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The Art of Thank You..

23rd Sep 2026

Consultant

View Profile

Jordan Skwirut

jordan@accountstaffinc.com

412-701-9033

https://referrals.bestinrecruiting.com/join/jskwirut1

3 min read

You just finished an interview. You answered the questions, talked through your experience, asked a few questions of your own, and hopefully left the hiring manager with a good impression.

So, what’s next?

Send a thank-you email.

It may seem like a small step in the hiring process, but a thoughtful follow-up can help reinforce your interest in the position, remind the hiring manager why you’re a strong fit, and keep the conversation going.

Here’s some best practices and things to avoid when crafting your next "Thank You" email:

Ideally, send your email within 24 hours of the interview.

If you’re working with a recruiter, ask whether they recommend sending the hiring manager a note directly or routing your message through the recruiter. Your recruiter may have insight into the client's preferred communication style or hiring process.

Say thank you

Start by thanking the hiring manager for taking the time to meet with you.

Mention something specific

This is where you can separate your email from a generic, copy-and-paste thank you.

Reference something you discussed during the interview. Maybe you talked about the company's growth plans, a specific project, the team structure, a technology they're implementing, or a challenge they're trying to solve.

Showing that you were listening makes the email feel genuine.

Reinforce your interest

Close by expressing your continued interest in the position and briefly connecting your background to the opportunity.

You don't need to say you're "the perfect candidate." Let your experience speak for itself.

Don't send a generic message

"Thank you for interviewing me. I am very interested in the position."

That's polite, but it doesn't tell the hiring manager anything they don't already know.

Don't make it too long

This isn't the time to recap your entire resume or explain every reason you're qualified.

Keep it concise and focused.

Don't oversell yourself

Confidence is good. Repeatedly telling the hiring manager why you're the greatest candidate they've ever interviewed is not.

Focus on the conversation and the value your experience could bring to the role.

Don't introduce salary negotiations

Unless compensation was specifically discussed and you're responding to something from the interview, the thank-you email isn't the place to negotiate salary, benefits, vacation time, or other terms.

Those conversations can happen at the appropriate stage of the hiring process.

Don't point out your mistakes

If you stumbled over an answer or forgot a detail during the interview, there's usually no reason to draw attention to it in your follow-up.

Instead, use the email to reinforce relevant experience or information that supports your candidacy.

Don't use an unprofessional email address

This may sound obvious, but your email address is part of your professional presentation.

An address like johnnyfootballfan87@... may have been fine in college. For a job search, a simple version of your name is a safer choice.

Don't send the exact same message to everyone

If you interviewed with a hiring manager, department leader, and potential colleague, don't send three identical emails.

Mention something relevant from each conversation.

The Bottom Line

A thank-you email won't compensate for a lack of experience or make an otherwise poor interview successful.

But it can reinforce a strong interview. And if you're working with a recruiter, don't hesitate to ask for feedback before sending your message. A good staffing partner can often provide insight into what the hiring manager is looking for and help you tailor your follow-up accordingly.