The Importance of a Thank You Email

A thank you note is a three-paragraph email sent after an interview expressing appreciation for the recruiter or hiring manager’s time. As a jobseeker, a thank you email is an essential part of your career search journey as it displays professional etiquette and offers the opportunity to continue to build a relationship with the recruiter, hiring manager, or team member who interviewed you.

The key to writing a good thank you note is communicating how your professional background best fits the role discussed during the interview. A thank you email offers a strategic advantage by providing space to reiterate your interests and qualifications for the position.

How to Write an Effective Thank You Email

1. Create a Straight-forward Subject Line

To start, make use of your subject line by presenting your email as unique and straightforward to capture the recruiter or hiring manager’s attention. By doing so, you can avoid your thank you note being sent to spam.

Examples of Suitable Subject Lines:

• Thank you for your time on [interview date]
• Thank you for taking time to discuss [prospective job position]
• It was a pleasure meeting with you
• Following up to say thank you 

2. Address Your Point of Contact

The ability to effectively communicate is a foundational skill which a majority of employers are seeking. There are several key practices to keep in mind when composing your thank you email–the first being to address your point of contact in an elevated, professional manner. Typically, you can simply address your interviewer by their first name, but if you sense the need to go the most formal route, you can use Ms. or Mr.

Examples of Appropriate Email Salutations:

• Dear  [First Name or Ms. or Mr. Last Name]
• Hello [First Name or Ms. or Mr. Last Name]

3. Express Your Gratitude for the Opportunity

Begin the body of your email with an expression of gratitude–for example, you may thank the interviewer for taking the time to meet with you. For direct clarity, include the title of the position you are applying for, as it is possible the recruiter or hiring manager is responsible for considering candidates for multiple positions.

 Examples of Gratitude Expression:

• Thank you for taking the time to discuss the [job title] position with me today.
• I appreciate you taking the time today to consider my candidacy for the role of [job title].
• I wanted to thank you for discussing the [job title] position at [company name] today.

4. Reiterate a Specific Feature or Responsibility Discussed in the Interview

Next, briefly summarize your skills, accomplishments, and career experiences. You should connect your professional background to the unique roles and responsibilities of the prospective position. 

For example, you may wish to write:

• I am confident that my [skills, accomplishments, and career experiences] will allow me to come in and succeed in this role.
• My [related skills] would make me an excellent candidate for the role of [job position].

5. Establish Your Next Point of Contact

Finally, it is essential to provide your contact information, such as email and phone number, below your closing statement.

Thank You Email Samples

Subject line: Thank you for meeting with me today

Hello Leslie, 

Thank you so much for taking the time out of your busy schedule to meet with me today. I am very excited at the prospect of joining Year Up Professional Placement as a Recruiting Manager.

The details you shared about the position and future goals for the team sounded particularly compelling to me. I am confident that my communication and time management skills, along with my previous experience on a fast-paced Talent Acquisition team will allow me to hit the ground running and succeed in this role, and it’s a position I’d be excited to take on.

I look forward to talking with you again in the next few days. If any additional information regarding my candidacy would be helpful, please do not hesitate to contact me. Again, many thanks for the opportunity.

Thank you, 

Rosa Lee

rosa.lee@email.com

XXX-XXX-XXXX

Detailed Thank You Email

If you wish to add more information or clarify any details you may have missed, consider sending a more detailed thank you email, which may have an additional paragraph. Note this example demonstrates a more formal greeting, in the event it is needed.

Subject line: Thank you for meeting with me today

Hello Ms. Alexander, 

Thank you for taking the time out of your schedule to meet with me today. I enjoyed our conversation about the Recruiting Manager position and am excited at the prospect of joining Year Up Professional Placement.

I was particularly interested in the way in which both the Recruiting and Marketing teams work together to attract and engage talent who are job searching, which sounds ideal for reaching goals and optimizing performance. I realized that I forgot to mention that I recently completed a training at work where we focused on using social media in recruiting and I know that that experience would equip me well for this collaboration.

The details you shared about the position and future goals for the Recruiting team piqued my interest. I am confident that my working knowledge of the staffing industry and recruiting experience will allow me to hit the ground running and succeed in this role.

I look forward to discussing this opportunity with you more. If any additional information will be helpful regarding my candidacy, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Thank you, 

Rosa Lee

rosa.lee@email.com

XXX-XXX-XXXX

A Thank You Email is More Than Just a Thank You

By sending a thoughtfully expressed thank you, you’ll demonstrate proactive communication skills and remain top of mind when final hiring decisions are made.

Remember to reiterate your interest, reference key points discussed during your interview, and always send your thank you note within 24 hours after the interview.

If you would like to learn more about job search strategies, best practices when applying for jobs, and more, join us at YUPRO’s Jobseeker Bootcamp. Our bootcamp takes place each month with 45-minute training held Tuesday-Friday from 1:00-1:45 PM ET/ 10:00-10:45 AM PT via Zoom. Register here to take the next step in your career search journey!

Key Takeaways:

● Your subject line should be brief and concise.

● Address your point of contact in an elevated, professional manner.

● Connect your professional background to the unique roles and responsibilities discussed during the interview.

● Determine whether sending a simpler or more detailed thank you letter best fits your overall needs.