Thank-you email after an interview

Send a thank-you email within 24 hours of the interview. Thank the interviewer by name, mention one specific thing from the conversation, and say in one sentence that you're still interested. Keep it to four or five sentences. The specific detail is what makes it yours and not a template.

The messages

Copy a message, then replace the parts in [square brackets] with your own details.

Formal

For a large company, a formal industry (law, finance, government), or a senior interviewer.

Subject: Thank you, [Project Manager] interview

Dear [Ms. Chen],

Thank you for taking the time to meet me today to discuss the [Project Manager] position. I enjoyed learning about [the new warehouse system], especially [how your team plans the rollout across three sites].

Our conversation confirmed my interest in the role. I'm confident that my experience with [supplier planning] would help the team [meet the launch dates].

Please let me know if you need anything else from me.

Kind regards,
[Your name]

Neutral

For most interviews, by email.

Hi [Name],

Thank you for the conversation this morning. It was great to hear more about [the mobile app project] and how the team works.

I'm even more excited about the role now, and I look forward to hearing about the next steps.

Best,
[Your name]

Casual

For a startup, a relaxed interview, or a short LinkedIn message after a video call.

Thanks again for the chat today, [Name]! I really enjoyed hearing about [the redesign]. Hope to speak again soon.

Why this works

• The detail proves you listened. "How your team plans the rollout across three sites" can't be copied from a template. It reminds the interviewer which candidate you were.
• One sentence of selling, not a paragraph. Link one skill to one need they mentioned. More than that sounds like a second interview.
• "Please let me know if you need anything else" is a polite, low-pressure ending. It invites a reply without asking for a decision.
• It's short. Interviewers read these on their phones between other interviews. Four or five sentences get read in full.

Two useful extra lines

If you forgot to say something important:

I also wanted to add that I led a similar project at [Company] last year, which [cut delivery times by two days]. I'd be happy to share more details.

If you met several people, send each a short, different note, or send one to the recruiter and ask them to pass on your thanks:

Could you please pass on my thanks to [Name] and [Name] as well? I enjoyed meeting the whole team.

Common mistakes

"I'm very exciting about this role." Exciting describes the role. Excited describes you. This mix-up is common in many languages, because they use one word for both.

• ✗ I'm very exciting about this role.
• ✓ I'm very excited about this role. (The role is exciting.)

"I'm looking forward to hear from you." In look forward to, the "to" is a preposition, so the verb after it takes -ing.

• ✗ I'm looking forward to hear from you.
• ✓ I'm looking forward to hearing from you.

"Thank you for the opportunity of the interview." A word-for-word copy of gracias por la oportunidad de la entrevista. English uses to + verb, or a simpler sentence.

• ✗ Thank you for the opportunity of the interview.
• ✓ Thank you for the opportunity to interview for the role. / Thank you for meeting me today.

If you don't hear back by the date they gave you, send a polite follow-up. For earlier in the process, see replying to a recruiter.