Saying goodbye or thank you in professional communication like cover letters, job applications, and post-interview emails can become awkward. The most common and generally used term we view in these situations is “Thank You for Your Consideration,” but is that the only best way to complete or finish your application?
This article is all about ditching the old boring way to say goodbye and making you stand out more with more imposing finishing lines.
What is a “Thank You For Your Consideration” Email:
The email you send to the manager, employer, or recruiter to show gratitude for considering your job application is called Thank You for your Consideration email. They are usually sent within 24 hours of your interaction with the related person, so you are fresh in their mind. The goal is to make yourself more visible professionally by emphasizing your suitability for the role and your passion for the company.
To stand out among the hundreds of other candidates, sending Thank You for Your consideration is a good way, but you should complete the email with more flair instead of a simple thank you.
Gratitude is the quality of being thankful and showing appreciation.
Not all professionals agree on what words should be used in a job application email when you're saying goodbye, but here are some ideas that can assist you in writing one with ease.
When to Send a “Thank You For Your Consideration” Email:
Here are situations when you might have to send a “Thank You for Your Consideration ” email.
Post-interview
Following up after every interview with the recruiter is a must to differentiate yourself from others. Whether it’s a full-fledged interview or just a screening by phone, following up with a thank-you email can help you stand out more.
The first thank you email should be sent within 24 hours of the interview just because it is an effective way to stay fresh in your interviewer's mind. If you don't send it within that time frame, then wait until after your next communication with the recruiter or manager.
When a decision has been made
Every company has its own hiring timing timeframe, so when there are two weeks left before the deadline, send a Thank You email again. It shows gratitude for being considered for this job role and helps avoid any miscommunication or missing out on important discussions. Just make sure to keep it brief and concise without any passive-aggressive behavior because it could end up hurting you.
When it’s time to move on
Upon completion of the job role or after an internal shuffle in your company, you might be facing a situation where you need to say goodbye. If that is the case, then sending out another Thank You email will help solidify your impression or even brief them about what you plan on doing next. These emails are also good for people who want their names included in the pool of qualified candidates and get notified of new roles in the future.
When you are rejected for a job
You may feel it would add insult to the injury, but thanking the recruiter even if he has rejected you is a good practice. It can help you maintain an excellent professional relationship with the employer. He may keep you in mind for other positions in the future.
The perfect thank you email should be respectful and stay away from sounding demanding or initiative-taking. You don’t want to come off as a pushy asshole, but rather a humble attractive candidate.
When you turn down a job
If you are offered a job that’s not suitable and turned down, it’s best to send a thank you email to tell them that you appreciate selecting you as the best candidate. Also, you might want to work with the recruiter in the future; sending this email can open that door for you.
If you get an offer
If you get an offer, the Thank You email isn’t necessary. But if you still want to send it, there are three (3) ways to do so:
- When your contact is a recruiter or manager who will pass on your thanks to the hiring team that selected her. This reduces the pressure of finding the perfect fit into one person that can reach out and thank everyone who helped make your new role possible.
- If you prefer targeted outreach, then pick one person on the interview panel to whom you’d like to say “Thank You” face-to-face after all interviews have been conducted or by phone. There's nothing wrong with wanting to personally thank the interviewer if you feel that person went above and beyond to help you learn about the role or company. Everyone likes some face time.
- If none of your interviewers stood out, then forward your Thank You email to the hiring manager with a customized message saying something like “Thank you for taking the time to meet with me today. I enjoyed learning more about the position and appreciate your consideration."
What to say instead of “Thank You For Your Consideration.”
Here are a few sentences that you can use instead of Thank You for Your Consideration.
“I appreciate your time.”
Time is the most valuable thing, and interviews/recruiting takes a lot of time, so reiterating that you appreciate the interviewer's time can work very well.
“Thank you for interviewing me.”
It can come off as a little too formal, but it reiterates the fact that you appreciate being interviewed in the first place and makes a good closing statement in case there was something you wanted to add.
“I enjoyed meeting with you today. Thanks again for your time.”
This is generic enough not to sound insincere, and gives a sense of closure with a thank you—which is ultimately what everybody wants!
“Thank you for this opportunity.”
After the 1st or 2nd interview, it should be clear that the company has given you a genuine chance. The whole process of applying and interviewing allows you to learn a lot about the role, company, and many other things which will come in handy in the future, and finishing the letter this way shows that you are aware of these things.
“Looking forward to talking more.”
If you want to open the door for further communication, looking forward to talking more is the best option. It’s a subtle way of telling the recruiter you want to stay in touch, but it doesn't make it seem like you are assuming there will be another opening.
The perfect thank you email should be respectful and stay away from sounding demanding or initiative-taking. You don’t want to come off as a pushy asshole, but rather a humble attractive candidate.
“Your consideration means a lot, thank you.”
This sentence makes you sound a lot more sincere, and it will work very well with the companies that value sincerity and communication. Moreover, the structure of this sentence itself is a little unique, so it will automatically stand out more.
“Thanks again for your time; I hope to talk more soon.”
Yes! You have guessed right; this sentence is a combination of the two phrases mentioned above, which shows that you are aware of the time and efforts they are putting in and that you are a confident and conversational person who is easy to get along with.
“I appreciate your consideration and look forward to learning more about the role.”
Use this sentence in the initial round of interviews where you are certain that there will be more interviews before you are hired. It shows that you are excited and aware of the process and are not a greenhorn but a seasoned professional.
The Best Way To Say “Thank You For Your Consideration”
You might have already heard of a method used to deliver criticism or bad news to someone, known as the sandwich method. We can apply this method while thanking a potential employer.
The best way is known as “thank you sandwich.”
Start by thanking them
Start by thanking the interviewer, and if you are writing a cover letter, write about the position you are interested in.
Highlight major points from the interview
Write about a few key points of the interviews and what you learned to show that you were paying attention. You can also ask anything related to the interview, like additional questions, something interesting you noticed during the interview, or anything that stands out to you are all great options to mention.
Clean up any interview mistakes
This step is optional and if you feel you made a mistake during the interview or the interviewer has some concerns, you can address them.
Focus on your most impressive skills
Talk about your skills and qualifications. Quantifying your achievements whenever possible can help. This method is viable for both cover letters and post-interview.
Showcasing your best skills should be your primary focus, especially when writing a cover letter, but this also holds true when writing a post-interview email.
Reiterate the “Thank You”
Endorse why you are the best candidate for this position. Finish the email with another thank you and CTA.
It’s always better to personalize the finishing of your mail than the traditional and boring “thank you for your consideration.” The options mentioned above add that personal touch while maintaining professionalism.
This guide has equipped you with all the knowledge to effectively sandwich information about why you are most suitable for the job and a thank you.
By applying these tips, you will appear more professional, polite. At the same time, you will appear different among other candidates with your unique way of saying “thank you for your consideration.”
What Not To Do:
Here are some of the things which should not be done when writing a “Thank You For Your Consideration” Email:
- Do not write too much: People often forget the purpose behind this email and start oversharing personal details. Your email should be short and to the point, you can include additional information if your interviewer asks for it. Do not talk about salary or negotiation unless you are asked for it during the interview.
- Do not attach a resume: There is no need to create an attachment of your resume here, as this will clutter the inbox. Sometimes, employers won't even open your document due to the sheer number of resumes they receive daily. All they want is a simple “thank you for consideration” message from candidates applying for their jobs and nothing more than that. Do Not mention anything negative: You'd better not make any excuses or blame anyone else like your previous employer if something went wrong in your last job; it makes you look unprofessional.
- Avoid writing a negative or apologetic email. It is not necessary to write about your weaknesses, they will learn more about your shortcomings when they meet you face-to-face. Do not say “I’d love to work for you!” This sounds over-the-top and insincere. You are not working for them yet unless you have an offer in hand.
The best way to show how passionate you are is by being engaged during the interview process itself rather than saying it in one line after they thank you for considering us as a potential candidate. The assumption that we must be feeling unconfident if we do not express our interest right away might be making us look unprofessional and trustworthy instead.
Do not forget to send a thank-you note and appreciate their time: The interviewer might be doing other things aside from conducting interviews and reading over resumes. The least we can do as potential candidates is to take the opportunity to thank them for their consideration. It’s okay if you used the typical “Thank You for your consideration” as long as it comes from your heart and truly reflects how thankful you are. Just remember, the key behind writing an email like this is professionalism and politeness; these two will always get you far in life!
