How to Say, ‘Thank You for Considering My Application’

Updated 13 February 2023

Thanking someone for considering your job application is a polite way to acknowledge the time and effort that goes into the recruitment process. You may wish to thank a recruiter for considering your application as a professional courtesy. Learning how to say, ‘Thank you for considering my application’, may prove useful when applying for jobs, accepting roles or turning down job offers. In this article, we explain why it's important to thank the recruiter for considering your application, outline how to show your thanks effectively, provide examples and list tips to help you practise.

Why is it important to say, ‘Thank you for considering my application’?

Saying thank you for considering my application is a polite and professional courtesy that you can extend to the recruiter or hiring manager supervising the recruitment process. You may write this statement at the end of a cover letter that you address to the recruiter, thank them verbally over the phone at the end of a job interview or express gratitude if the person politely declines your application. There are many important reasons to thank a recruiter for considering you, including:

Staying professional throughout the hiring process
Building a relationship with the recruiter or company
Leaving a positive impression
Showing gratitude for the recruiter's time
Remaining polite
Being kind in your communication
Being open to future job opportunities
Remaining memorable for when the organisation hires again

How to say, ‘Thank you for considering my application’

There are several ways to thank a person for considering your application. The approach may depend on the formality of the situation, how well you know the recruiter and the stage of the application process. The following steps might help you say thanks to the person considering your application:

1. Choose the right time

Timing is important when you're planning your message. Deliver it at an appropriate point in the application process for maximum impact. You can have several messages ready to write or speak at different points in the application process. For example, if you're writing a cover letter to send to a recruiter with your resume, you could close the letter with a short courtesy note thanking them for reading your application. If they select you for an interview, you could deliver a different message of thanks at the end of the interview.

2. Determine your goal

It may help you craft an effective message if you remember an end goal that you'd like the message to achieve. Your goal could be politeness, showing kindness or expressing gratitude, in which case you could simply sign off with thank you. If you hope the recruiter considers you for future opportunities, write a gratitude note expressing this. Once you've determined your objective, you can create a message based on this goal.

Related: How to Set Career Goals

3. Compose your message

Sitting down to write your message is the most important stage. Even if you plan to say thanks to your interviewer in person, you might wish to write it down first and practise saying it aloud. If you want to write a message at the end of an email or cover letter, you could ask a friend or colleague to read it through to check for mistakes.

4. Deliver your message

Delivering your message of gratitude for considering your application is the final step. You could provide it as part of your original application or you may prefer to call or email the recruiter and thank them directly for their time and effort. You might also find it helpful to follow up and ask for feedback on your application or ask them to keep you informed of future job openings after you've thanked them.

Examples for thanking someone effectively

You may find that you thank a person for considering your application when communicating in writing via email or other correspondence. You may also thank them verbally if you're interviewing over the phone, through video software or in person. You might also want to thank a recruiter when you turn down a role they offer you, if they refuse your application or if you wish to accept their offer. The following examples can help you thank an employer for considering your application:

Examples for the end of a cover letter

The following examples may help you express gratitude at the end of a cover letter:

‘I really appreciate your consideration of my application’.
‘I appreciate the opportunity to apply’.
‘Thank you for this opportunity’.
‘I am grateful for the time you've taken to read my application’.

Examples for the end of interviews

The following examples may help you say thanks when talking to an interviewer:

‘Thank you for taking the time to speak with me on the phone today. I hope that my application is a success’.
‘Thank you for inviting me to the interview. I appreciate your consideration and hope we can work together in the future’.
‘It was a pleasure applying for this role, and I appreciate the opportunity’.
‘It was wonderful to meet you and the team today. I hope that we all have the chance to work together shortly’.

Examples for accepting a job

These examples may assist when accepting a role:

‘Thank you for considering my application. I'm glad you've asked to work with me’.
‘Thank you for the offer. I'd love to accept’.
‘This is fantastic news. I'm so glad you reviewed my application and know we're going to make a great team’.

Examples for when an employer declines your application

These examples may help when the employer has politely declined you for a job:

‘I'm glad you considered my application, but I understand why you haven't pursued this further’.
‘I appreciate that you read my application. It's a shame we won't be working together’.
‘I'm sorry to hear this. Please keep me in mind for any future opportunities’.

Examples for declining a role

The following may help if you're politely declining a role:

‘I appreciate your consideration, but unfortunately, I am turning the role down’.
‘I apologise for turning this down and thank you for your time’.
‘Thank you for considering me for the role. Unfortunately, I am declining your offer’.

Tips for creating an effective thank-you message

The following tips can help you create an effective thank-you message when expressing gratitude in a job application:

Convey a positive message. It's important that your thank-you message retains a positive tone, even if a recruiter declines you for the role. This shows your positive character, making you more memorable to the recruiter.
Be timely in your delivery. Deliver your thank-you message promptly to ensure the recruiter remembers your application. A timely response shows that you're punctual and professional, leaving a good impression for further opportunities in the future.
Keep your gratitude short. Keeping your message simple and to the point helps demonstrate your professionalism and desire to use your time efficiently.
Try to be creative. Recruiters often read many job applications daily, so it helps to have a memorable thank-you note at the end of the message. This shows your creativity and ability to communicate.
Let your personality show. It helps to show your personality at the end of a message, especially if you want to build long-term working relationships. Your potential employer may remember your response and remember for future opportunities.
Always be professional. Keep your thank-you message polite and professional to help build a working relationship with your potential employers.
Remember to proofread your writing. If you're writing your message to send in a letter or email, don't forget to proofread your work. This ensures that your message is free from errors and demonstrates your excellent command of spelling and grammar in communication.