Should I send a follow up email to interviewers after an interview?

Technically you don’t have to - especially if you are using a good recruiter as your recruiter will follow up with you and your interviewers after all interviews. Some recruiters would say that it’s overkill for you to then thank the interviewers personally as well. 

However, my view is that it never does any harm. A quick, simple email thanking senior interviewers for their time and interest in you: (i) doesn’t take that long for you to write; and (ii) is never badly received.

There are some simple rules with thank you emails. 

1. Make sure you spell the names of the interviewers you met correctly and email the right people!

2. If there was an HR representative at the interview as well, include them in your thank-you.

3. Keep it simple and don’t make it so that they have to reply. They are busy people, don’t make them do more work, unless you have specific questions about the role and / or team and they invited you to contact them if you have any further questions. 

4. If you’re definitely not interested in progressing, politely let them know it’s not for you, but thank them for their time and interest in you.

5. Do be positive if you want the job. Let them know you’re interested in taking this forward to the next stage if you are.

6. Don’t go overboard with your positive message. It sounds desperate.

A simple example would be:

Dear Sally and Peter, 

Thank-you for meeting me today. I really appreciate your time in talking to me about the role which sounds like a great match with my skills. 

I would be very keen to take this to the next stage. 

Please don’t hesitate to let me know if you have any further questions for me. 

I look forward to hearing from you in due course.

Kind regards 

Jonathan Walmsley | Principal | Marsden Legal Search & Recruitment

Tel: +61 2 8014 9050 

Sydney | Brisbane | Dubai | London | Toronto  

Website: www.marsdengroup.com