You’ve been called for a job interview. You have the interview. It goes well and you think you have a shot at getting the job. Now you wait to hear back from the employer.
A common piece of job interview advice you hear a lot is that candidates should always follow up after the interview. It is something that has been considered common for years. But has it become outdated? The short answer is no.
HIRE BETTER TODAY
Following up after an interview can make a difference. It can influence a hiring manager’s final decision. It shows you are very interested in the job. But you need to follow up the right way. The following provides you some important steps for when and how to follow up after a successful job interview.
Write a Formal Response
While you may feel relief after having a successful interview, you should not let down your guard and be too casual with your response. Send a formal follow-up message. Use the same tone as you did during the interview and in all other communications with the company.
Send a Personalized Message
Sending a generic or templated message will not help your case. Recruiters see these all the time and they have little or no impact. Write a personalized message that adds to the conversations you had during the interview. Reiterate your interest in the role and quickly add in additional information you may have forgotten to mention in the interview. Don’t bother the interviewer about their decision. If they already communicated when you can expect a decision, don’t ask them again when you follow up.
Use a Professional Channel to Communicate
Send your follow-up to the hiring manager’s work email. Don’t send communications regarding the job via social media, text, or contact them at their personal phone number.
Follow Up Once
There is no need to follow up multiple times. Recruiters and hiring managers are busy working through interviews and assessing candidates. Sending multiple messages could show desperation, and it also shows you do not respect their time.
Follow Up Sooner Than Later
Don’t wait too long to follow up. It is best if you send your message within a couple of days of the interview. Try to follow up before a final decision about the job is made.
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