How to Follow Up After an Interview: Tips and Best Practices

Explanation of why following up after an interview is important

Don’t let a lack of follow-up keep you from landing your dream job. Learn how to follow up effectively after an interview with our expert tips and guidelines.

You sent in your profile and landed an interview with your dream company. With much excitement and anticipation, you skim through the interview process, but what next?
You’re not done yet- it is essential as you go along the hiring process you keep the conversation going. Skillful follow-ups after an interview is essential in reinstating your keenness and interest in getting the job. It serves to extend your courtesy, as well as exhibit professionalism on your end, whilst reaffirming the value you could add to the company. Let’s decode how to amp up your chances of getting that job by resolving all your interview follow-up queries.

Customize your thank-you note

First and foremost, right after your interview you should be aiming to send a thank you email to your recruiter. Sending a thank-you note is a sure-shot way to stand out from a pool of prospective employees. According to one study, 80% of employers said they consider these notes as one of the determining factors when making hiring decisions. Whereas, only 24% of applicants reported sending notes, down from 51% in 2007. These declining numbers over the years can be attributed to the fact that many a time job candidates struggle with deciding the most appropriate time to send in these appreciation messages. They grapple with who to address it to, what to write, and the information to include in their note – with some even questioning the purpose of it in the first place. Albeit, writing an impactful thank-you note is more than a mere formality, rather it can leave a lasting impression on your prospective employer, conveying your gratitude for their time and zeal in getting on board. Follow the tips enlisted to ensure you put your best foot forward with your interview follow-up.

• When deciding who to address the thank-you note to, it’s ideal to check with your interviewer(s) before if you can email them directly. If that is not a possibility, address it to your point of contact or a member assigned by the recruitment team for all follow-up queries and request them to forward your email to the interviewer(s).
• As a rule of thumb, aim to send in a thank you email no later than 24 hours post your interview.
• Ensure to keep the email short, crisp, and precise without being pushy or sounding desperate to get the job verdict- as most employers are more likely to respond to emails that are easier to read and to the point.
• Thank your interviewer(s) for their time and consideration.
• Briefly remind them of your interview and reinstate your interest in the job opportunity and the value you can add.
• Highlight something significant that stood out from your conversation with your interviewer(s).
• Offer to answer any additional questions they have or give information/documents they may require.
• Inquire about the next steps and sign off.

We have formulated a sample email for our readers, but remember to use this template as a starting point and customize it depending on your specific situation.

Subject: Thank you for your time
Hi Alan,

Thank you for meeting with me yesterday and considering me as a possible fit for your team. It was insightful getting to know the diverse projects you and your team are working on. Your award-winning blog is a testament to how passion and hard work can surpass all challenges.  I am certain that my experience as a Marketer with a specialization in Graphic Designing can be a definitive asset in achieving the set targets for your upcoming campaigns.
From our conversation, I understand the workload is intense and the deadlines can be tight but backed with my prior job experience I’m confident in my ability to deliver in such situations.
Please inform me of the next steps, and let me know if there is any additional information I can provide you with in the meantime.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards,
Emily

Follow up by phone or email

Once you have sent in a thank-you note, you should ideally hear back from your employer in a time frame ascertained by them regarding your application status. However, it is possible for employers to not communicate a turnaround time during the interview process, or in situations where they have given you a time frame they may not always end up getting back to you.

What to do in such situations? Our advice- it would be deemed appropriate to follow up again to inquire about the outcome.  If you have not been given any timeline, it’s best to follow up after an interview within a span of 12-14 days, and a day or two over when you have been given a tentative date but are yet to hear from them.

Whether you follow up with your recruiter by email or phone, largely depends on their preference and the communication channel that was used during the hiring process. In any case, if you are unsure, communicate via email as it shows greater consideration for the employer’s time at your end, giving them the opportunity to respond at their convenience. Moreover, most employers prefer to have a written record of conversations for their reference, for any future communications.

With email follow-ups after an interview, it’s best to continue in the same thread as your previous thank-you note. Keep the subject lines as- “Interview Follow Up or Application Status”. Be specific about what you are asking for, the position you are interested in, and the interview you are following up on. Maintain a pleasant and professional tone at all times and avoid making any assumptions about the delay or their lack of response.

Use our given template for your reference when writing your next follow-up interview email.

Subject- Interview Follow-Up
Hi Alan,

Hope you’re doing well.
I’m writing to follow up on the Marketing Associate position. It was a pleasure meeting with you on Thursday, December, 17th, and getting an understanding of the requirements for the job.  As I mentioned earlier, I am certain of my abilities to deliver and look forward to working with your company with much anticipation.
I would be grateful if you could provide me with an update on my job application at your earliest convenience. In case you require any information or additional documents from my end, please let me know.

Looking forward to your response

Kind regards,
Emily

It might also be permissible to make a follow-up call after your interview if you were given a specific phone number or instructed to expect a call. If you do choose to follow up by phone, be sure to introduce yourself, politely inform them about your interview and the impending decision, and express your inclination in getting the job. In case they are caught up with something, be considerate of their time and ask to schedule a call. Ideally, you should inquire about the employer’s preferred mode of contact at the time of the interview or in your thank-you message, if you’re unsure of which approach to take.

How to handle different outcomes

Despite your best efforts it is possible that you may get rejected or receive no response from an organization for reasons completely out of your control. When your follow-up interview emails and efforts fall astray, and there is no revert back, strictly avoid inundating the employer with countless emails and endless phone calls. Always remember, no matter how excited you are about a job opening, your search isn’t over until you have an offer letter in hand, so continue applying. For all you know, that additional experience may just help you bag your dream job.

In case of a rejection, take it in your stride and strive to extract value from it. Respond back with a thank-you email – which may seem to be an unconventional approach – but acknowledge their time and effort, and use that as an opportunity to request for feedback or to be considered for any future job openings. Getting feedback can be very useful to guide you in optimizing your efforts for other job opportunities. You can further seize this opportunity to build your network, wherein, if you happen to meet someone along the interview process who you developed a connection with, don’t refrain from reaching out and offer to stay in touch. It is always useful to connect with like-minded professionals in the same field.

Lastly, while awaiting a decision on a job application, if you get another offer inform the employer you are waiting to hear back from, requesting them to expedite the process, so you can make a well-rounded decision. If you no longer remain interested in the job, while they are reviewing your application, it’s best to inform them at the earliest, so they can use that time to go through other applications.

Clearly, following up after an interview can leave a lasting impression on your prospective employer. As a job candidate, it’s imperative to leverage this opportunity to have the best shot at the job you have been eyeing. Using our guidelines, you can inform your efforts to follow up effectively, getting the most out of your endeavors.

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