How to follow up after an interview

Why follow up? 

Following up after an interview is one of the best practices among job seekers. Striking the right balance between an impactful follow-up and 

an annoying follow-up creates all the difference. Without any doubt, one can argue for the necessity of a perfect follow-up after the interview. If pulled off nicely, follow-ups are highly rewarding, and who knows, they can change your career trajectory for good. A conversation with the right person (in this case, recruiters, hiring officials, or employers) will be highly impactful if it is done at the right time.

There are different reasons why one should do a follow-up after the interview process. Here is a quick look into why one should give enough attention to this part of the hiring process.

❖   Diffusing the pressure

Following up after an interview provides you with a calm state of mind is often what you are looking for. For example, in some cases, the recruiter or the hiring official may have stated that they may contact you after a certain date. But at times, this date might have well passed, and you could not get in touch with them. To ease the stress situation and manage it well, follow-up communication (email or a phone call) contributes positively to it. The point to be noted in this situation is that the entire attempt can go wrong if the communication sounds as if you are reminding them about the deadline. This will be dealt with in detail below.

For example:

Dear (insert the name of hiring official or employer here),

I hope this email finds you well. I am writing this email to check if there are any updates regarding the status or a timeline change for the (insert job position here) for which I was interviewed for. 

I extend my willingness for the same and look forward to hearing from your side. 

Thanks and regards,

(insert your name and contact information here)

❖   Reiterating and Reframing

Reiterating and reframing the point you have said during the interview becomes relevant. This is so because one may not know what sort of dilemma the recruiter is at. If you desperately want to add a point that makes your case stronger, follow-up communication is the best-preferred way to do it. In other words, it provides ample space for you to flex yourself to impress the hiring official. Again, enough planning is strongly suggested in this case. Why hesitate to reach them again with a business solution ?!

For example:

Hi (insert the name of the hiring official or employer here),

I hope this email finds you well. 

I was wondering ever since we talked regarding (insert job position here) at your company last Friday that my experience at (insert your experience details) may interest you and will help you to make a final decision soon. I have attached the relevant information with the email for your reference. 

Please find the attached documents. I am looking forward to hearing from you on this submission.

Thanks and regards,

(insert your name and contact information here)

❖   Clearing the air

Follow-up communication after the interview can bring in the benefits of avoiding pertinent confusion. There may be confusion regarding whether you should wait for the call as you may have received another offer. In such situations, the outcome of a follow communication brings forth clarity. It can be either positive or closure. In both cases, it is deemed better than having a confused state of affairs.

For example:

Dear (insert the name of the hiring official or the employer here),

I hope this email finds you well. I would like to seek an update on the status of (insert job position here0 for which I have given my interview. I have received an offer for the same exposition from another company. I express my willingness to join the position at your company, but I thought it is better to seek an update before I make a final decision. 

Please let me know your decision.

Thanks and regards 

(insert your name and contact information here)

Ways to follow up

Other than the conventional ways of following up after the interview by means of a call or an email, this section explores subtle yet impactful other instruments of following up. The email method and the call method of following up are dealt with in detail below.

1. “Next steps query” method

A quick note on the proceedings of following up on the interview may force the employer to remember your case. Who knows if this helps you stand apart from other candidates. Posing a query of this sort carries along with it the perks of grabbing attention, keeping you in their active memory. This, in turn, holds the potential to change the decision in your favor.  

2. LinkedIn

Relationships in the workplace are professional in nature. 

Long-term professional relationships can be built right after the interview. This sends a strong positive message to the recruiter about your nature and good manners accompanied. LinkedIn is one space where such connections can be built. You may find apt opportunities during or after the interview where you can find enough reason to send the hiring official a connection request. Small but wise actions are high-yielding. Unfortunately, these are often ignored in the professional space. Pro tip here is that even if you could not find yourself successful in securing a space at the company, building the right rapport with the organization will certainly invite benefits in the near future.

Follow up “call” after the interview

Many have strong apprehensions about using the medium of a follow-up call as a way to carry out follow-up communication. An in-depth analysis reveals that many such confusions are grounded on irrational reasonings. Here, let us look in more detail at the application of a follow-up call. A follow-up call sends a message to the hiring official or the employer that you are taking an extra initiative/ effort in the direction of exhibiting your enthusiasm. Along with this advantage, a follow-up call provides you with an opportunity to push your case in the right direction.

The biggest plus point attached to a follow-up call is the speed at which it conveys the message. It is a very simple, impactful, and quick way to go about this business of follow-up. Needless to say that a follow-up call is the most personalized way of communicating. If pulled off perfectly and planned nicely, it can secure great rewards in the forms of an invitation for a second interview or even a job offer.

Follow up call – what to do and what not to do

➔    Preparation says it all

Since the conversation is going to be very active and live, there will not be spare time at your disposal to think and act. Hence, it is absolutely necessary to be planned and prepared as well as you can. It is best advised to have a copy of your own resume in front of you while attempting the call. This will ensure that the answers given to the questions (if they have any) will be apt and in place. There should not be any space for rambling and confusion.

This, coupled with good enough practice, will secure your goal. Pro tip here is nothing but, the more you practice and prepare, the better it will be. Undoubtedly.

➔    Calling the right person

If you fail to have the conversation with the person who is the hiring in charge or the employer, it will all turn to be futile. So, it is necessary that there should not be any confusion regarding whom you should call.

➔    New information

Passing on new and relevant information regarding the hiring process will be the best excuse for calling. It usually happens that you might have missed a few important points on the question they asked you during the interview process. It is also possible that you forget to mention your work experience in detail, which would help secure the spot at the company. In such situations, a follow-up call helps a lot. Definitely, you can offer them any sort of assistance to fasten the process of hiring.

➔    Matching the job position strategically.

This is in continuation with the previous point. A follow-up call is an opportunity that can be channelized to express the idea that you are the best candidate for the slot opened. You can use this to reiterate the qualifications and skills you possess. Highlighting the right points which you could not have said during the interview can be corrected here in a follow-up call.  

➔    Essential ingredients

No, follow-up call, for that matter, professional communication, is complete if you fail to add a few essential ingredients. It is best advised to call in private. A call from your cabin or workspace will not be seen as a positive impression and may hint badly about your commitment at work. Similarly, exhibit your confidence in your words, avoid cross-questioning and unnecessary interferences. Sending a message that you are a good listener will certainly add to the advantage side.

➔    Do not spoil the broth.

If you attempt to overdo the situation, it can all go against you. No employer would like to entertain the candidate multiple times. Hence, it is imperative that you do not call the hiring official multiple times. Always choose one good conversation instead of frequent communication. Also, asking too much about the further steps will be seen as an unnecessary pressure tactic and will certainly be not entertained.   

For example:

Here is a sample conversation for your reference.

Hi, (insert the name of the hiring official here)!

This is (insert your name here). I was interviewed yesterday for the position of (insert job position here). I would love to extend my gratitude for the wonderful learning experience it offered. I am greatly indebted for the opportunity. I just wanted to let you know that you can contact me if there is any need for clarification regarding my resume. I express my willingness to cooperate in the hiring process to fasten it. You can reach me at (insert your contact information here).

Thanks again. I hope to hear from you real soon. 

Follow up mail 

In the present situation sending a follow-up, the mail is seen in synchronous with the interview process. In other words, it is seen in continuation. This has grown to the extent that it has become an unwritten rule among job seekers. Sending an email is often considered the best professional communication technique. A blend of both becomes so important that not sending a follow-up mail is often considered a bad impression. Almost all candidates will be sending an acknowledgment within 24 hours, making it an important aspect of the hiring process. It is so vital that you should understand the nuances of it and present your case as a stand-out.

Like any other method of professional communication, a follow-up email will also help provide a situation wherein you can flex your enthusiasm, recap your skill sets and mention your work experience again. The tricky part in this scenario is the right timing, right structure, and the perfect balance of ideas. This section lists out those in detail, equipping you to better send a follow-up mail right after the interview process.

Follow up mail tips

Here are some quick and important tips that will help you to draft a perfect follow-up email after the interview.

–      Read it again

Proofreading the draft is one basic yet important step in this process. It is possible that one might incur mistakes while drafting an email. The importance of the situation lies in the fact that this will be your sole opportunity to demonstrate your writing skills, professional etiquette, and related aspects. Since you will not get any other chance to correct the mistakes, you need to ensure that it is foolproof. For example, typing mistakes or misspelled names and designations may affect the impression hiring officials have on you.

–      Enthusiasm is the key

As mentioned in the previous point, since you will not get another chance to express yourself, you should not be sending out a coldly drafted email. It has to be driven by enthusiasm and interest to engage with their organization as and when required. An enthusiastic candidate is often considered a perfect fit and is always preferred over a less enthusiastic candidate.

–      No excuse for forgetting

It is common that one may forget to say important things in an in-person interview due to various challenges. This is your chance to correct such mistakes. Plan well and think thoroughly so as to avoid repeating the same mistake. You can include all such viewpoints, technical points, and so on in the follow-up email so that it reaches the right person before the decision is taken.

–      The “why” question

In the follow-up email, it is always advisable to mention again why you want this job. This has multiple benefits. On the one hand, this is your way of expressing that you have made up your mind. That is, in case the hiring official asks you to join the organization, there is no turning back. On the other hand, it reveals your enthusiasm. In this case, you are telling the employer that you are not here just to explore the opportunities or by chance. This is a strong message from an employer’s perspective, nudging them to actively consider hiring you.  

Sample follow-up email.

Example 1

Subject Line: (insert your name here) – Thank You

 Dear (insert the name of the hiring official here), 

It was great meeting you in person. I extend my sincere gratitude for having met yesterday afternoon to discuss in detail the (insert job position here).

I really enjoyed being at your office understanding the environment of a bunch of passionate and hardworking individuals. I can’t wait to join them. 

I am looking forward to hearing from your side about the final decision. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you need any information so as to speed up the process. I have attached my contact details for the same. 

Thank you again for your time and resources.

Thanks and regards,

(insert your name here)

(your contact details here)

Example 2:

Dear (insert the name of the hiring official here),

I would love to thank you for your valuable time and resources spent on introducing me to your company. It was a great learning experience, after all. I really loved the way the company functions and to hear more about the job position. 

I am overwhelmed about the opportunity to work at (insert company name here) if selected. Since I have been working in the same field for the last couple of years, I am sure that I can contribute positively to the goals of the company. Also, I am sure that the skills I possess will be sharpened and put to in right use if I am selected for this position. 

Please feel free to connect with me if there is any need. I am committed to helping fasten the hiring process if required. I look forward to hearing your reply on the same. 

Thanks and regards,

(insert your name here)

(insert your contact details here)