How to nail the perfect thank you note

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If you haven’t yet downloaded the Resume Refresh guide, I suggest you subscribe to my list (I promise, no spam!) and then you’ll receive it in your inbox. Read through that first to improve your resume and stand out to the hiring manager and recruiter.

OK, so you’ve perfected your resume, managed to get noticed by your target employer and you just absolutely NAILED your interview or interviews. I’m sure you are exhausted and that bottle of Sauvignon blanc in the fridge is calling your name, but you’re not done just yet! In the 24 hours following your interview, t’s time to send a thank you note to the interviewer or hiring manager as a follow-up to your meeting. Don’t know how to start? You’ve come to the right place.

Whether you had a phone interview, video interview or an in person interview it’s a non-negotiable to send a thank you note. Many hiring managers pay very close attention to the quality of your note as well as the timeliness with which it’s sent. I’ve seen thank you notes make or break an offer working in the biz for 10+ years.

The key is to keep your notes simple for a phone screen interview, and get more detailed and reflective with your thank you notes as your interviews further on. Later in the process you want to get more specific with your thank you note o stand out from other applicants. Show the hiring manager you were paying attention in the interview and reiterate/remind them what a great fit you’d be for the job.

Phone Interview -Keep it simple

Hi [Interviewer Name],

Thank you so much for chatting with me today. It was such a pleasure to learn more about the [Job Title] role, and I’m very excited about the opportunity to join [Company]. I got really excited listening to you explain what the role will entail and I would love the opportunity to help your team do [XYZ– bring a new audience to your amazing content, run your sales team, head up the back office finance team, etc.)

I look forward to hearing from you about next steps, but please don’t hesitate to contact me if I can provide any additional information.

All the best,
[Name]

Email: xxxxxxx@gmail.com
Phone: xxx.xxx.xxxx

[Attach your resume in pdf format so you are top of mind]

First Round Thank You Note – Straight forward and appreciative

Hi [Interviewer Name],
Thanks so much for your time earlier today/yesterday! It was such a pleasure to speak with you and tell you more about my background, motivators and drivers.
I really appreciate the thoughtfulness of your questions and it was refreshing to take a step back and think through my previous experiences and inflection points in my career. I am a problem solver and this will allow me to thrive in the [Job Title] role.
It was such a pleasure to connect with you today and if there is any more information I could provide, or if any questions come up, please don’t hesitate to let me know! Have a great remainder of your week.
All the best,
[Name]

Email: xxxxxxx@gmail.com
Phone: xxx.xxx.xxxx

[Attach your resume in pdf format so you are top of mind]

Final Round Thank You Note – In depth, thoughtful, reflective

Hi [Interviewer Name],

Thanks so much for your time today. I loved coming into the office and seeing the culture and environment in real-time. It was such a pleasure learning about your role at [Company] and the impact you’ve had across [so many teams, regions, projects, etc.]. It’s clear that you’ve found your role at [Company] to be both challenging and rewarding.

I loved learning about the focus and importance of [data, relationship building, customer service, etc.] as the foundation of the [Job Title] role. I too believe that [data, relationship building, customer service, etc.] is at the heart of any successful [Team Name] team, and it’s something I feel I have excelled at over the course of my career. Throughout my career, I’ve always paid extra attention to keep existing relationships intact and building new relationships with new hires and key stakeholders. In my previous role at [Company], relationship building, trust, and transparency allowed me to become a trusted advisor to the teams that expanded in the business.

The [Job Title] opportunity would be the highlight of my career. I’ve been following [Company] for [years/months] and hearing you describe the need for wearing multiple hats, pivoting quickly, and changing priorities seamlessly and rapidly throughout the day sounds like an exciting and rewarding challenge. I would be incredibly excited to make an impact on the [geographic location] team while learning the ways in which [Company] operates.

Please let me know if you have any outstanding questions about my background or experience, and I really appreciate the time you spent with me earlier this morning.

All the best,
[Name]

Email: xxxxxxx@gmail.com
Phone: xxx.xxx.xxxx

[Attach your resume in pdf format so you are top of mind]

HOT TIP: While the templates above will get you noticed, if you really want to blow a hiring manager out of the water, add in another few lines before “I look forward to hearing from you…” with some ideas you have on how you could add value. Think: a quick mock-up of something you discussed in the interview if you’re in a creative role, taglines if you’re in branding, or some slides or possible partners if you’re in business development or sales.
It could look something like this: To follow up on our conversation about churned clients, I’ve attached a short deck I mocked up on my initial ideas for increasing renewals. Happy to discuss further if you see it being a helpful resource.

I hope this post helps you receive an offer and land the job! If you haven’t yet subscribed to my email list, do so now and you’ll continue to receive advice and helpful tips each month.

If you need further help, drop me a line and let’s connect over a call to see how we can partner together!