Tips For Writing A Follow
- Consider Sending an Email: If time is of the essence, send your follow-up letter via email, with your name and “thank you” in the subject line of the message. If you do send an email, be sure to do so within 24 hours of the job interview.
- Express Your Enthusiasm: Emphasize your enthusiasm for the job. This is your final chance to tell the employer that you believe you are a good fit for the position with their organization.
- Include Anything You Forgot: If you forgot to share an important related experience or some other valuable piece of information, this is a good place to do so. You might also clarify anything from the interview if you feel you did not make a strong first impression in the interview.
- Proofread and Edit: Whether you send the note by mail or by email, be sure to read through the message carefully before sending it. You are still trying to make a strong impression, so a professional, well-written letter is key, and typos or a misspelled name will hurt your chances. If you choose to send an email, send a test message to yourself first to make sure the formatting holds up.
Approach To Writing The Follow
You can, of course, use the above template/example for your thank you after interview email, or you can write one from scratch. If you plan to write one from scratch, this section will serve as a helpful guide.
Steps to writing your own email:
Ask The Experts: Interview Follow
How To Write A Follow-Up Email After An Interview
Debbi MuschCareer Coach Technical Recruiter, Owner, Rising Careers, LLC
As a Career Coach, and perhaps more importantly as a former hiring manager, I NEVER hired a person that didnt send me a note following their interview. This step demonstrates courtesy and respect, and leaves a positive impression of your genuine interest in the job and becoming part of the organization. The advice I give to my clients regarding follow-up emails after an interview is that its just simply important that they do it!
Job search advice
Jheneal M. McDuffieOwner and Chief of The Resume Chic Co., Certified Professional Resume Writer , Board Certified Master Diversity Resume Writer , Certified Career Coach
When searching for a job, remember to focus on the followingtime, tech, and traction.
Time: Job searching is a job, and you should treat it as such. If you were working, you would have a schedule of activities create a job search schedule outlining what positions youll look for, how much time youll spend looking, researching companies, networking on LinkedIn, etc. Make sure to factor in breaks and self-care.
How To Write A Follow-Up Email After An Interview
Patricia MatthewsOwner, Executive Administrator, Writer
How To Write A Follow-Up Email After An Interview
Carol Grier
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How To Write A Follow
In your interview follow-up email, start by thanking your interviewer for their time. Be sure to highlight the ways your talents align with the role. Refer back to your notes from the interview and the job description to choose words or takeaways from your conversation that will resonate with the reader. Communicate your enthusiasm for the job by restating your interest in the position and your conviction that you are the right fit for the position.
Here is a step-by-step guide for writing a follow-up after an interview:
Give An Invitation To Contact You
You want to invite the hiring manager or employer to contact you before sending your follow up email after a face-to-face or phone interview.
This closing also fits if you are checking in due to no response about the job position.
Please let me know if I can give you any further information or if you have questions about any aspect of my experience and work history.
I look forward to hearing from you and would be happy to send you samples of former projects.
Please get in touch if I can provide anything moving forward.
If youre offering an invitation to stay in touch, you would change it up a bit:
Let me know if you would like to connect over coffee to discuss recent changes in the industry.
Id love to have a Skype meeting if youre interested, to finish our conversation about .
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These Emails Seem Too Simple Should I Add More
Some job seekers have asked me whether the example emails above are too brief or too simple. In my opinion, no.
I always recommend using a short and sweet follow-up email in your job search. I recommend keeping the length approximately the same as the templates I provided above.
Dont complicate your message. Give a polite greeting, be up-front and say what you want , and then conclude your email politely without any unnecessary fluff or filler content.
This type of follow-up email is your best shot at getting a prompt update after your interview without seeming pushy, desperate, etc.
In all likelihood, the person you emailed will get back to you and apologize and say theyre still working on a decision. Or theres a chance they have news to share and will update you as soon as they get your email.
Either way, you reminded them youre waiting for news and still have interest in the position, which is the goal
If you want to know what else hiring managers look for when conducting interviews, read my list of job interview tips here. Itll help you understand the employers mindset better and will give you a big advantage over the competition in your job search.
Writing The Perfect Thank You Email After An Interview
Are you wondering if you need to send a thank you email after an interview? The answer is always yes. A hiring manager has never said, I was considering hiring this candidate but she sent a thank you email after I interviewed her and Im no longer interested in moving forward. Its never happened. However, that is not to say you will not be judged or that it could not be used against you in the hiring process, but your thank you email would have to be egregious for it to negatively impact your hiring process.
Its very common for a thank you email to be weighed in the application process. In some cases, its a dealbreaker.
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Additional Items To Include
There are instances where it may be appropriate to include additional items in your thank you after interview email. Taking this extra step to be more engaging with the interviewer can go a long way toward successfully making yourself stand out from the crowd of applicants in a positive way.
Examples of additional items to include the following:
- Hyperlinks to things that were discussed in the interview .
- Attachments, such as work youve completed in the past .
- A link to your LinkedIn Profile GuidelinesMake sure to follow proven LinkedIn profile guidelines to present yourself to the online professional community. If youre serious about achieving success in your career, establish an online presence through LinkedIn. It is the social network for business professionals.
- References, if you were asked to provide them.
Using Subjective Or Arbitrary Criteria
Rather than “screening out” candidates based on an initial gut feeling or on unpredictive criteria such as GPA, the address on a resume, or the sound of a name, the interviewer should make sure that the evaluation process is as structured, job-specific and objective as possible. This will give them the chance to hire great people they might not have even considered otherwise, said Michael Burtov, founder and CEO of GeoOrbital.
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Set Yourself Apart From Other Candidates
The last paragraph should close with a summary statement on what sets you apart as a candidate. Express what you could bring to the opportunity. Invite your potential employer to ask you further questions. End with a call to action that invites the employer to contact you. For example, “If you have any questions about my qualifications, please don’t hesitate to call or email me. I look forward to hearing about the next steps.”
Sign your full name and include your phone number and email address so it’s easier for the employer to contact you.
How To Respond If An Employer Asks You To Call To Schedule An Interview
Another type of email you might receive from an employer is a request to call the employers offices to schedule an interview. Even though the employer wants you to call, you could also consider sending a brief confirmation email. Heres an example:
Dear Ms. Wade,
Thank you for considering me for the Social Media Manager role at XYZ Company. Per your request, I will call you tomorrow afternoon to arrange for an interview.
I look forward to speaking with you. Please let me know if I can provide any additional information.
Sincerely,Phone: 555-1234
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Highlighting Portions Of The Interview Unique To You
Its always great to create a conversation during an interview, instead of having it be more of a Q& A. Beyond your qualifications, interviewers are gauging if you are a fit for the company culture. If you are able to have an engaging conversation with them outside of interview questions, it shows you are able to get along with people on the team quickly. Whenever you engage in a conversation, it helps you stand out from the pool of candidates. This one sentence is optional but highly recommended. Itll highlight any topic that was discussed in the interview unique to you. Maybe the two of you connected over the same hometown, college, hobby, volunteering service, etc. This is a nice thing to bring up in your follow up email to remind the interviewer of the pleasant time they had speaking with you. Lastly, this sentence could also be blended with the portion on reiterating your interest in the company.
Examples:
I also enjoyed connecting over our time volunteering with the Peace Corps, its been a while since I met someone that also served in Ghana.
It was such a nice surprise to meet a fellow Trojan.
Its great to meet someone that loves plants as much as I do!
Checklist: Things To Consider After The Interview Itself
There are a number of questions to think about if you want to figure out exactly why your hiring manager has not reached out to you with a job offer:
- Did you send a thank you email after the interview?
- Did you dress appropriately for the interview?
- Did the hiring manager ask a lot of repetitive questions about your resume?
- Was your interview surprisingly short?
- Did you forget to bring key items along?
- Did your hiring manager seem bored?
- Did your hiring manager make it seem like you probably wont get the job?
These could all point to a less than an ideal interview. Regardless, you should send a follow-up email even if youre fairly confident that your interview went south.
Related: 18 Signs Of A Bad Interview
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How To Write Thank
Most job seekers put a lot of effort into crafting a resume and preparing for an interview. Heres what many people dont spend much time on but should: thank-you emails after interviews.
Its surprising how many job candidates dont bother to send a thank-you note, because it really does make a positive impression on employers. Its a simple step to take, and it can separate you from equally qualified candidates who dont send a email after an interview. And yes, you should send a message after a video interview just as you would an in-person meeting.
If the challenge of crafting a great thank-you email is holding you back from sending one, youve come to the right place.
Compose The Body Of Your Email
Introduce the reason for your email.
The body of a follow-up email should be kept very concise and to the point. Begin with thanking the interviewer for their time, mentioning when the interview took place to remind them.
Example: “Thank you for taking the time to interview me this morning, it was a pleasure speaking with you and learning more about the position.”
Reiterate your interest in the position.
Address specific discussion points and/or details from the interview and reaffirm your interest in the position. Address what in particular makes you the right fit for the job or how your experience and interests align with the requirements or demands of the position.
Example: “I was very interested to learn about . I am very excited about the prospect of .”
Add a closing paragraph.
End with a short paragraph addressing the next steps and asking whether any additional information is required of you . If during the interview a request for additional information was made, you can mention that this has already been sent or provided or that it is enclosed with this email.
Example: “Please advise on the next steps and whether there is anything you need from me in the meantime. I look forward to hearing from you.”
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Thank You Follow Up Email After The Initial Interview
Naturally, your first follow up after an interview should take the form of a thank you email.
This follow up email should accomplish a few main things:
- Strengthen the connection made during the initial interview
- Show your gratitude for the interview
- Express your continued interest in the position
Here are some quick tips for your thank you email after your initial interview. More details about writing this type of email can be found throughout this article.
What Else To Do While Waiting For Interview Feedback
Keep in mind that delays happen and the hiring process takes time. So the best thing for you to do while waiting for a status update is to apply for more jobs and try to get more interviews scheduled. You shouldnt stop doing this until youve signed a job offer!
No matter how well you write your follow-up email, it isnt going to get a company to move its process faster, bypass delays, skip over other candidates, etc.
This is why you should keep applying for jobs until youve signed a job offer. No exceptions. Because you never know if a company is interviewing 10 other people, considering promoting an internal candidate, or any number of other things that could cost you the job even if your interview went well.
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Following Up After A Meeting
Lets say you just had a meeting with a potential customer or client. This follow-up email is polite and provocative in equal measure.
The beginning of this email makes it feel like a conversation between friends, disarming any tension or anxiety of formality. Next, it establishes context, triggering the recipients memory and pulling them into the mind state of the author.
Also, the show of concern and straightforward call to action gives the recipient an invitation to have a conversation. By rounding out the body with added value, the entire email doesnt even feel sales-y.
Finally, the email signature includes a link to the authors website. It is a passive way to encourage the prospect to visit their website and a chance to collect marketing and engagement data.
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Follow Up Email To Promote A Single Benefit
Not every one of your follow-up emails has to be an exhaustive list of the benefits the prospect client stands to gain from your solution. Sometimes, it is okay to zero in on the most relevant value proposition.
This strategy is best after two or three follow-up emails, and there are a couple of advantages to it.
One. Keeping things shorter. As the follow-up emails increase, this keeps you from becoming a nuisance. It can be hard to shake off a negative impression once it is formed.
Two. This is the most critical advantage and it is far more compelling. Dont talk about your product or company or yourself. Just that precious benefit.
Of course, this only works if you do substantive research on your recipient or company.
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Reiterating Interest In The Job And Company And What You Bring To The Table
After thanking the interviewer, express your excitement for learning about the role and company. Reiterate your interest in the job. An interview is a time for the company to see if you are a good fit for the role, but you should also be attentive to learning if you think the company and role is a good fit for you. Not sending a thank you email could be interpreted as a lack of interest in the role. Its also important to align yourself with the companys mission, values, and culture.
Example:
It was a pleasure learning more about the role and company. I love the companys dedication to uplifting the homeless community in Los Angeles, a mission that is close to my heart as I volunteer at the homeless shelter twice a week.
Emphasize what you bring to the table. This is crucial. Now that you have interviewed and have additional context on the role and what they are seeking, you can specifically address how you are a great fit for the role. If they are struggling with sales, discuss your experience with winning sales. If the Marketing Director is struggling to keep up with her workload because of lack of support, discuss your experience with assisting high-level managers and executives.
