6 Tips for Following Up After A Job Interview

Following up after an interview is almost as important as the interview itself. The following-up can seem trivial or intimidating, but following up shows initiative and will leave a good final impression with the hiring manager. Following up after the interview shows that you’re interested in the position and company enough to go above and beyond what is expected of you. It also gives you a second chance to answer any questions they might have had about you or your application, lets you know if there are further steps in the hiring process and provides you with an opportunity to sell yourself to them again. If you don’t follow up after an interview, it could be seen negatively. While it may seem unnecessary, following up properly can help increase your chances of getting hired. Here are some tips for following up after an interview:

Send a Thank You Text or Email

Send a thank you text or email to the person or persons who interviewed you. A thank you note can be sent as soon as you have concluded the interview or even while still in the interview and waiting for the next person, if you have your phone with you. If you send it while waiting for the next interviewer, it will help keep your mind focused and not distracted. A thank you note will show that you appreciate the time they took to speak with you, remember details about you and the company and are interested. It will help complete your image in their mind and cement the fact that you’re a quality person (and hopefully, a qualified person) for the job. It does not need to be long. A short and sweet note saying thank you for the opportunity to interview will suffice. Be sure to thank the specific person interviewing you by name, if possible. Also be sure to include your name and contact information in the email or text.

Re-Sell How Your Background Fits What They Are Looking for In Someone

This is a great time to restate how your skills, strengths and abilities would make you a great fit for the position. This is a good idea if you think your interview went well and you want to leave a final, lasting impression. If you were given any information from the hiring manager during the interview, such as the name of other employees you would be working with, you can use this to help sell yourself to s/he.

Mention Any Questions From The Interview

If you have interest in the company already, following up after the interview is a good opportunity to ask clarifying questions about the work, the job and the team. It let’s the hiring manager know that you have been thinking of their opportunity. Thus, if there are any topics during the interview that you wanted to learn more about, this is the time to ask. For example, if the interview focused on one aspect of your experience and abilities and there are other relevant parts of it that would help you be effective in the role, this is the time to tell them about them.

When Should I Follow Up After a Final Interview?

Express Interest In The Position (If True)

If you have been following up and researching the company and position and you are truly interested in the job, now is the time to tell them. Write a few reminders from the interview that would remind them of who you are and why you are qualified. Doing this gives you a chance to cement your interest in the position and make the hiring manager’s decision easy. No hiring manager wants to extend an offer that will be turned down and sometimes they forget someone’s background until they are reminded of it. They will appreciate your interest and may interpret your efforts as giving them the opportunity to hire a motivated and excited new employee to their team.

Ask If There’s Any Further Steps In the Process

If the interview process has been going on for a while and you haven’t heard back from the company, it’s common to wonder if you have been forgotten or are being ghosted. If the hiring manager isn’t getting back to you, find a way to reach out to the HR manager to ask about the status of your candidacy. You can say something like, “I appreciate your time during the interview, and I am still very interested in the company and position. I am wondering if there are any further steps in the hiring process.” This will confirm your status in the process and let you know if you need to continue to wait or if they have moved on from you to others.

Be Confident in Your Follow-up

If you are not given any information or have been told you have not been selected for a position, you can still follow up with an email or text. It is a nice way to close the interview process and make your mark on the company and the hiring manager. A good follow-up email or text would be something like, “I appreciate your time during the interview. I understand I was not chosen for the position, but I would like to continue to network with you and your company. After all other things might materialize for which I might be qualified and your comments about my interview shared with a colleague would be appreciated.”

Wrapping Up

Following up after an interview can help you get a job, but it’s not guaranteed. If you have followed up and still do not have a job offer, don’t give up. Being persistent will help you if not for this job but for another. Keep following up, but do so in a polite manner. Don’t be pushy or seem desperate; just stay persistent. No one likes pushy. Keep yourself fresh in the hiring manager’s mind by following up after each interview you go on and by keeping your resume updated. If you want the job, or are interested in further pursuing this position, following up after the interview is a great way to show that to the hiring manager. After all, it may help secure the job for you and show that you are serious about wanting the position. Following up is almost as important as the interview itself, so don’t let this opportunity go to waste. When done right, it can increase your chances of getting hired so don’t wait before texting or emailing.

25 Salary Negotiation Mistakes Job Hunters Make That Prove Costly

ABOUT JEFF ALTMAN, THE BIG GAME HUNTER

Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter is a career and leadership coach who worked as a recruiter for more than 40 years. He is the host of “No BS Job Search Advice Radio,” the #1 podcast in iTunes for job search with more than 2400 episodes. He also hosts Job Search TV on YouTube, and Amazon, as well as on BingeNetworks.tv for Apple TV and 90+ smart sets.

I do a livestream on LinkedIn, YouTube (on the JobSearchTV.com account) and on Facebook (on the Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter page) Tuesdays and Fridays at 1 PM Eastern. You can send your questions about job search, hiring better, management, leadership or to get advice about a workplace issue to me through LinkedIn’s messaging .You can also message me through chat during the approximately 30 minute show.

Are you interested in 1:1 coaching? People hire me to provide No BS career advice whether that is about a job search, hiring better, leadership, management or support with a workplace issue. Please click here to see my schedule to book a free discovery call or schedule time for coaching.

My courses are available on my website, www.TheBigGameHunter.us/courses The courses include ones about Informational Interviews, Interviewing, final interview preparation, salary negotiation mistakes to avoid, the top 10 questions to prepare for on any job interview, and starting a new job.

We grant permission for this post and others to be used on your website as long as a backlink is included and notice is provided that it is provided by Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter as an author or creator plus a backlink to www.TheBigGameHunter.us.

6 Tips for Following Up After A Job Interview