank-you letters you can refer to while writing your own letter:
Formal thank-you letter
Raj Shah +91 55555-55555 | shahraj@email.com | Bengaluru, Karnataka
8 April 2023
Dear Divyansh Verma,
I would like to thank you for taking the time to meet with me today to discuss the Marketing Manager role at SaleStar. I appreciate the opportunity to learn more about the company and the requirements of the position.
I was particularly interested in our discussion about developing a new platform to monitor company sales. I believe that my experience in business-to-business sales would allow me to make a significant contribution to the team and help SaleStar achieve its goals.
Thank you again for considering my candidacy for the role. Please let me know if there is any further information I can provide to support my application. I look forward to the opportunity to speak with you again.
Sincerely,
Raj
Related: Thank-You Messages For Boss: Tips And Examples
Semi-formal thank-you letter
Raj Shah +91 55555-55555| shahraj@email.com | Bengaluru, Karnataka
8 April 2023
Dear Divyansh Verma
I wanted to take a moment to thank you for meeting with me today to discuss the Social Media Manager opportunity at SaleStar. I appreciate the chance to learn more about the company and the requirements of the role.
I really enjoyed our conversation about using legacy systems and statistics to improve social media traffic, and I am excited about the prospect of contributing my skills and experience to the team. I believe that my background in digital marketing would allow me to make a valuable contribution to SaleStar and help achieve its goals.
Thank you again for your time and consideration. Please let me know if there is anything further I can provide to support my candidacy. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Best regards,
Raj
Tips For Writing A Thank-You Letter
Here are some tips you can follow to write a suitable thank-you letter:
Send the letter promptly. Consider sending the thank-you letter within 24 or 48 hours of the interview to show that you are interested and enthusiastic about the position. This can help the interviewer remember your application.
Personalise the letter. If you are writing to more than one employer, make sure to personalise the letter for each application.
Reaffirm your interest in the position. Let the interviewer know that you are still interested in the position and why you believe you are a suitable candidate.
Recap your qualifications. Briefly summarise your qualifications and experience as they relate to the job.
Proofread carefully. Make sure to proofread the letter for spelling and grammatical errors. This can help show your professionalism and attention to detail.
Keep it concise. Keep the letter brief, only one page.
Follow up. If you do not hear from them in about a week, follow up with the interviewer to reiterate your interest in the position.
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