Learn how to invite a candidate to a job interview with an interview invitation email that leaves the applicant informed, inspired, and excited.
Table of contents
Sending an interview invitation email is an exciting step in the recruitment process. It may be tempting to take the easy way out and use an interview invitation email template – but don't.
Investing time crafting a personalized email inviting someone for an interview will benefit your brand and your business.
Interview invitation emails provide candidates with a snapshot of how you work. They're an opportunity to sell your company and promote the role. In competitive industries, where vacancies vastly outnumber candidates, a well-written interview invitation email can differentiate between filling a vacancy and not.
As video interviews become the norm, your interview email needs to do more than simply state the date and time. You'll need to include time, technical details, task information, and even advice on dress code.
In our guide, we explain how to write the perfect interview invitation email for any business with the help of our templates. We also show you how to use Flowrite to send interview invitations lightning fast, like this:
Interview invitation emails are personalized and professional correspondence sent to a candidate, asking them to join you for a formal discussion about the role.
You may be inviting a candidate for a telephone interview, video conference, or physical interview. During the recruitment process, you may invite one candidate to all three.
There are no fundamental rules about the interview email format. They can be as short as a few sentences or lengthy descriptions of the interview process.
The crucial thing is that the recipient should have every piece of information they need to decide whether to agree to the interview and what they need to do to prepare for it.
You also have a legal duty to ensure that every job seeker can attend an interview – this may include having to adapt to a jobseeker's requirements.
Most interviews were conducted in person in the past, but the pandemic has changed how recruitment is done.
Zoom, Skype, and Microsoft Teams are all increasingly popular ways of interviewing potential candidates. During the pandemic's initial stages, video interviews surged by 67% as organizations sought new ways of engaging potential candidates.
Today, video interviews are a crucial part of the recruitment process and are here to stay. Two-thirds of recruiters plan to continue virtual onboarding after Covid, People Management reports.
Arranging video conferences adds additional complexity to the process, with candidates requiring significantly more information than just time and place.
As well as time and date, come of the other information interviewees will require includes:
Every piece of correspondence your business sends should be professional, but it's crucial with interview invitation emails. A positive, personal and professional interview invitation provides candidates with an insight into how you work.
Interview invitations are essential for executive candidates and those in skilled occupations with high-demand. In specific sectors, such as medicine, the creative industry, and teaching, there are more vacancies than candidates, which means you must invest the effort to attract the best candidates.
A recent study of recruitment in the medical profession found that "promoting personal connections with each candidate" was fundamental to successful recruitment in the digital age. A well-written, personalized, and professional email can improve your business's perception among jobseekers and encourage them to attend an interview.
There is a financial imperative too. Recruitment experts Glassdoor estimate that it costs more than $4,000 and takes 27.5 days to recruit a new employee. If your email invitation letter fails to generate any replies, you could find yourself significantly out of pocket.
"Why can't I just send a calendar invite to the candidate?" you might ask. While it may be tempting, you should resist the urge. Calendar notifications are impersonal and unprofessional. You can send a calendar invite once your applicant has accepted, but don't make it the first contact you have with a potential recruit. Instead, write an email to schedule an interview.
First things first, interview invitation emails have their purpose and structure. You can learn more about professional email etiquette in our in-depth guide. Still, you need to be slightly different format in your invitation letters. You'll want to provide the 'who, what, when, and where' of the interview.
We've studied the email invitations from several of the world's leading firms, and they have seven things in common.
It's always positive to thank applicants for the effort they have made in applying for your position.
Tell the applicant that they have been successful at the first stage (or the second or third stage, as appropriate) and that you are inviting them to an interview. Be specific about the interview type, whether it's a phone interview, video interview, or physical meeting.
Your applicant will need to know the interview's date and time, but they may need to know additional details. You should provide information on any tasks you ask them to do, including presentations. Provide information on the interview's length and, if you wish, details on the interview structure – whether it's a panel interview, a 1-to-1 discussion, or a presentation, for example. Ensure you leave nothing out.
It's courteous to tell the jobseeker who will be present during the interview. The applicant can prepare by doing some research.
Be clear to jobseekers that you need a reply. You can provide a deadline for all responses, particularly if you have a reserve list of other potential interviewees.
It's never a bad idea to offer the option to email or call. Here are more tips on sending networking emails.
You have a legal duty to ensure that your recruitment is fair, so ask applicants if they have specific requirements that you may need to accommodate.
End your email positively and encouragingly. This could be the start of something special.
Suppose you've read our framework for constructing the perfect professional email. In that case, you might be wondering how that translates into an interview invitation email? Let's take a look at a suitable email format for inviting candidates to interview. Here's everything you need to include.
You should personalize your email correspondence, so you should use the interviewee's name. Emails are less formal than letters, so it's OK to use the first name. If you want to know more about how to start a professional email, check out our in-depth blog.
A little thanks goes a long way. Thanking your potential interviewee is a positive way to start the email, so make sure you do.
It can be easy to lapse into an official tone when writing an interview invitation but don't. Use the active voice when telling a candidate you have selected them for an interview. Whether you reviewed each application or not, you're representing the organization, so write that way.
Remember the who, what, when, and where. Include everything in any email to invite shortlisted candidates for an interview. Time, date, location, and process are all critical pieces of information you must not miss out on.
It's professional to tell people who will be interviewing them. It enables them to do some background research, including checking out company profiles and LinkedIn profiles. Before sending the interview email, advise any colleagues who are mentioned by name in the message.
Ensure that the applicant confirms their attendance. Give them a confirmation date if you wish. You can send a reminder email out a few days before the deadline should you want to.
You have a legal and moral duty to ensure that all applicants have a fair and equal chance to attend an interview. By acknowledging this and encouraging applicants to contact you, you're doing everything you can to ensure a transparent and open process.
We've written a detailed blog on the best practice for ending professional emails, including the best sign-offs for any situation, including the most formal ones. It will give you more insights on how to end an email for the candidate the best possible way.
There's nothing worse than a poorly written email to a candidate. So make sure to double-check your email to invite shortlisted candidates for an interview in case of grammar or spelling errors before pressing 'send'.
Here are some example interview invitation email templates you may find helpful.
This one is relatively formal and provides all the details required in an interview invitation email to a candidate.
deepak.alvi@mail.com Your application for the Product Director positionThank you for applying for the position of Product Director. We would like to invite you for an initial telephone interview with our CEO, David Jones.
The call is scheduled to take place between 9 - 10 am PST on 17 June 2021.
This is an informal discussion to assess your suitability for the role. It also offers you a chance to ask any questions you may have about the position.
If you can confirm whether you would like to accept our invitation by 1 June, that would be appreciated. When you have confirmed your attendance, I will send you a calendar invite with all information you require.
Thank you once again for your application, and I look forward to receiving your reply.
As we've said before, video conferences and online interview emails need to include specific details for jobseekers. Here's an example of a video interview email template.
margareth.russo@mail.com Your application for the Director of Finance positionThank you for applying for the position of Director of Finance. We would like to invite you for a Zoom interview with our creative team.
The interview is scheduled to take place between 9 - 10 am PST on 17 June 2021.
We would like you to prepare a 5-minute presentation on "The value of branding in 2021". You can find detailed instructions in an attachment with this email. l free to bring examples of materials you have created should you wish.
If you can confirm whether you would like to accept our invitation by 1 June, that would be appreciated.
I will provide a Zoom invite with all the login information you require. I will also provide a teleconference number if you experience any technical issues on the day.
Once again, thank you for applying for this exciting position, and I look forward to receiving your reply.
First interview letters are typically formal and short. By providing candidates with information on the process from the get-go, you can reduce any anxiety they may feel. It also allows them to prepare, which should hopefully translate into a more meaningful exchange during the interview itself. You can also base the second interview invitation email on this template.
deepak.alvi@mail.com Your application for the Clinical Team Lead positionThank you for applying for the position of Clinical Team Leader. We would like to invite you for an interview between 2 and 3:30 pm PST on 18 July 2021.
The interview will take place at Royal Marsden Hospital. You will be interviewed by a panel led by Dr. Sarah Johnson, Clinical Lead, and our board member.
We will ask you to talk us through examples of how you have improved patient care in previous roles during the interview. We don't expect you to prepare a presentation, but feel free to bring with you any materials you have created should you wish.
If you would like to attend, please confirm to me in writing by 12 July 2021. If you have any special requirements or assistance, do let me know in advance.
We look forward to hearing from you soon and meeting you in July.
The final interview is your last chance to assess the candidates and gauge their fit for the role. If there are elements of their experience you would like to explore, then be explicit. Give the candidate the chance to express themselves and impress you. If you want to give feedback, it's usually better to come from the recruiting manager. Here's a sample final interview invitation email.
ivy.m.moore@mail.com Your application for the Paralegal positionWe were impressed with your performance and presentation at your previous interview. We would like to invite you to a final interview. After this stage of the process, we will make our decision.
In your previous interview, we felt you were powerful on the fundamentals of law. However, we thought that you didn't provide enough detail on the specifics of case law. Before we enter into the formal structured interview, we would like to give you the opportunity to talk us through your experience and views. We will then ask you some questions.
The interview is scheduled to take place between 09:00 - 10:30 PST on 1 August 2021. If you would like to attend, please confirm with me in writing.
I, and the rest of the interview panel, look forward to meeting you again.
Kind regards,
Lauren
Everyone loves receiving an interview invitation, especially if it's clear what the next steps are! To make sure your invitation is clear, use this template.
Here we follow the same format as above, but when using this interview email template, make sure to spell out precisely what you will be asking the person to do, where they need to go, and when.
You may also have specific requirements for interviews, such as asking people to bring in a portfolio or prepare a presentation. If this is the case, provide clear instructions, as shown in the template below.
Hi (Recipient's name),
Thank you for applying for the post of (job name). We would like to invite you for an interview.
The interview will take place on (insert date, time, and address details). It should last approximately 1 hour. Ou should aim to arrive at least 15 minutes before your interview.
We would like you to prepare a short presentation at the interview. You can find details attached to this email.
Please confirm that you would like to attend as soon as possible. Please don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions about the role or the presentation.
I look forward to hearing from you.
(Your name)
If you're still struggling to find the right words for interview invitation emails, then sign up for Flowrite – it transforms sequences of words into clear, consistent, and compelling emails. If you want to be the first to experience the future of writing, request access now.
Supercharge your communication with Flowrite
Write emails and messages faster across Google Chrome.
How to write a professional email – 5 easy steps & 5 best practicesLearning how to write a professional email is an investment in your career and these simple steps, best practices, and examples will help you get started.
Email format guide — 6 examples & templatesLearn how to format emails and get your point across in a professional manner by checking out these 6 common email formats.
How to ask for something in an email with 9 examplesLearn how to write request emails that get results with our in-depth guide. This article breaks down the process of writing request emails for information, documents, contact details, favors and more.
How to write a thank you email with 39 samples and templateWondering how to say thank you? Our thank you email template and 30 thank you email examples will help you say thank you meaningfully.
