Sending a thank you email after an interview session can be the magic that will land you your dream job. A thank you email can put you ahead of other candidates, especially in a highly competitive job opening like a Monitoring and Evaluation expert. Unfortunately, most evaluators usually ignore this aspect of job-hunting strategy thinking that they will nail the job after displaying a superb performance during the interview. And for those that send one, they just copy-paste anything they see on the internet without rephrasing to suit the context. 

If you have been attending interviews and never gotten any response from recruiters, chances are that other candidates got the job ahead of you due to a thank you email.

In this article, you will learn the benefits of sending a thank you email and how to write a thank you email. We also highlighted one sample that will inspire you to craft one. 

Advantages of sending a thank you email #

Here are some of the benefits of sending a thank you email to recruiters after an interview session:

• Sending a thank-you email to an interviewer will help you stand out from the crowd.
• Thank you email so recruiters gives you an opportunity to present any important information that you forgot to mention during the interview.
• It also lets you clarify any aspect of your CV that you feel you did not buttress enough during the interview.
• It reminds recruiters about you and helps establish the fact that you pay attention to details.
• A thank you email helps demonstrate professional courtesy, especially if the job opening is highly competitive. 

No matter the type of job interview you plan to attend – whether it’s phone-in, zoom, or online video, sending a thank you email to interviewers after an interview session is an important follow-up step in the job hunting process. 

Now, let’s explore how to write a professionally-looking thank you email. 

How to Write a Thank You Email or Note after an Interview #

Find below a step-by-step guide on how to write a thank you email after an interview:

Step 1: Create a clear subject line #

The first step in the process of writing a professional looking thank you email after an interview is to create a clear subject line. No jokes, no puns – just go straight to the point in the subject line. Creating a clear subject line is a strategy to get the interviewer to open your email. For example, you can use something along this lines to attract the recruiter to read your thank you email:

• Thanks for the interview yesterday
• Thank you for your time yesterday
• Thank you (recruiters name)!
• Thank You!

Step 2: Open with a personal greeting #

The next step is to start your thank you email with a personal greeting. Here, you can address the recruiter or hiring manager by his/her name. If the interview session was conducted by more than one interviewer, then you may need to send a personalized thank-you email to each of the interviewers.

Step 3: Express your appreciation #

This is the point to appreciate the interviewer for giving you the opportunity to attend an interview session in their company. When expressing your appreciation, be authentic and sincere about it. Show the interviewer or recruiter that you care so much about the time they have spent with you during the interview session.

Step 4: Restate that you’re interested in the job #

Recent data shows that employers want to see genuine eagerness on the part of applicants wanting to join their organizations. Ensure you mention that in your time to email. If during the interview, you find out that you are not a perfect fit for the job, you should clearly state it in your thank you email to the recruiter or hiring manager. This will help the hiring manager to save time; plus, they are likely to appreciate your honesty.

Step 5: Refer to your skills or strengths during the interview  #

In your thank you note to recruiters after an interview session, do not fail to refer to your strengths or skills and explain how you intend to use the skills to help them get what they want. 

Step 6: Say you can provide additional information  #

The next step is to mention that you are willing to provide additional information about yourself to assist the recruiter in the decision-making process. The rule is to be polite and brief. You can write something along this line “should you need any information about me to help in your decision making, don’t hesitate to contact me. I look forward to hearing from you.”

Step 7: Close with a professional sign-off #

This is the last step in the process of writing a professional-looking thank you email to recruiters after an interview session. While signing off your thank you email, thank them again for the opportunity and close the email with a “sincerely” synonym and then write your full name and basic contact details.

Simple and Short Sample Thank You Letter #

Here’s is an example that should inspire you:

Subject Line: Thank You [Interviewer’s Name]!

Hello [Interviewer’s Name],

I really appreciate you for taking out time to meet with me yesterday to discuss the Monitoring and Evaluation expert role that you advertised last week. The interview gave me an opportunity to learn more about your business approach. 

Our conversation made me super excited to join your M&E department and work harmoniously with your team. What really interested me was [something specific you discussed during the interview]. After the interview, I thought about what you said (the challenges the company is facing). In my current role as an evaluator, I discovered that (explain what you did to resolve the challenges that the recruiter highlighted during the interview). 

I am certain my exposure and experience will help reposition your organisation as your M&E analyst. Should you need any information about me to help in your decision making, don’t hesitate to contact me. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Thanks again for your time!