It's always polite to say "thank you," but it is especially important when a new job is on the line.
If you’ve been in the heat of a job search, then you know how it feels to show your appreciation and send thank you emails after an interview. The reason for these emails is clear: professional etiquette is still extremely important in any effective job search. You want to come off as polite and responsible. However, you also want to stand out from the crowd.
Let’s check out a few ways you can say “thank you very much for your consideration” while making sure your letter helps set you apart from the competition.
Thank you for your consideration email?
We know, it’s played out. Everyone and their mother are sending the same “appreciate your consideration thank you” notes. But, of course, a proper thank you after an interview is always necessary.
Since our goal is to set ourselves apart from the pack, we need to explore how to send this message in a unique and impactful way.
So, how do we say ‘thanks for your consideration’ and ‘I really appreciate you taking the time’ without using the same, stale format as everyone else?
First, we have to understand what common, generic “thank you” notes look like. From there, you will discover how to really personalize it to leave a lasting impact on any hiring manager.
Generic (boring) thank you note
Dear [Interviewer Name],
I want to thank you for taking the time to interview me for the [position name] position.
I’m confident that my experience in [relevant experience] and my proven track record in [skills] will make me an excellent employee.
Thanks again for your consideration.
Best,
[Your Name]
The above letter contains most of what is considered to be essential. It reiterates interest and reminds the interviewer particularly what makes you unique. But it lacks any real substance.
Interviewers will read this note and forget about it in five minutes. Why? Because they’ve already seen 15 other notes thanking them for their consideration for the exact same job.
How to write a “thank you so much for taking the time” email that packs a punch
Sure, you can be lazy and stick to the generic note above. It’s the bare minimum of effort but it is still technically polite and professional.
The thing is, a bland letter like that isn’t going to help you stand out. It certainly isn’t going to change or improve an opinion or help the interviewer remember you in a positive light.
So, why not spend a little extra time to make sure the company really knows that it can’t miss out on you?
The following two examples are from attorney and copywriter extraordinaire, Matthew Platt:
Example 1: Amazing Thank You Note
[Interviewer Name],
I want to thank you again for taking the time to arrange for me to meet and speak with you as well as with [interviewer #2] this past Friday.
I am excited about the prospect of exploring a potential career with [Company Name]. Particularly because of the opportunity to expand my skill set to the broad spectrum of legal issues which [Company Name] manages regularly.
I want to thank you again for sharing your experience at [Company Name] with me and providing me with more information about the [Position Name] position.
I recognize that [Company Name] interviews many incredibly talented applicants regularly, and want to express my sincere appreciation to you for inviting me into speak. I think my [experience type] experience aligns perfectly with what your team is looking for, and I hope to get a chance to prove that.
I look forward to speaking again soon.
Best,John Smith
This way of saying thank you is great for a few reasons:
It mentions the names of all the people he met during the interview.
There is a mention of how the role will help him progress professionally.
Reiteration of why he is a perfect fit.
Here is another great example thank you message after an interview. In this context, the interviewee only interacted with one interviewer. In addition, the discussion itself was a bit shorter. Notice how he still makes reference to the benefits the company will gain from his employment while also reiterating excitement and appreciation on his end.
Example 2: Another Amazing Thank You Note
[Interviewer Name],
Thank you for taking the time to speak with me this past Friday about the [Position Name] position with [Company Name].
It was a pleasure meeting with you, and I truly enjoyed learning more about the role. After our conversation, I am confident that my skills and experiences are a great match for this opportunity.
I especially appreciated when you explained how [Company Name] would allow me to not only expand my skill set within the corporate and investment management area but also in many other areas of law as well.
My interview this past Friday confirmed my belief that I could be a valuable new [Position Name]. I am very enthusiastic about the possibility of joining your team and look forward to speaking to you again in the future. If you need any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Best,John Smith
While the above letter is a bit less expressive, it still successfully drives home the point. Instead of the generic “thank you very much for your time and consideration,” this template details exactly why the employment fit is perfect.
It goes into not only why the company would benefit from his employment, but it will also let them know how he plans on growing with the role as a professional.
Mentioning long-term goals or a future with the company is very effective. It shows the employer that you plan on sticking with them long term if given the opportunity.
Thank you for your consideration!
That’s right, you! Thanks for reading. By now, you should have a really good idea as to how you should replace the stale “thank you” and “I appreciate your time” email with an impactful letter that leaves a lasting impression. You can’t go wrong with a specific, personalized message that checks off all the same points in a fresh way.
Summary
To recap, here are a few key points you should hit in your thank you letter to really stand out after an interview:
Don’t forget to mention the names of EVERY team member you spoke with.
Discuss specifically how your professional skills line up with the requirements of the position.
Explain how the role will help you grow professionally in the long term.
Express enthusiasm and an understanding of the situation.
Reiterate what sets you apart.
Make sure to encompass all the points above and your “thank you for your consideration” email will quickly change into a “thank you for the opportunity!”
For more job search and resume tips, check out the rest of the ZipJob blog here.
We also offer a really sweet, free, and comprehensive resume review. Make sure your resume is sending the right message before you start sending it out!
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Written by
Jeffrey Macks
Jeffrey is one of ZipJob's co-founders and has been a blog contributor since 2016.
