Should you send a thank you after the interview?

In this series we’ve covered the major categories of interview questions: behavioral questions, hypotheticals, and the opener and closer. We haven’t covered every possible question you might hear, but you now have the foundation for most of what comes up. Now let’s talk about what happens after you’ve left the interview and written down your notes: should you reach out to the panel?

A thank you is fine, but it won’t set you apart

There’s certainly no harm in sending a thank you. It’s polite, and it’s fine to do. Just go in understanding that the panel will likely not reply, or will reply with a brief, simple message. A thank you on its own doesn’t set you apart much, because most candidates who follow up send one.

What’s stronger: circling back on something that came up

What’s stronger is circling back on a topic or problem that came up in the interview.

Interview questions are often a window into what the organization is working on and struggling with right now. If a panelist asked how you’d handle a particular challenge, or mentioned a project in progress, that tells you something about their current needs. Think back to your notes. Is there a topic you could add something useful to?

Then send something of value: an article on the issue, an example of something that worked in another city, or a work product of your own (a template, a process, a short summary you’ve created) that relates to what they discussed. Only share work you’re free to share, and never anything confidential from a current employer.

This is a strong move because it shows three things at once: that you heard their need, that you kept thinking about it after you walked out, and that you have a genuine interest in their success. Keep it short. A couple of sentences explaining why you’re sending it, and the link or attachment.

What it might look like

Here’s what that might look like for someone like Jordan Reyes, after an interview where the panel brought up a transparency reporting initiative:

“Thank you again for the conversation on Tuesday. When we talked about the transparency reporting initiative, I thought of a case study on how another city built a public dashboard for similar data. I’ve linked it below in case it’s useful as you move forward. Wishing you and the team the best with the project.”

Still don’t expect a reply. But even if you don’t move to the next round, you may have helped another agency, or made a lasting professional contact, and in a field as connected as local government, that tends to matter.

Insider tip: If nothing from the interview gives you something genuinely useful to share, a brief thank you is perfectly fine. Don’t send something just to send something. Reach out only when it adds value.

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