Thank You Email After Interview | Examples & Template

The post interview thank you email is a crucial step in the job application process. When sent within 24 hours or less, an interview thank you email is evidence of the soft skills that are essential for almost any job—such as timeliness, interpersonal skills, and attention to detail.

A thank you email after an interview has a formal but friendly tone and includes a few main details in 2–3 short paragraphs:

  • A “thank you” for the interview
  • Something you were excited to learn about the role or company
  • A brief recap of your main qualifications
  • A call to action about the next steps (e.g., a second interview)

In today’s increasingly competitive job market, a timely, concise, and well-crafted interview thank you email can help you stand out among other applicants. The steps, examples, and template below will help you make the best possible impression.

Tip
Your thank you email should match the tone and formality of the interviewer. Did you know that the QuillBot paraphrasing tool can instantly transform the tone of the emails you send to employers? In addition to the free standard mode, the tool has a formal mode and a simple mode.

How to write a post interview thank you email

A post interview thank you email doesn’t need to be complex or detailed, but it does need to be professional, sincere, and timely. Send a personalized email within 24 hours of each interview, or ideally, within the same day by following the steps below.

Note
The recruitment process often includes two or more interviews (e.g., a phone screening with an HR recruiter and then a formal interview with a hiring manager). One of the interviews might even be with a team of colleagues or a CEO.

No matter how many interviews are involved, write a personalized post interview thank you email within 24 hours of every interview in the process.

Write a specific subject line

In the subject line of the email, include the words “Thank You” and the job title from the job posting (e.g., “Thank You: Social Media Coordinator Interview”). If you’re applying to a large company with many openings, include the requisition number in the subject line, too (if applicable).

Personalize the greeting

Next, address the interview thank you email with a salutation and the interviewer’s name. If the tone of the interview was very formal, use the full name. Otherwise, the first name only is fine, especially if that’s how the interviewer introduced themselves (e.g., “Dear Maxine”).

Double check the spelling of the name in the interviewer’s company profile, the interview invitation, or similar sources (just as you would when you address a cover letter).

Express your gratitude

After the greeting, write a sentence to thank the person for the interview (e.g., “Thank you for speaking with me on the phone about the quality assurance role today”).

Include details about the role or company

Next, mention something exciting about the company or role that the interviewer told you about (e.g., “After hearing about the firm’s pro bono work, I became even more convinced that the paralegal position aligns perfectly with my values”). This step shows that you were listening closely and that you’re still motivated.

Tip
This part of your thank you email should be custom written for every interviewer. Don’t send generic thank you emails. Just like your cover letter and resume, the post interview thank you email should showcase your unique personality. It should also jog the interviewer’s memory about the details of your discussion.

Reiterate your strengths

In another 2–3 sentences, reiterate the main skills that make you a great fit (e.g., “I’m confident that I can deliver the fast response times and personalized approach that XYZ Company needs in a customer service representative”).

This is also a place to mention a detail you might’ve missed in one of your interview responses (e.g., “In reference to your question about PM software, I wanted to mention that I’ve also trained colleagues and direct reports on advanced features of Trello”).

Mention the next steps

Close the thank you email after an interview with a call-to-action about the next steps. For example, you might mention that the interviewer is welcome to contact you with follow-up questions (e.g., “Please feel free to contact me if you need more information about my background or a list of references”).

If applicable, mention your enthusiasm and availability for a second interview (e.g., “I enjoyed our conversation today and look forward to hearing about the next steps”).

Provide your contact information

Sign the email with your full name, and below that, add your relevant contact information (e.g., a professional website or phone number).

Thank you email after interview examples

The fictitious examples below show how the different pieces of a post interview thank you email work together. In the first example, a social media coordinator thanks an HR recruiter for a phone screening.

Sample thank you email after interview with a recruiter

Subject Line: Thank You: Social Media Coordinator Phone Screening

Dear Raul: 

Thank you for speaking with me on the phone this morning about the social media coordinator position. I especially enjoyed hearing that Let’s Get Growing is starting a new program for assisted living facilities. The work that you all are doing to make gardening more accessible is nothing short of inspiring.

After learning that Let’s Get Growing needs someone who is proficient in multiple platforms as well as SEO-focused blog articles, I’m confident that I can improve your organization’s visibility and collaborate with your financial team to grow the donor base. You can see examples of my most successful social media campaigns in my online portfolio (linked below). 

I would love the chance to discuss the role further and am available for additional interviews or follow-up questions at any time. It’s truly heartwarming to see the difference your organization has made in our community.

Best regards,

Zoe Withers
(333) 444-1111
zoewhithers.com

In this next example, a college English teacher thanks a department chair for an interview and elaborates on one of her responses from the interview.

Sample thank you email after interview with a hiring manager

Subject Line: Thank You: English Teaching Position Interview

Dear Victoria,

Thank you for the opportunity to discuss the online teaching position yesterday. After learning more about SBSU’s student-centered approach to online instruction, I’m even more excited about the opportunity to teach writing and literature. 

During our Zoom interview, we talked about some of the ways that I differentiate instruction. In addition to the strategies I mentioned, I also collaborate with other members of the Reno Writing Project on alternatives to traditional writing assessments, such as blog articles on high-interest, current topics. Through these assessments (which I’ve shared on my teaching website), my students made tremendous strides and became more motivated to write traditional college essays. 

With my passion for helping students become stronger writers and my commitment to collaborating with my peers, I’m confident that I would thrive as an online instructor. Please feel free to contact me if you have other questions about my background or teaching credentials. I look forward to hearing about the next steps and hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Warm regards,

Louisa Blanco, PhD
(222) 333–4444
doctorluisa.com

Short thank you email after interview template

To get started on your own post interview thank you email, follow the template below, or simply use it for inspiration. Include specific details from your discussion when possible, but keep the letter concise and to-the-point. Once the email is sent, you’re one step closer!

Post interview thank you email template

Subject line: Thank You: [Title of Position] Interview

Dear [Name],

Thank you for the opportunity to discuss the [title of position] opportunity. I enjoyed learning about [something you learned about the company or role].

With my strong track record of [Skill 1] and [Skill 2], I’m confident that I can deliver [main type of work the role will entail].

Please feel free to contact me via phone or email if you have other questions about my background or need professional references. I’m eager to hear about the next steps and would love the chance to discuss the position further.

Best regards,

[Your Name]

[Your phone number]

[Website or LinkedIn if applicable]

Frequently asked questions about thank you emails after interviews

How soon should I write a post interview thank you email?

You should write a post interview thank you email within 24 hours of the interview. When possible, write the email on the same day so that the interviewer knows that you’re motivated, courteous, and conscientious about deadlines.

This timeframe applies to any type of job interview—whether it’s a phone screening with a recruiter or an interview with a hiring manager or team.

Your thank you email after an interview needs to be error free. QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker will instantly find and fix typos so that you can send a polished and professional thank you email as quickly as possible.

How do you write a thank you email after a phone interview?

Write a thank you email after a phone interview by following these steps:

 

  • Write a subject line with “Thank You” and the title of the position from the job posting (e.g., “Thank You: Customer Service Rep Phone Interview”).
  • Thank the recruiter for telling you more about the position.
  • Mention something that excites you about the company or role.
  • If applicable, provide more details about one of your interview responses, or mention anything you might’ve forgotten. 
  • Reiterate your top skills (similar to the claim in a cover letter introduction). 
  • Remind the recruiter that you’re eager to learn more about the next steps (e.g., a video or in-person interview). 
  • Write a complimentary close (e.g., “Sincerely”) followed by your full name and your contact information. 

When you’re writing a thank you email after an interview, QuillBot’s free Paraphraser can help you with powerful action verbs and concise sentence structures.

How do you write a thank you email after a Zoom interview?

Write a thank you email after a Zoom interview by following these steps:

  • Address the email to the person or people who were part of the Zoom call (e.g., the hiring manager and a potential colleague).
  • Write a subject line with “Thank You” and the title of the role from the job posting (e.g., “Thank You: Financial Advisor Zoom Interview”).
  • Thank the interviewer(s) for telling you more about the company and/or role.
  • Mention something about the company or role you’re excited about.
  • If applicable, elaborate on one of your interview responses, or mention anything you might’ve forgotten.
  • Reiterate your main hard skills, soft skills, or transferable skills (similar to the claim when you start a cover letter).
  • Remind the interviewer that you’re eager to learn more about the next steps.
  • Write a complimentary close (e.g., Sincerely) followed by your full name and your contact information.

A thank you email after an interview also needs to be error free, and QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker can help you instantly find and fix typos.

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Nicole Routh, M.Ed

Nicole has a master’s in English Education and detailed expertise in writing and grammar instruction. She’s taught college writing courses and written handbooks that empowered students worldwide.