HR Operations Post-Interview Thank-You Letter

As a recruiter, I've received and written many thank-you notes The difference between the good and bad ones comes down to one word: Intent If you think the intent of a thank you note is to thank the team You're doing them wrong Many thank you notes I see follow the same format -Greeting -Thanks -Closing It's generic, boring, and doesn't come across as genuine And it tells me your intent isn't where it should be It tells me you're doing it to check a box And then complain that you didn't get selected And bash interview notes as a waste of time If you interviewed with someone or a team and you're finding it hard to write a thank you note Don't bother sending it That should be a sign that the role/company isn't the right fit for you A good thank you note is easy to write because it's genuine and authentic It shows that you are truly thankful for the opportunity It shows that you value the connection you just made and want to build on it And it shows you want the opportunity The anatomy of a good cover thank you email is simple: -Greeting -Expressing gratitude/thanks for the interview -Mentioning 1-2 specifics from the conversation that stood out to you -Reinforcing your interest in the role and company -A personal touch over established commonality in the interview -Closing statement Bonus: sending it within 24-hours of your interview Example: "Dear Dave, I wanted to thank you again for taking the time to interview me for the project manager role at Exelon. I appreciated having a candid conversation with you and learning more about what you are looking for in a candidate; particularly how the person in this role will have a major role in managing the new renewable assets and solar projects. I've looked forward to the possibility of working at Exelon for quite some time, and our conversation today only reinforced that further. By the way, I know you mentioned you are an avid Bulls fan. If you've got some time, I'd recommend "The Old Man and the Three" podcast by 343 Productions. They just had Joakim Noah on the show, and I have a feeling his discussion on his time with Derrick Rose and where the team is heading now would be right up your alley. Take care, Jordan" That thank you note is sincere and memorable, and adds some personal touches from the conversation Don't write a thank you note just as a formality Do it because you are legitimately thankful And if you struggle to write one Maybe that's your sign of saying this isn't the right fit for you And that's okay too

The follow-up email that got me the job (and the one that didn't) 📧 BAD follow-up (my actual email from 2019): "Thank you for your time yesterday. I'm very interested in this position and look forward to hearing from you soon." Result: Crickets. 🦗 GOOD follow-up (learned my lesson): "Hi Beth, Thanks for explaining the challenges with your product launch timeline. I've been thinking about our conversation and found this case study that faced similar issues. They solved it by using the approach below. Would love to discuss how this might apply to your situation. Best, Me" Result: Job offer within 48 hours. ✨ Here's what actually works: ✅ Reference a specific conversation detail (shows you were listening) ✅ Add value (article, insight, connection, solution) ✅ Ask a thoughtful follow-up question ✅ Send within 24 hours (not 5 minutes, not 5 days) What doesn't work: ❌ Generic "thank you for your time" templates ❌ Desperately asking about timeline updates ❌ Sending your portfolio again (they already have it) ❌ Following up daily like a clingy ex The best follow-up I ever received as a hiring manager: Candidate sent a one-page strategy doc addressing the exact problem we discussed. Didn't ask for the job - just said "thought you might find this useful." Hired them immediately. Pro tip: Your follow-up should make them think "Wow, imagine having this person on our team" not "Please stop emailing me." What's the boldest follow-up move you've ever made? Did it work? P.S. Emails above actually worked, which landed me positions before I was laid off again. Still haven't found my forever work home, but hoping that changes soon. :) #InterviewTips #FollowUpStrategy #JobSearch #HiringHacks #CareerMoves

We recently interviewed a candidate who truly stood out following their final interview. After meeting with a panel of four interviewers, they took the time to send personalized thank you notes to each panel member. In every note, the candidate referenced a specific question or insight shared during the interview - it was a 5 star demonstration of attention to detail. Thank you note or not, she would have received an offer, so the level of thoughtfulness was the cherry on top for an incredibly qualified candidate. It wasn’t just about ticking boxes—it showed engagement, professionalism, and the kind of soft skills we look for in a great hire. When it comes to thank you notes, here's a rundown of best practices: Do: - Send your thank-you note within 24 hours. - If you had a panel interview, personalize each message—mention something unique from each conversation. - If you have the hiring manager’s (HM) email, feel free to send the note directly. If you don't, email the recruiter to ask AND include your note to forward in the case they can't provide it. - Use the thank you note as an opportunity to reinforce an area in which you felt wasn't your strongest, or to answer a question you may have not been able to nail in the moment. Don't: - Send a copy-paste thank you note [the two line, generic message that's sent about 90 seconds after an interview doesn't hold a whole lot of weight]. Recruiters and hiring managers, what qualities make a thank you note stand out to you? #recruitmentrevealed

After reviewing hundreds of post-interview emails, I spotted a pattern: The most successful candidates never sent just a 'thank you' note. They sent strategic follow-ups that got them hired. Let's analyze why most follow-up emails fail: - 'Thank you for your time' → Generic opener that blends into the inbox - 'I enjoyed our conversation' → Vague sentiment that fails to demonstrate engagement - 'I look forward to hearing from you' → Passive closing that surrenders momentum But the candidates who consistently landed offers? They turned this touchpoint into a strategic advantage: - Referenced specific discussion points ('Regarding our conversation about scaling the marketing team...') - Added value naturally ('Found this relevant article about the automation challenge we discussed...') - Connected their experience to the company's needs ('Your point about needing SQL expertise reminded me of when I...')" The difference between a courtesy email and a strategic follow-up isn't length - it's intention. Every interaction is a chance to reinforce your value. What's one small change that made a big difference in your interview process? P.S. DM me 'Career Closer' to learn more about my group program, where I teach my complete system for turning interview touchpoints into offer letters.