Thank-you notes

The thank-you note is an indispensable tool in your job search. Employers often say that receiving a timely, well-written thank-you note can make or break a hiring decision. 
"57% of job seekers don't send thank-you notes after the interview, but doing so is a chance to reiterate your interest!"

How to write a good thank-you note

  • Make it personal. A generic thank-you note can be worse than no thank-you note at all. What it communicates is that you know you’re supposed to write a note but don’t care enough to give it your best effort. Address the interviewer and company by name (not by first name unless you’ve been invited to do so). Mention something from the interview that struck you as interesting or unique.
  • Make it sincere. If the employer senses that your gratitude isn’t genuine, your thank-you note will backfire. Authenticity matters.
  • Keep it short and to the point. You’ll leave a fresh, positive impression if you stick to the basics:
    • Express your appreciation for the interviewer’s time and consideration.
    • Mention something interesting about the interview.
    • Emphasize (briefly!) any information that may not have been shared in the interview.
    • Reiterate your interest in the position.
    • Remind the employer how well suited you are for the position.
  • If different interviewers played distinct roles, consider sending a separate, unique thank you note to everyone who interviewed you.
  • Proofread, proofread, proofread. Be sure to check for misspellings and errors just as you would on your résumé or cover letter — in many ways it is just as important.
  • Don’t delay. If at all possible, your note should be sent the day of the interview.
Contact the CCC

Make an appointment

To make an appointment, go to your Handshake account, click on “Career Center” at the top and then on “Appointments” and fill out the form.

Go to Handshake >

Hand-written or emailed? Which is best?

In the past, hand-written thank you notes were very common and are still ideal for some fields. However, in general, with the pace that work and interviews can move, emailed thank yous are best for most situations today. They are sent instantaneously (you don’t need to wait for the mail) and they’re easy to keep track of and find easily again.

In the end, you should choose the method based on the job you are seeking, what you feel most comfortable doing, and what you think the employer will prefer.

Thank-you notes sample

Dear Ms. Smith:

Thank you for considering me for the position of Project Supervisor at Porter's Manufacturing. During the interview, I appreciated the opportunity to ask questions about the position. The tour of the manufacturing plant, as well as the office, helped me to understand the scope of your company.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,
Carmen Rivera

Dear Mr. Lee,

Thank you so much for the opportunity to interview with you and your team today for the Assistant Director position. I really appreciate your time, your thoughtful questions, and your interest in my background.

I particularly appreciated your question about my approach to working with and supervising a diverse team, and could tell how much you value being part of the strong, diverse team at the company. It was also great to hear from you, as one of the most recent members to join the team, that you find it to be a supportive office and a friendly, collaborative working atmosphere.

I genuinely felt that from you all, and am very interested in joining your team. I feel that my (career counseling, teaching & program development, project management, and supervision experience) could make me a strong Assistant Director for the company.

Thank you very much again for your consideration.

Best,
Amelia Lòpez

Following up

You may or may not get an email in response to your thank-you note, but don’t assume that means bad news. If you still haven’t heard anything at the end of the hiring timeline they indicated (or after two weeks, if unsure), you can reach out to the employer again.

Events hosted by the CCC

CCC events

Find out about upcoming events both on campus and in the community — including career and internship fairs, career meet-ups, employer panels, etiquette dinners, and more.

Learn more >