Follow Up Email After An Interview Faq
Should I write a thank you email after an interview?
Yes, you should write a thank you email after an interview. Following up after an interview to thank hiring managers for their time is always a good idea, and sending an email is one of the most effective ways to accomplish this.
An email is more professional and less invasive than a text. Its faster than a handwritten letter, allowing you to communicate more carefully than a phone call. While some of these other methods may be appropriate in certain situations, an email is almost always the best bet.
Writing an email also makes it easier to explain why youre excited about the position and reiterate your passion and qualifications. Dont overdo it, but including a line or two reminding the recipient about why youre interested in the position and why youd be a good fit can solidify who you are in the interviewers mind.
Make sure you always start your email with your note of thanks, acknowledging the interviewers time, and even mentioning something specific you enjoyed talking with them about. Making it personal shows that you put effort into your note, so dont use a template or send the same email to multiple people.
As you write, match your tone to the tone of the interview, but keep it professional. Just because you bonded with the hiring manager over your love of snowshoeing doesnt mean you get to assume youre best friends now.
Why Haven’t You Heard Back From An Interview Yet
Sometimes, a few weeks go by without any response while well-meaning friends give their career advice on how long to wait after an interview before moving on. There are various possible reasons for this long wait that don’t mean that you’re out of the running for this job. The most obvious one is that the company is probably still interviewing other candidates, especially if the position is open to worldwide applicants. Don’t hesitate to ask the interviewer about the approximate time-frame to hear feedback before leaving the interview to help yourself from obsessing about the response time.
When it comes to waiting after an interview, keep in mind that the hiring process is complicated and requires input and approval from many people prior to completion. If one person is away on vacation during the hiring period, they might have to wait for them to return before making the decision. Additionally, big projects could come up unexpectedly, requiring the hiring manager to shift their focus from the job interviews. Sometimes, hiring could also be put on hold for months due to budget cuts. This is why it’s important to follow up instead of assuming that you’re not good enough for the job. If you’ve followed up and not heard anything for weeks, then it’s time to move on gracefully and explore other opportunities.
Not hearing back from your job interviews? Let one of our TopInterview coaches and career experts help you out!
A Guide To Effective Post
Once your interview is over, you can breathe a sigh of relief. The most challenging part is over! Now, all you have to do is sit back, relax and wait for the response. The ball is entirely in their court⦠right? Not so fast. While itâs definitely true that the hardest part is over, thereâs still work to be done to ensure that you stay on top of your interviewersâ minds. In this guide, weâll share interview follow-up email templates that will win over recruiters and hiring managers and benefit your application.
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Do Follow Up On Specifics
The followup note is a great place to follow up on specifics that were brought up in the interview. If you discussed a blog post you wrote or a project you executed, send them relevant materials. If they asked for a writing sample, include a link to your portfolio if they asked for a list of references, get them all of the contact information they’ll need. Including this will show that you’re reliable and on top of things.
Prompt To Take The Next Step
To close the thank-you note, encourage the hiring manager to take the next step in the hiring process. Reference what you learned during the interview to complete this section since you may need to provide references or complete a second interview to get the job. For example, you can write, Please don’t hesitate to contact me to arrange a follow-up interview.
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Craft A Strong Follow
Email subject lines are important because they determine whether your email gets opened, and how quickly.
I recommend following up with whoever said theyd been in touch after your interview, or if youre not sure, follow up with whoever you were emailing to scheduling the interview.
The person who scheduled your interview is a good person to follow up with to check the status of interview feedback.
The best way to write a subject line for a follow-up email is to simply reply to the latest email thread and leave the previous subject line.
For example, lets say that this was the previous email subject line:
Interview on Thursday at 10:00 AM
You should hit reply in your email program and then the subject line will look like this:
Re: Interview on Thursday at 10:00 AM
Continuing with the existing email thread and leaving the subject line as-is will boost your emails chances of getting opened faster.
The recipient will open your follow-up email because its clear what the email is about .
If you dont have a previous email to reply to, then choose one of the following subject lines for your interview follow-up email:
- Job interview follow-up
- Following up regarding interview results
What To Say In Your Thank You Email
Seek to connect with the interviewer with this message. If something you said seemed to resonate with that interviewer perhaps something you shared about one of your achievements or information you learned about one of their competitors include a brief statement related to that topic in your message.
If you did connect with the interviewer about something, from sports, schools, or a passion for recycling to movies, music, or an interest in cats, insert a reference to that connection in your thank you note to help the interviewer remember you.
Highlight any strength or qualification you have that was emphasized in the job description and/or the interview, particularly if you dont think the interviewer understood your strength in that area.
Demonstrate your skill in business communications by writing a note as you would email a potential customer or client.
Do not try to be cute or funny, unless those skills are required for the job.
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Do Find A Template That Works For You
As with a cover letter and resume, a thank you note is something you should build an effective template for, which you can then tailor for each person you send it to. This structure will, of course, vary depending on the types of roles you’re applying for and your individual style, but should typically include:
- A Thank-You: Thank your interviewer for taking the time to speak with you
- What You Learned: Highlight one or two things that either changed or reinforced your perceptions of the company and/or the position.
- Anything Memorable: If you made a personal connection with your interviewer , bring it up again!
- Reiteration of Interest: Tell them again that you’re very interested in the role and that you’re looking forward to hearing of their decision.
The Hiring Process From Interview To Job Offer
Once a job opening is posted online, the hiring company could receive hundreds to thousands of applications. Big companies, such as Google, receive more than two million job applications every year imagine that! Once a hiring manager or applicant tracking system is done filing through the applications, selected candidates will be called for an in-person or phone interview. Keep in mind that the employer will be interviewing applicants other than yourself, so don’t beat yourself up if you don’t hear back from them immediately it takes some time for the company to make a decision.
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How Soon Should You Send A Thank
Send a thank-you note within 24 hours of the interview. You want to still be fresh in the persons mind. The only exception is if the interview is on a Friday afternoon then, schedule the email to be sent out first thing Monday morning. We dont recommend sending an email over the weekend otherwise, itll be at the bottom of the inbox on Monday.
How To Write A Thank You Email After An Interview
Does sending a thank you email really make a difference in your chances of getting a job offer? Learn the ins and outs of the thank you email after interviews, and get two email templates you can use to make this step of the job search process a breeze.
Biron Clark is a former executive recruiter and highly sought-after job search and career advice expert. His website, Career Sidekick, is read by more than one million people per month and has been mentioned in INC, Forbes, Business Insider, CNBC, Yahoo Finance, and more. He has been advising job seekers since 2012 on how to think differently in their job search and land high-paying, competitive jobs in less time and with less stress.
Youve probably heard that you should send thank you emails after your interview.
Youve probably also wondered, Does it really make a difference in my chances of getting a job offer?
Is it worth your time? And what happens if you dont send one?
Learn the ins and outs of the thank you email after interviews, and get two email templates you can use to make this step of the job search process a breeze.
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The Benefits Of Sending A Thank
Sending a thank-you email has a couple of important advantages over the old-fashioned, paper-and-ink variety of thank-you letter.
With an email, for example, you can do more than remind your prospective employer of your qualities and skills: You can actually show them by including a link to your online portfolio, , or professional social networking profiles.
You’ll also have the opportunity to mention anything you wish you had said during the interview, but didn’t get the chance to discuss.
Sending an email immediately after or within 24 hours of a job interview is crucial if the hiring manager will be making a quick decision.
Ideally, your note will reach the interviewer prior to a hiring decision and while your meeting is still top of mind.
When To Send A Thank You Email After An Interview
The best time to send a thank you email is about 24 hours after an interview, with a few exceptions.
Its important to consider the time of day you send your message. Sending the thank you email after standard working hours means it is likely to be opened the next morning. Sending the message early or mid-morning means the recipient will likely not read your note until lunch. Because of this, its advisable to send your message at lunchtime the day after the interview for the best chances of a quick read-and-response.
If you interviewed on a Friday, you have two options for when to send a thank you email. First, you can send a thank-you note that same evening so that youre not sending it over a weekend. The second option is to wait until the following Monday around lunchtime. This avoids the Monday morning inbox overwhelm but hopefully will catch the reader with a fresh mind.
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Express Eagerness To Hear Back
Wrap up your thank you email and express your eagerness to hear back.
Subject line: Thank you Client Success Manager interview
Body:
Hi Jessica,
Thank you so much for taking the time to meet with me today. I enjoyed the opportunity to learn more about the position and the company.
After interviewing with you, I am certain Im qualified for this role. My experience as a Customer Service Manager at Silver Financial Solutions closely aligns with the functions of the Client Success Manager position at Cloud Nine Technologies. As discussed, I would be excited to implement more training materials and team-building exercises with fellow employees.
In addition, I enjoyed learning about the company. I was especially intrigued by Cloud Nine Technologys commitment to giving back. As a volunteer at my local Boys and Girls Club, I know how influential mentoring can be for at-risk children.
Again, thank you for your time. It was so nice meeting someone that loves plants as much as I do! If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me. I look forward to hearing from you.
Best,
Short Thank You Note After A First Interview
Subject: Thanks for the interview
Hello Henry,
Thank you for the interview on Tuesday afternoon for the senior sales representative position. I enjoyed meeting you in person, and I appreciate you sharing details about the company’s exciting goals for the upcoming year. I think my sales experience in the software industry gives me the tools to contributeeffectivelyto the mission we discussed, and I look forward to hearing from you next week.
Best regards,
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Be Patient After This
If you still havent gotten a response at that point, Id be patient. Theres a chance that an important person in the hiring process is on vacation, or that the person youve been emailing is extremely busy, sick, etc.
So I recommend waiting a minimum of 48-72 hours at this point, and in some cases, a full week is better to wait.
Sending another follow-up sooner than this wont help you get the job. So try to focus on other tasks in your job search while waiting to ask for an update again.
Once you do feel its time to take things further, heres who to email and how to write the email
Pick the next logical person in the company to email.
For example, if you were emailing an HR person before, try the hiring manager or somebody in the department youve been talking to in your job interviews. Or vice versa if youve emailed the hiring manager multiple times with no response, then try checking in with HR, a recruiter, or another relevant contact within the company.
Since this is a brand-new email thread, youll need to write a subject line. I recommend keeping it simple and using one of the example subject lines that I shared earlier in this article.
How To Follow Up After An Interview Via Email
Every organization and employer is different. You might be in communication with the recruiter throughout the interview process. Or you might have communication with the hiring manager directly.
Regardless, its important to identify whom youd like to follow up with directly. Make sure youre spelling their name correctly. Then, express your gratitude and appreciation. While the hiring process may look simple, its not as easy as it seems. Depending on the company, it can take rounds of approvals and hoops to push a candidate through to the next step.
Once youve thanked the person for their time, its time to reiterate your interest. Mention both the job and company and why youre excited about the opportunity. Make sure you also mention when you interviewed and the exact job title. If youre communicating with a recruiter, its likely theyre juggling multiple candidates and open positions.
Then, be direct. Ask about the status of the position youve interviewed for. Inquire about the next steps. You might offer additional information, like references, at this stage as well. Finally, close your email with another note of gratitude.
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Tips For Writing An Interview Thank
Here are additional tips for writing a strong thank-you email after a job interview and what to include:
- Express Why You Want the Job: In addition to thanking the person you interviewed with, your thank-you note should reinforce the fact that you want the job, so view this thank-you as a follow-up “sales” letter. Restate why you want the job, what your qualifications are, and how you might make significant contributions.
- Bring Up Anything You Wish You Had Said: Your message is also the perfect opportunity to discuss anything of importance that your interviewer neglected to ask. For example, if you didnt have a chance to explain why you thought that you would fit in well with the company culture, you might briefly state this in the email.
- Revisit Any Issues Brought Up During the Interview: Finally, use your letter to address any issues and concerns that came up during the interview, including topics you neglected to answer as thoroughly as you might have wished. For instance, if you feel that you botched an interview question, you could explain your answer in more detail here.
When To Send A Thank You Email After A Job Interview
Send the message soon after the interview, preferably within the first 24 hours, even if the interview was on a Friday . You do not want to be that last interviewee to send a thank you, in case other candidates are also smart enough to send thank you messages.
If you are unable to send the message in the first 24 hours, do not give up! Send the message anyway MUCH better late than never!
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