Knowing proper interview etiquette is one of the best ways to ensure your success in the interview process. Interview etiquette is not taught in high school or college and should be something everyone knows. If you feel out of the loop, or want to know how to feel good about your position with the interviewer post-interview, here is some advice on crafting a thank-you email.
When should you send a thank-you email?
Timing is everything when sending a follow-up email, and we recommend sending the email within 24 hours after the interview. Sending a thank-you email within this time frame will show the most gratitude and appreciation to the interviewer.
We guarantee that you aren’t the first or the last person the company is planning to interview, so to ensure you are moving on to the next round, you should send it sooner than later. The company is much more inclined to invite you for a second interview when you send them a nice note thanking them for their time.
What should you include in a thank-you email?
In your thank-you email, you should directly address everyone in the interview. We recommend sending individual emails to each interviewer instead including and addressing them in one email.
Start the email by addressing the interviewer and thanking them for their time. In the letter, you should include parts of your interview that were valuable to you. That can include sharing your excitement to work for a company that shares its values/culture or a program you particularly enjoy.
End the email by saying how you are excited about your second round of interviews or how eager you are to hear about the next steps. Although the content of your thank-you email most likely won’t make or break whether you got the job, it could be the difference between getting a second-round interview or not.
Follow-up thank-you emails are unspoken expectations for hiring managers and interviewers. We hope you take some of this advice with you in your interview process, and we wish you the best of luck in your interview!
If you need extra assistance, our recruiters are always available to help with more in-depth thank-you note etiquette, resume edits, interview prep and offer negotiations. Visit our website to get in touch with our recruiters today.
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