Thank-you email after an interview

Why send a thank-you email

After interviews, a recruiter often compares several similar candidates. A short, polite message reminds them of you and shows you listened. It will not replace a good interview, but between equal candidates it can help.

It is also a chance to add something you forgot or to fix an answer that came out awkwardly. For preparing the interview itself, see our job interview guide.

When and to whom

• Within 24 hours of the interview, ideally the same afternoon or the next morning.
• To the person you spoke with. If several people interviewed you, write one message to all of them or to the recruiter, asking them to pass it on.
• To the address the invitation came from, ideally in the same thread.
• After an online interview just as after a meeting in the office. Read more in online job interview.

Sentences you can use

If you are not sure where to start, pick one or two of these and adapt them to your interview:

• Thank you for the conversation and for explaining the role in such detail.
• After our talk I am even keener to join the team, especially for the project you mentioned.
• I forgot to mention that I hold a current forklift licence, which could help with the new warehouse.
• I appreciated the chance to meet the team and see the workplace.
• I am happy to provide any further information or references.

What to include

1. Thank them for the meeting and their time.
2. Mention one specific point from the conversation, such as a project you discussed.
3. Briefly remind them what you can bring to the role.
4. Say you look forward to hearing about the next steps.

Do not bring up money in the thank-you email unless the recruiter asked for it. How to talk about pay is covered in salary expectations.

What to avoid

• Long messages. This is not a second cover letter.
• The same text to every company. A recruiter can tell a template with no specifics.
• Chasing. If they said the decision comes next week, do not ask about it after two days.
• Mistakes in the recruiter's name or the company name. Check them twice.

If you are still applying elsewhere, you may also need our email template for sending your CV.

If you do not have the recruiter’s email

If the invitation came through a job board or by phone, reply on the job board or ask at the end of the interview where you can send any questions. You can also write on LinkedIn if the recruiter has a profile there. Do not look for private contact details of company staff.

After a rejection

It is worth replying politely even after a rejection. The company may come back to you in the next round, and recruiters remember candidates who took the decision well. You can politely ask for brief feedback, but do not insist on it.

How long to wait for an answer

If the recruiter gave a date for the decision, wait until then. If not, after a week you can politely ask about the stage of the process, in the same thread as your thank-you note. One reminder is enough.

Ready-to-copy template

Replace the brackets and add one specific point from your conversation. Without it, the message reads like a template.

Subject: Thank you for the interview, [job title], [first and last name]

Dear [Ms or Mr surname],

Thank you for meeting me today and for the time you spent discussing the [job title] role.

I was particularly interested in [a specific topic from the interview, e.g. the plan to open the new warehouse in Łódź]. My experience in [area] could be useful in exactly that project.

I remain very keen to join the team at [company name] and look forward to hearing about the next steps.

Kind regards,
[First and last name]
[Phone number]

Frequently asked questions