Following up after an interview
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23/02/2021
Your interview is over, and the most challenging part is done, so you can now sit back and wait for a decision, what happens next is now out of your hands. This is not entirely true; you still have an important part to play to ensure that you remain in the interviewers’ minds. After a job interview it is important to send an email to thank the interviewer for their time and for the opportunity to interview for the role.
WHY SHOULD I SEND A THANK YOU EMAIL?
It is common courtesy to thank anyone who has given you their time. Being selected for an interview means you are a significant contender and that is why it is important to follow up on any interview you have whether it be by phone, online or face to face. Sending a thank you email shows that you are interested in the position and if the hiring manager are pondering between you and another candidate, it could give you the winning edge.
WHAT SHOULD I INCLUDE IN A FOLLOW UP EMAIL?
Use this opportunity to sell yourself further and to reiterate and express your interest in the job and the company. Highlight the relevant skills and experience you have that are specific to the role’s requirements and why you are a good match. Include anything you forgot to say in the interview, this is also a good opportunity to correct any mistakes and oversights you may have made in the interview and to clarify what you meant to say.
FOLLOW UP EMAIL TIPS
Send a thank you email to everyone who interviewed you within 24 hours of the interview. After an interview you usually reflect on what was said by both you and the interviewers, so it is a good idea to write down some notes after the interview to remind yourself of the key information and what was covered. Make sure that you check your email before you send it, ensure all spelling and grammar are correct and be especially mindful of the interviewers’ names. Keep the email brief and concise and express your appreciation for the interviewers’ time.
ADDRESSING THE NEXT STEPS
In most interviews you will be told what to expect moving forward and have a clear idea of what the next steps will be however if this was not made clear at the close of the interview, ensure you ask the question in your follow up email. You should hopefully receive a reply but if you don’t then you can and should follow up. So, when do you reach out again? It is acceptable to do this if it has been more than 2 days after they said they would get back to you or if you haven’t heard anything in over a week since your interview. It is frustrating when you get no feedback but do not despair, it is their loss. Every interview we go through is a learning curve where you can improve on your skills, and the next job that comes along will be the perfect job for you.
When you follow up on an interview it is not just about expressing your appreciation, it is an opportunity to reiterate why you would be the best candidate, to highlight and reinforce your enthusiasm and interest in the role and the company and to mention any information that you did not get the opportunity to in the interview. Following up after an interview highlights that you are invested in moving forward and are more than likely to be a passionate and committed employee.
