You applied for a position a few weeks ago. The hiring manager called you in for an onsite interview. You prepared extensively for this meeting and answered all the questions well. At the end of the interview, you asked a few questions that led to a riveting discussion with your interviewer.
Leaving the room, you are in an elated mood. You absolutely rocked that interview! Vibes were great, answers were perfect, the job itself is ideal, but wait! There is one more thing that you must do right after an interview.
The Thank You Email is one of the four most important criteria of your job application (besides your resume, cover letter, and interview). It shows the hiring manager that you appreciate the time they took to meet with you. But, and perhaps more importantly, this email is often times the last opportunity you will have to pitch yourself to the recruiter. Even if your interview went horribly, it is still a good idea to send a follow-up email to tie loose ends and to reconfirm your interest, experience, and skills.
This email is often times the last opportunity you will have to pitch yourself to the recruiter
When should you send this email? Right after your interview, or within 24 hours. Who knows how many people they interviewed before and after you? The most important thing is to be remembered. So it’s better to do it sooner than later so your profile can stick in the interviewer’s mind.
So how do you write a Thank You Email that includes not only your appreciation to the hiring manager but also your final pitch for the position?
Here are 6 key points that are highly recommended.
- Thank the Interview for their time
- Recall a relevant point of topic that was discussed during your interview to show that you are paying attention to the conversation
- Connect that topic to how you will contribute to the firm
- Explain how a past experience has provided you the necessary skills to succeed
- Call to Action (CTA)
A sample email has been provided below. Remember to keep it short and succinct!
Dear Mrs. Smith,
[Thank the Interviewer] It was truly a pleasure to have the opportunity to meet with you today. I wanted to thank you for taking the time out of your schedule to meet with me and to highlight some of the things we talked about that strengthened my interest to work for XYZ.
[Relevant Topic] As we discussed during the interview, social media technology is a field that is new to many businesses but strategically important in raising brand awareness and value in addition to driving sales and customer loyalty. [The Connection] Developing creative social media strategies to engage clients and attract potential customers would be a top priority for this position, and I would love to help achieve this goal.
[Past experience] Through my experience at ABC, I gained tremendous insight into [Skills] data metrics: how to gather quantified data, how to analyze it, and then how to strategize. Consequently, I was able to [Results] while drawing upon my skills in [list 1-2 skills complementary skills].
[Wrapping Up] I hope that I was able to demonstrate the strong potential I have to succeed in your team as the [position]. I strongly believe that my (list some positive characteristics about yourself that you hopefully demonstrated during your interview) can help me become a valued member of your firm and contribute much to the objectives and culture that you explained during the interview.
[CTA] I am very excited for this opportunity to work at XYZ. If you need any further information or need to schedule additional meetings, please feel free to contact me via email or phone. Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Best,
Bob
