So, you just killed your interview—congrats! But before you start anxiously waiting for an update (while resisting the urge to check your inbox every five minutes), there’s one more thing you need to do: Write a thank-you note.
“A thank-you note isn't just good manners—it's a strategic move,” says Jennifer Smith, a career coach at The Muse, founder of Flourish Careers, and host of The Flourish Careers podcast. “It reinforces your enthusiasm for the role, allows you to reiterate key points from the conversation, and helps you stand out in the hiring manager's memory.”
Plus, it can keep the door open. “Sometimes, the first candidate doesn't work out, and you’re the runner-up; a thank-you note can help them reiterate their decision to make an offer,” Smith says. “Or, if a similar role opens up in the future, you could be at the top of their list because you left them with a positive, professional final impression.”
For that to happen, though, you’ll want to avoid these common mistakes job seekers make when writing a post-interview thank-you email—otherwise, it could backfire. Check out our list!
Sending a thank-you email after an interview: 8 mistakes to avoid
Don't underestimate the power of a thank-you note. While it may seem like a simple gesture, it's surprisingly easy to make mistakes that could hurt your chances of landing the job.
1. Don’t wait too long to send it
Ideally, send your thank-you note within 24 hours of the interview. If that’s not possible, 48 hours is still reasonable. After that, “it might not have the same impact, especially if hiring decisions are made quickly,” Smith says. “If you're past the 48-hour mark and still feel compelled to send one, do it—but acknowledge the delay and keep it concise.”
2. Don’t be too generic
No one likes receiving an email that sounds like an automated message—including your potential employer. “A cookie-cutter message that could apply to any job or company doesn't leave much impact,” Smith says. “Mention something specific from the interview to show you were engaged.”
Since writing personalized thank-you notes after every interview can be exhausting—especially if you’ve been job hunting for a while—focus your effort on the jobs you really want and the interviews that felt like a win.
Read this next: 8 Signs You Aced That Job Interview (and 4 Signs You Didn’t)
3. Don’t write an overly short note
“Hi [name], thank you for the interview. Regards,” is not enough. A thank-you email should be concise, but not as short as a text message.
If you’re unsure of what to say, you can add a phrase asking if the recruiter needs any extra information. Or, you could expand a bit more on an important topic from your conversation. “For example, if there was a question where you wish you had expanded more or if a key detail slipped your mind, the thank-you note is a great place to add that insight,” Smith says.
4. Don’t make it unnecessarily long, either
Smith also says that writing a long email and reiterating your resume is a common mistake candidates make. Thank-you notes aren’t the place to sell yourself all over again. You can complement an answer, as mentioned above, but avoid turning it into an essay.
Read this next: What Not to Say in a Thank-you Email After an Interview
5. Don’t forget to check for spelling and grammar
In a rush to send the email quickly, candidates often forget to check for typos or grammar errors. “Poorly written notes can do more harm than good—proofread before sending,” Smith says. If you're using your cell phone, check twice, as autocorrect tends to suggest more common words. You won’t realize you’ve typed “Hi Sushi” instead of “Hi Susie” until it’s too late.
6. Don’t address the wrong person
Speaking of Sush—Susie, you don’t want to misspell the interviewer's name or address the wrong person after you swore your attention to detail was stellar during the interview. Always check twice, especially if they have a unique name or if it was a panel interview with multiple people.
7. Don’t be overly casual or formal
Just because you met the interviewer doesn’t mean you're friends and can drop formality. But your thank-you email doesn’t need to sound like royal correspondence from the 1800s either. “Match the company's tone and culture,” Smith says, but always keep in mind that you’re not hired yet. “Keep it professional and appreciative.”
8. Don’t beg for the job
No matter how much you really, really, really want or need the job—don’t beg for it in a thank-you email. It can come across as though you're trying to manipulate the interviewer into feeling sorry for you, or that you lack basic social and professional etiquette. It could even suggest you're the type of person who doesn’t accept “no” for an answer.
The fact that you're sending a thank-you email alone already shows you’re serious about the position. There’s no need to go overboard. (If that opportunity doesn’t work out, Muse's job board always has multiple companies all over the country looking for candidates.)
Bottom line
Post-interview thank-you emails should be simple, professional, and concise. When thoughtfully written, they show you’re taking your candidacy seriously and can leave the door open for future opportunities. If after memorizing these don’ts you need a template to help you get started, we've got you covered with one here.
FAQs
Is it unprofessional to send a thank-you email after an interview?
No, on the contrary, thank-you emails are considered very professional—as long as you avoid the mistakes mentioned above—and employers typically appreciate receiving them.
Is it bad if you forget to send a thank-you email after an interview?
Not sending a thank-you email after an interview won’t necessarily cost you the job, Smith says, but it’s an opportunity missed. “In competitive hiring situations, every small detail can tip the scales,” she says. “While some hiring managers don't mind if candidates skip it, others take it as a sign of a lack of enthusiasm or professionalism.”
So, while it's not the end of the world, it's best to send one. “Since it's a simple step that can only help, it's always worth doing,” the career coach says.
How long is too long for a thank-you email after an interview?
Ideally, a thank-you email should not be longer than three short to medium-length paragraphs, besides the greeting and closing. Anything longer than that is too much, as it's meant to show your appreciation for the opportunity, not to repeat your qualifications all over again.
Is 48 hours too late to send a thank-you email after the interview?
No, 48 hours after the interview is still a good time to send a thank-you email. So, how late is too late to send a thank-you email? That would be anything past 48 hours (two days).
“Should I send a thank-you email after an interview for an internal position?”
Yes. “Just because you're already part of the company doesn't mean you should skip this step,” Smith says. “A thank-you note shows professionalism, respect for the process, and your genuine interest in the role. It also helps reinforce your key qualifications and can set you apart from other internal, or even external, candidates.”
Should you send a thank-you email after a one-way interview?
It's not absolutely necessary since one-way interviews often don't involve any human interaction. However, if you choose to send one, be mindful of your phrasing. Avoid generic phrases like “Thank you for taking the time to get to know me today,” especially when you haven’t actually spoken with anyone.
Is it OK to send a group thank-you email after an interview?
It’s not necessarily bad, but it’s not the best approach. “I recommend sending individual notes; each person in the panel likely had a different perspective on your interview, so personalizing your message based on your conversation with them is a great way to build rapport,” Smith says. “If you don't have all their email addresses, sending a single thank-you to the hiring manager—and asking them to pass along your gratitude to the rest of the panel—is still better than sending nothing.”
Amanda Cardoso contributed to the latest version of this article.