Thanks a bunch, or thanks for nothing?

You just aced your interview. Now what?

The simple gesture of writing a thank-you note can help you stay top-of-mind as your interviewers make their decision.

It can demonstrate your enthusiasm and suitability for the role. It can reflect your professionalism. It can reinforce your interest. It can be a catalyst that helps the process move along more quickly. It can even set you apart from other candidates.

But, it might not matter.

Maybe no one will read it. Maybe no one will care.

Their decision might already be made.

Is it really worth writing a thank-you note after every interview?

Is it worth it?

YES!

Is it possible that no one will read it, or even care?

Yep.

Could spending the time to write a thank you note hurt your candidacy?

No!

If you really want this job, even knowing it might not help, is it worth your time?

Absolutely.

It seems that everyone has a different opinion on the effectiveness of thank-you notes within the interview process.

Quite related, every recruiter and hiring manager I've worked with does, indeed, have a different opinion on how thank you notes should be taken into account when making a hiring decision.

That explains why some people say it's worth it, and others say it's not.

The truth is, I haven't come across any hiring managers or recruiters who "expect" a thank you note.

I haven't EVER heard anyone say, "Well, out of these two candidates, let's hire the one who sent a thank you note!"

It can set you apart from other candidates, but it's probably pretty rare for it to be the deciding factor.

So, if someone actually reads it, how can it help?

As mentioned above, sending a thank you note helps you stay "top of mind" in what can sometimes be a drawn-out hiring process. You can effectively insert yourself into your interviewer's email inbox as a gentle reminder for them to submit their interview feedback. A thank you note can be the catalyst that moves the process along.

A thank you note can demonstrate your enthusiasm and interest in the role. If you're not the kind of person who wears your heart on your sleeve and exudes "passion" for what you do, a well-written thank you note can assure your interviewers that you are, in fact, excited about this opportunity.

It can reflect your professionalism and written communication capabilities. If there were any open questions about how you would perform in a corporate environment or your ability to write succinctly and clearly, your thank you note is an extra chance to show off your business savvy.

It also shows gratitude. A thank you note shows you appreciate your interviewer's time and effort. It’s a gesture of respect.

When should you send a thank you note?

Aim to send your thank you note within 24 hours after the interview. Send it while you're still fresh in the interviewer’s mind. You don't want them to confuse you with another candidate!

Interviews these days tend to be broken down into several stages. Consider sending a thank you note after each one:

• After the initial screening call with a recruiter or HR representative
• After each formal interview, whether it's in-person or remote
• After a casual coffee chat or catch-up with someone in your network
• After an informational interview with someone in your target role or industry
• After someone facilitates an introduction for you
• After receiving feedback post-interview

What should you say in your thank you note?

1. Thank them for their time.
2. Mention key points from the conversation, especially ones that captured your interviewer's attention.
3. Express your enthusiasm, suitability for the role, and/or what you're most excited about.
4. Follow through on anything you promised, such as sending your resume, additional details about a past project, or link to an article you brought up.
5. End on a positive note, mentioning again how you hope to contribute and be a part of the team.

What should you avoid in your thank you note?

1. Don't be too generic. You can copy and paste from a pre-written template to save time, but tailor each thank you note to the specific conversation. Mention particular details to show genuine interest and attentiveness.
2. Don't make it too long. Keep your thank you note concise. Aim for a few well-crafted paragraphs that convey your message clearly without overwhelming the reader. No one has time to read a wall of text.
3. Don't skip the proofread, spell check, and grammar check. A single typo should only be a deal-breaker if written communication is part of the job, but several typos can make you look inattentive and unprofessional.
4. Don't use AI to write it. You can use AI to brainstorm ideas for what to write about, but use your own words and phrasing. Assume that other candidates are using AI too, and that the thank you note it spits out for them will be near-identical to the one it spits out for you. Your interviewer will be able to spot it from a mile away.

The Bottom Line: After a job interview, always send a follow-up email with a sincere thank you and a reminder of what makes you a great candidate. While it may not guarantee your success, this is still a pretty competitive job market, and every advantage counts.