Feb 264 min read

The MBA Interview Thank You Note

Preparing for an MBA interview can be daunting. When you receive your interview invite, you’ll need to research the school’s interview process, comb through previously asked questions, and practice mock interviews with your consultant, friends, or alumni.

So when you’re finished with the interview - typically the final leg of your MBA application - it’s almost time to finally pat yourself on the back for all your hard work and await the business school’s decision.

But what most applicants forget to do in the post-interview haze is follow one of the most fundamental business etiquettes: sending a thank you note. A thank you note is an email an applicant sends their interviewer to thank them for taking time out of their busy schedules to meet them and consider their candidacy. A thoughtful thank you note is a gesture that can leave a lasting impression on the Admissions Committee member or alum/student assessing your interview.

But applicants often leave it too late, or forget to write one at all! So, here are our top tips on what you should focus on, how to structure it, and what you should not do when writing a thank you note to your MBA interviewer.

Should I Write a Thank You Note after my MBA Interview?

The short answer is yes! You should always write a thank you note to your interviewer after your interview. It doesn’t matter if you’ve thanked them in person already; writing a brief appreciation email shows that you are attentive and considerate of the time they’ve taken to speak with you.

In some cultures, it’s less common to send a thank you note after a professional interaction. In Europe and the US, it’s highly appreciated.

When Should I Write the MBA Interview Thank You Note?

Ideally, you should send your thank you email the same day as your interview, or the following day. Don’t wait much longer to send one; the interview should be fresh in the interviewer’s mind!

How to Write the MBA Interview Thank You Note

Important details: Immediately after the interview, note down simple yet important details like their name, how they spell it, or if they go by a shortened or second name. Also if there were any particularly memorable parts of the conversation that you want to mention.
Show appreciation: It’s polite to thank people for their time and consideration in follow-up or thank-you emails. Especially when they have a hand to play in your chances of getting an admit!
Make a reference: Mention an interesting subject or shared interest you both discussed during the interview. However, keep it brief and do not dive into excessive detail. Your interviewer may find it difficult to respond to everything you touch upon.
Express your continued interest: Clearly communicate your enthusiasm for pursuing an MBA at their business school. This assures them that if they extend you an offer, it’s likely that you’ll accept it.
Make yourselves approachable: The interviewer’s assessment of your profile will be the final factor that nudges your application into the “Admitted” pile (or not!). Ensure that you come across as humble and approachable, making it easy for them to reach out to you with doubts or questions.
Keep the note short and casual: Your interviewer doesn’t want to read overly edited and boring, drawn-out paragraphs. Keep your email brief and straightforward without being too professional about it. Your language should be conversational.
Offer to clarify: You might want to provide clarity if you feel like one of your answers was particularly important or unclear, for example because one of your internet connections was poor. But don’t write long paragraphs over it.

What NOT to Do:

Don’t ask additional questions: Don’t ask your interviewer a follow-up question about your interview, or seek their advice on something. You’ll simply create more work for them (which can be annoying!).
Don’t be too formal: Keep the tone and language of your email natural. Strike that balance between being overly formal while avoiding being too familiar while addressing them.
Don’t make requests: The point of the “Thank You” note is to politely appreciate your interviewer’s time and effort. So don’t make any additional requests of them, especially when it’s beyond the scope of their desk.
Don’t be too late: Send this email in a timely manner, ideally the same day or the day after.
Don’t appear too desperate: Be confident about the value you bring to the table. Don’t use language that makes you appear like you’re groveling.
Not proofing the email: It’s a real shame to send out a carefully structured email with a typo. The stakes are high here, so make sure you proofread your email carefully for any grammatical errors before you hit ‘Send’.

Example MBA Interview Thank You Note

Here is a sample thank you note to send an interviewer after the MBA interview:

Dear Ali,

I hope you’re doing well! I am writing to thank you again for taking the time to interview me yesterday. I really enjoyed our discussion, and especially learning about the professional development opportunities at Kellogg.

I think we covered everything during our conversation but please let me know if there is anything else I can provide to strengthen my candidacy and Kellogg application.

Thank you once again for the conversation, and I hope you have a wonderful week ahead.

Kind regards,

Sam Weeks

Are you applying to top MBA programs, or already have interview offers? Get in touch for a free chat to maximize your chances of securing an admit.