Improve Your Follow Up After the Interview: Making A Connection

Follow up after an interview is crucial. The interview is one of the most stressful points of the job search for many executives and professionals. Once you complete the interview, you may feel a sense of relief. It may feel like the hard part has been finished. All that is left to do is wait to hear back from the employer on their choice.

However, you might find yourself refreshing your email and anxiously checking your phone for some response in the weeks afterward. This can be very stressful and have you wondering how to check in with the hiring manager without seeming too eager. After an interview, choosing to follow up can reinforce your interest in the open position and help you rest easy.

Some people debate whether a candidate should follow up after the interview process has concluded or not. Many executives and professionals forgo this step because it may make them seem too eager to the organization they would like to work for. In reality, it can show you are truly serious, invested in the company, and interested in the role if done correctly. Here’s how to improve your follow-up after an interview!

Three Tips to Improve Your Post-Interview Followup

Ask the Interviewer About the Next Steps

When wraping up an interview, the hiring manager or recruiter will usually provide details on the next part of the process. This can include the process for checking references, waiting on a callback, or even receiving notification for a second interview.

If the interviewer is in a hurry, they may forgo providing this information without a reminder from you. Once you see the interview is coming to a close, take the initiative and enquire what you should anticipate for the rest of the interviewing process; when should reach out or follow up after the interview. This presents you with a timeline for what to expect and shows you are looking towards the future. If during the interview it slips your mind, reach out with a friendly phone call or email to ask for the information.

Send a Thank You Note or Email

While it may seem old-fashioned, many interviewers and companies generally appreciate a thank you note. After the conclusion of the interview, set aside time to write out a thoughtful, quick-expression of gratitude to your interviewer. You mustn’t make it bland or generic since that shows a lack of consideration and thought. It shows appreciation and graciousness if your note is well composed, reinforcing you as a quality choice with values the company is seeking. If a handwritten letter is not a possibility, a second option would be a thank you email.
Here are the best tips for writing a thank you note or email:

• • • Address your interviewer by name
    • Be brief but pleasant
    • Show your excitement and enthusiasm for the role and company
    • Thank them for their time

Keep in Touch with The Company and Interviewer

As time passes, many professionals are unsure if they should try to touch base with their interviewer again. After sending a thank you note or email, if time continues to pass, there is no harm checking in with them to see where they are in their processes in a follow-up after the interview. It is recommended that you contact them approximately two days after the discussion and then once more a week after that. If you keep a polite, conversational tone, the best-case scenario will be the attainment of the position. On the other hand, if you don’t receive the role, the conversational nature of your communication may assist you in expanding your network through the interviewer.

While interviews may be one of the more difficult situations for executives and professionals, the aftermath of waiting to know whether you have received the role or not is often more difficult to manage.

Knowing how to follow up after an interview and maintain a relationship with your interviewer may help you stay at the top of their mind during the interviewing process. It also shows that you have genuine interest in the organization. Ask both during and after the interview about the next steps of the interview process. Send a thank-you note or email and reach out to your interviewer to stay updated on the process. What special touch can you do to improve the process of your follow-up after an interview?

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