How to follow up after a job interview

After a job interview has ended, some might feel there’s nothing more that can be done to land the job offer. Wrong! In fact, following up with companies about jobs you’ve interviewed for can help increase your chances of getting the offer. Following up just makes good sense. It reinforces your strengths as an applicant, keeps your name in front of the interviewer, and reminds them that you are a strong candidate for the job.

But like many things in life, timing is very important when it comes to any form of communication. So, when is it okay to follow up? And how exactly do you go about doing it? Here’s what you need to know.

Send a short follow-up email

​​If you’ve interviewed with multiple people, send separate emails to each person.

Make sure you give the company enough time to make their decision. After all, they might be interviewing and considering other candidates before making a final decision. One business week is a good time to wait before you follow up.

Keep things brief and don’t go into too much detail. Keep your tone polite and firm. Taking initiative and being respectful will help you stand out among other candidates for the job!

Reiterate your interest in the position

Remind the hiring manager that you’re a great fit and leave a good impression on them. Mention something specific that you enjoyed talking about during the interview, such as one of the projects you would work on or one of the challenges facing the company in your department. This shows that you were paying attention and are genuinely interested in working there, which are two great ways to stand out from other candidates.

Reassure them that you can handle the role and its responsibilities. If there were any points during the interview where you think they were concerned about your qualifications and experience level, address those now. For example, if they asked about sales experience, explain how your customer service skills would translate well into a sales role and give examples of past successes.

Ask the recruiter if they have any questions

Follow-up calls give you a chance to ask recruiters or hiring managers if they have any questions or concerns about your candidacy. If they do, you can address them head-on and possibly get past any objections so that you can move forward in the hiring process.

You might also get a good indication of how close you are to landing an offer by talking with someone on the phone.

Mention anything you forgot to mention in the interview

Post-interview is common for you to want to ask questions to the interviewer. But none of the questions you ask should be about salary and benefits (though, you should ask about that when you negotiate the job offer if you’re extended one).

But, some good questions to ask include:

• Do you have any hesitations about my ability to perform this role? 
• What are the next steps in the hiring process? 
• When do you expect to make your decision?

Consider what else you can add to the conversation after an interview. Mention anything you forgot to mention in the interview. If there was something that slipped your mind during the interview, or if there was something that didn’t come up but that you think is worth mentioning, here’s your opportunity to do so.

​​Respond positively to feedback

It may be disheartening to receive negative feedback, but it’s crucial to always respond positively. Even if you feel that the feedback is wrong or exaggerated, you should never react with anger, denial or frustration.

A positive response demonstrates your professionalism and growth, two qualities that are highly valued in most workplaces. It also gives you insight into how you’re perceived by others and can help you improve your performance in future interviews. In other words, it’s a win-win.

Connect on LinkedIn

If you don’t already have a LinkedIn profile, now is the time to create one. Linkedin is the largest business networking site in the world, and more and more recruiters use Linkedin to find candidates.

Connecting with your interviewer on Linkedin is a great way to build rapport post-interview and keep yourself top of mind. It’ll also allow you to build your network which may come in handy at a later point – especially if someone leaves the company or if there’s an opening in another department.

Thank them for their time and consideration

Once you’ve had your interview, be sure to follow up and thank your interviewers for their time. Even if you decide the job isn’t for you, that’s no reason to skip this step. You never know when you may run into one of them again, either at another company or in an unrelated situation.

To make writing a follow-up email easier, weHere’s how to write a follow-up email after an interview:

Subject line: Thanks for interviewing me – [Name]

Hey [name],

I wanted to thank you again for taking the time to speak with me about [position] at [company]. I enjoyed chatting with you and getting a better understanding of how I might fit into this role.

I also appreciated learning more about what your team is working on right now, particularly [something specific they told you in the interview]. That project sounds like it could have a big impact on [your audience].

I believe I would be an ideal candidate for this position because [why you’re qualified for the job]. I’d love to help [company] achieve its goal of [goal] by doing [what they’d hire you to do].

I look forward to hearing from you soon. Please let me know if there’s any additional information I can provide.

Thanks again.
[Name]

But remember – don’t take it personally if you don’t hear back right away. Hiring managers are busy people, and sometimes it takes them a while to review all the candidates and make their decision.

Knowing how to follow up with an interviewer lets them know you care about the role and that you are a considerate candidate. Employers appreciate when candidates follow up and it gives you an extra chance to show them your enthusiasm for the position.

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