The 4 Times to Follow Up After an Interview

You finally found the perfect job, and just got finished with a solid interview. Everything seems to be moving in the right direction, but there is still work that needs to be done to show that you are the right candidate! Don’t drop the ball on the follow up! These are 4 key times that you should follow up after an interview.

1. Right After Your Interview

This is the first time that you should follow up, and it is honestly the most important. The best way to do this is to send a simple “Thank You” e-mail to the person/people that you interviewed with. By sending a quick note, you will reiterate your interest in the opportunity, and it will also show that you appreciate their time. If they are trying to choose between multiple candidates, this could be a deciding factor, .

Your thank you note should be concise and to the point. We recommend using a desktop computer to avoid errors. If you are sending it from a smartphone, please be sure to triple check your message before pressing send.

Sample:

Dear (contact name),

I wanted to send a quick note to thank you for taking the time to meet with me about your open (position tile) role. I really enjoyed learning more about the position, and what you are looking for. After our conversation, I am confident that my skills and experiences are a great match for this opportunity.

Please feel free to contact me if I can provide you with any further information.

I look forward to hearing from you, and thank you again for your time.

Sincerely,

(Your Name)
(E-mail Address)
(Phone Number)

You can obtain their email address by asking for a business card during the interview. If for some reason you don’t get a business card, you can always reach out to the recruiter/HR contact that set up the interview. Worst case scenario you can always call the company, let them know that you interviewed that day, and ask for the address so you can send a thank you note.

The note should be sent within 24 hours. If you interviewed in the morning, try to get it out by that afternoon. If you interviewed later in the day, make sure it is sent first thing the next morning.

2. Based On Their Time Frame

One of the best questions to ask at the end of an interview is “When should I expect to hear back on next steps?” or “When are you looking to make a decision?” If you ask this question, it will help guide you on when you should follow up. If they say “by Friday” or “within the next two weeks”, it is suggested to reach out a few days after that day has past. We also recommend a quick note to the Hiring Manager on this one. It can be short and sweet. If a recruiter/HR set up your interview, it doesn’t hurt to send them a note as well!

Sample:

Dear (contact name),

I wanted to send a quick note to follow up on your (position title) position. In our meeting, you said that you were hoping to have a decision by (date), so I thought I would touch base to see if you had any updates.

I am still very interested in this role and I am excited to continue the process! Please let me know if there is anything else you need from me.

Sincerely,

(Your Name)
(E-mail Address)
(Phone Number)

3. When They Tell You to Check In

Chances are that when you send the previous follow up message, you will get one of two responses. It will be that either the position has been filled, or that they are still trying to make a decision. If you receive the latter, we recommend that you reply and ask when you should follow up.

Sample:

Dear (contact name),

Thanks so much for getting back to me. I am glad to hear that the position is still open, and that I am still in consideration! When would you recommend that I follow up?

Sincerely,

(Your Name)
(E-mail Address)
(Phone Number)

By doing this you will receive another follow up date to put on your calendar. Once that date has passed, reach back out with a follow up note similar to number 2.

4. Final Attempt

If you have followed up multiple times and received radio silence, chances are that the position may be no longer available. We suggest waiting a few weeks, and maybe even longer before you send your final correspondence. The key here is to remember that Hiring Managers are busy and still have a job to do. You want to follow up, but at the same time you do not want to be overwhelming or a pest, as it could show desperation. If you send a quick note after a few weeks have passed, it could be a great way to revive the process.

Sample:

Dear (contact name),

I’m not sure if my name rings a bell, but I interviewed with you awhile back for your open (position title) role. I really enjoyed meeting with you, and I was very impressed with (company name). I wasn’t sure if you ever hired someone for your open position, but please be sure to keep me in mind for future opportunities, as I would be very interested.

Thanks again for your time,

(Your Name)
(E-mail Address)
(Phone Number)

Dan Metz is the Director of Executive Search and Employee Development at the Resilience Group, LLC, and Co-Founder and Contributing Author for Need a New Gig. Follow his blog for more great tips like this!