You’ve completed a job interview for your dream job and now you’re waiting with bated breath for a call back. What now? Should you sit by idly while you wait for a response? Definitely not. But you need to tread carefully when you follow up after an interview; you don’t want to potentially annoy your interviewer and ruin your chances of landing that job. There’s a fine line between being enthusiastic and being overly aggressive in getting an answer. Follow these simple post-interview tips to ensure you’re putting your best foot forward.
You may have nailed an interview but what you do after the meeting with the hiring manager can still play a huge role in determining whether you get the job or not. The problem with following up after an interview is that there are sensitivities involved. It’s also difficult to gauge how upfront you can be with the hiring manager.
Regardless of the nuances, there are a few basic things you can do post-interview:
Send A Thank You Note (Sooner Rather Than Later)
A “thank you” can go a long way, especially after an interview has wrapped up. According to employment expert Lynn Taylor, if you interviewed for a job in the morning, you should send a thank you email that very afternoon. For those had the meeting in the afternoon, sending a thank you email early next morning is ideal. She told Business Insider:
“Hiring managers are gauging your enthusiasm, and by being prompt, your action speaks volumes. It also shows respect for their time. Given two equally qualified candidates, the one who is more responsive (within reason) is usually considered a better prospect.”
This email will keep you on the mind of your interviewer and every word counts. You should be concise but also mention specifics that relate to the conversations you had during the interview.
“For instance, by mentioning what intrigues you about the department and/or company after having met the key players, you’re demonstrating your listening abilities, how you process information, and how you apply it in selling ‘the fit.’,” Taylor said. “It’s your opportunity to market yourself and demonstrate how well you fit the corporate culture.”
Give The Hiring Manager Some Time Then Follow Up
You have to remember that whoever interviewed you will need time to see additional candidates as well as do their usual work. It’s perfectly fine for them to take a week or two to get back to you.
“If you start pestering someone about whether they’ve made a hiring decision, you will become a nuisance and, potentially, endanger your chances of landing the job,” according to The Balance.
Hopefully, you remembered to ask about next-steps when the interview finished up. It’s not unusual for hiring managers to be upfront about when they will get back to you. If that’s the case, the door is wide open for you to send a short follow email to check in and express that you’re still interested in the position after the specified time.
If not, then sending that follow-up email a week or two after the interview is perfectly acceptable.
Sudy Bharadwaj, co-founder and the CEO of Jackalope Jobs, a job seeker platform, suggests taking the follow-up note one step further:
“You’re obviously most interested in learning the status of the position, but the hiring manager has other things on his mind, so give him something of value when checking in. Instead of asking, ‘Have you made a decision yet?’, forward a recent article you’ve read that you believe he’ll find interesting and helpful. Following-up in this way demonstrates that you’re a great network connection instead of a pesky wannabe employee.”
If You Didn’t Get The Job, Sent Them A ‘Thank You Anyway’ Email
If you didn’t land that job, don’t be bitter about it. Instead, send the hiring manager an email thanking them for their time and consideration so that you can leave the door open for future opportunities that may come up with the same company.
It is also a good time to ask for valuable feedback that may help you in another job interview later down the track.
What’s one thing you’ve done after an interview that has helped you score a job? Let us know in the comments.
Comments