As a professional job seeker, you certainly know how important it is to send a great thank-you note after an interview. However, not every interview is the same, and neither should your thank you notes! We’re breaking down each type of interview you may encounter during the hiring process and what the corresponding thank you should include (with examples!)
Phone Interview
The note you send after a phone interview should be brief and focus on the next steps. If you discussed any additional documents such as a portfolio or references, be sure to include them with your thank-you note.
Example:
Hi John,
Thank you so much for taking the time to speak with me today. I really enjoyed getting to know more about ABC Company and the Project Manager position.
I look forward to hearing from you regarding the next steps! Please let me know if you have any additional questions.
Sincerely,
Jane
Video Interview
A video interview is slightly more personal than a phone. However, your thank-you note should still be concise. Use the same general tone of your phone interview thank-you, but add a little more detail about getting some “face time” with the hiring manager.
Hi John,
Thank you so much for virtually meeting with me today! It was great to put a face to the name, and I am really looking forward to meeting the rest of the team. Please let me know if there’s any additional information I can provide between now and then.
Sincerely,
Jane
In-Person Interview
This is where your thank-you note can get a little more personal. Typically an in-person interview will go much more in-depth, and you will learn further details about the position, team, and company. It’s important to reiterate some of those details and really cement the rapport you established during the interview.
Example:
Hi John,
Thank you so much for taking the time to meet with me today. I especially enjoyed learning more about the Process Improvement that your team has been implementing over the past few months. I really look forward to continuing that initiative and assisting in helping ABC Company achieve it’s growth goals.
I’m looking forward to hearing from you regarding the next steps!
Thank you again,
Jane
Panel Interview
Panel interviews can be a bit tricky. If you have every individuals’ email address, you’ll want to send them a separate message. In each message, follow the format of the in-person interview thank-you note, addressing a specific topic you discussed with each person, if possible! If you coordinated the interview with a single contact, it’s totally appropriate to write a group thank-you and request that they forward it on. In the single email, feel free to address each individual still.
Example:
Hi John, Jim, and Jackie,
Thank you all for taking the time to meet with me today! I thoroughly enjoyed getting to speak with each of you regarding the Project Manager position with ABC Company.
John, I appreciated you sharing more insight into the leadership structure within the Project team. My experience working with large teams would definitely be an asset in that environment.
Jim, thank you so much for discussing the Project Manager’s role in working with the IT department. In my last position, I enjoyed worked very closely with our IT Director and found it made a significant impact on achieving company goals.
Jackie, I loved hearing more about the team dynamics from you. Thank you for sharing some insight into the day-to-day tasks and culture of the Project Management team.
Again, thank you, everyone! Please let me know if you have any additional questions. I look forward to hearing from you!
Sincerely,
Jane
So, whether you’re upcoming interview is on the phone, virtual, or face-to-face, these guidelines will help you leave a lasting impression on your prospective employer. Good luck!
