Thank You Email After Interview Template You Can Copy

Send a short thank-you email after your interview, within 24 hours. Use a template that thanks the person by name, mentions one specific thing you discussed, restates why you are a fit in a sentence, and closes with a clear next step. Keep it under 150 words.

At a glance

• Send within 24 hours, ideally the same evening or next morning.
• Send one email per interviewer, each with a different detail.
• Subject line: plain and findable.
• Under 150 words. Proofread names and the job title.
• A thank-you does not replace a good interview but can reinforce it.

What should the subject line say?

Avoid all-caps, "URGENT" and emoji.

Template 1: after a first interview or phone screen

Subject: Thank you, Marketing Analyst interview

Hi Priya,

Thank you for speaking with me today about the Marketing Analyst role. I enjoyed hearing how the team uses weekly reporting to shift budget between channels, and it reinforced that I'd like to be part of that work.

My experience rebuilding an attribution report at my current company is directly relevant, and I'd be glad to share an anonymised example if useful.

Thanks again for your time. I look forward to the next steps.

Best regards, Jordan Lee [phone] | [LinkedIn]

Template 2: after a final-round interview

Subject: Thank you for the opportunity to meet the team

Hi Daniel,

Thank you for taking the time to walk me through the team and the roadmap yesterday. Hearing about the planned move to a shared design system was especially interesting, since I led a similar migration at my last company.

After our conversation, I'm even more confident that my background in front-end performance and my experience mentoring junior engineers would help the team. I'm excited about the role.

Please let me know if I can provide anything further, such as references or work samples.

Sincerely, Jordan Lee

Template 3: after a panel interview (send individually)

Subject: Thank you, Product Manager interview

Hi Maria,

Thanks for your time today. Your question about balancing customer requests with the roadmap was a good one, and I've been thinking about it since. One more point: in my last role we used a simple scoring sheet, impact against effort, to keep those decisions transparent, and I'd be happy to share the structure.

I appreciated meeting the whole team and I'm keen on the role.

Best, Jordan Lee

Write a different second paragraph for each panelist, referring to something each of them said.

Template 4: no reply after a week

Subject: Following up on the Marketing Analyst role

Hi Priya,

I hope you're well. I wanted to follow up on our conversation on 22 October about the Marketing Analyst role. I remain very interested and would be glad to provide anything else you need.

Could you let me know where things stand or when I might expect an update?

Thank you, Jordan Lee

Wait until the timeline they gave has passed, plus two business days. If no timeline was given, wait about a week. Follow up once, then once more after another week at most.

Template 5: you are declining the next step or the job

Subject: Thank you and an update

Hi Daniel,

Thank you for the time you and the team have given me. After careful thought, I've decided to withdraw from consideration, as I've accepted another position that fits my current goals. I appreciated learning about the team and wish you the best with the search.

Kind regards, Jordan Lee

Withdrawing politely keeps the door open for later.

How do I personalise it?

Replace everything in brackets and then check each paragraph against this test: could any other candidate have sent this? If yes, add a specific detail. Good details:

• A problem they mentioned that you have solved before
• A question they asked that you want to answer better
• A shared interest or point of view that came up
• A resource or article relevant to what you discussed

What if I forgot to say something important?

Use the thank-you to add it briefly: "One thing I did not mention: I have used Salesforce for three years." Keep it to one sentence and make it relevant. Do not re-do the whole interview.

Should I send it by email or handwritten?

Email is the default. Employers often decide within days. A handwritten note can be added for in-person interviews but may arrive too late. If you do both, email first.

How do I get the interviewer's address?

Ask the recruiter or coordinator at the end of the interview, or reply to the thread where the interview was scheduled. Do not guess at addresses.

Mistakes to avoid

• Typos in the name or company. Re-read before sending.
• Copying and pasting the same text to every interviewer.
• Long paragraphs. Under 150 words.
• Asking about pay in the thank-you. Salary conversations belong at the offer; see salary expectations and how to negotiate salary.
• Sending too many follow-ups. Two is enough.

Frequently asked questions

Is a thank-you email necessary? It is not required, but it is courteous and gives you a chance to reinforce one point. Many hiring managers appreciate it, and it costs five minutes.

How soon is too soon? The same day as the interview is fine. Within 24 hours is the target. After two days, still send it; late is better than never.

Should I thank the recruiter too? Yes, if the recruiter arranged the interview. A short note is enough. Recruiters often relay feedback to the hiring manager.

What if I interviewed with five people? Send individual emails if you have their addresses. If you only have one contact, send to that person and ask them to pass on your thanks to the team, naming the others.

Next step

Browse our interview preparation guide for the rest of the process, from self-introduction to salary.

This page is general career information.