How to Follow-up after an Interview (Examples Included) - ZipJob

How to Follow-up after an Interview (Examples Included) Spread the loveYouve landed the interview and youre wondering what to do next. Should you follow-up after an interview?The answer is Yes! You should absolutely follow up but it has to be done the right way. Well show you exactly how to follow up after your interview effectively.What’s the best way to follow up or send a thank you email after an interview?Similar to following up on a resume submission, you want to follow up on your interview in a way that shows interest and enthusiasm without coming off as desperate or annoying. Its more about keeping yourself on the mind of the hiring manager, not pestering them to choose you.How long should you wait before following up your interview?Many job seekers ask how soon should you follow up after a job interview. You should send a short thank you note as soon as possible after your interview. You’re just thanking your interviewer for their time and summarizing a key point or two.If you can get a sense of the selection timeline at the i nterview, its best to coordinate your follow-ups accordingly.For example, ask your interviewer when they plan on making a decision or when they would like the new hire to start.If they make it clear that there are still factors that may delay the selection process, its best to follow up accordingly. If they tell you they are making a selection in a few weeks, wait at least a week before following up again.Without any further information, the first follow-up should come 24-48 hours after your interview.Your first follow-up email after an interview should look something like this:Email subject: Thank you for your time- MaxHi [name of interviewer],I want to thank you for our interview yesterday. I love the innovative way in which [company name] is redefining [industry] and Im confident that my [specific experience] and [specific experience] experience is ideal for the [name of role] role. Im looking forward to hearing back from you and would love to help take [company name] to the next level of success.Best,Max[For more awesome follow-up examples, check out these templates from Hubspot.com]Remember, you dont want to be pushy. Just make it clear that you’re enthusiastic, remind the hiring manager of the skills that set you apart, and show that you’re interested in the company itself (if you read about them in the recent news, include your thoughts on that too!).You also dont want to use the common and outdated thank you for your consideration closing line. Its boring and looks like its straight out of a template. Mix it up a bit and re-word it to be more original and effective. We wrote a great post here for some alternatives to thank you for your consideration.  If you dont hear back, how long should you wait before sending another follow-up?This depends on the information you have available. If the interviewer made it clear that the selection process would be a couple weeks, wait a week and a half before sending another follow-up.If they make it clear that t hey will be making a selection in the next few days, send a follow-up in 3-5 days.Without any further information, its best to assume that they will be making a decision sooner rather than later, and follow up accordingly.Here is an example of how your follow up email would look:Email subject: Follow up on interview MaxHi [name of interviewer],My name is Max Scott and I interviewed for the xxxxxx position on 11/15. I just wanted to check in and see if a decision has be made. If there is anything more you need from me please let me know.  Best,MaxYour second follow-up didnt get a response, now what?If it’s been a few weeks and your follow-ups arent getting any response, dont give up. Until you get a negative response, send short follow-ups every 3 weeks. These emails should be similar to your first follow-up, reiterating what makes you special and why you’re interested in the company.It’s been 6-8 weeks and you havent gotten a response to any of your follow-ups; should you con tinue to reach out?At this point, it’s likely that theyve already made a selection or have decided to push off the hiring process.If you’re still interested in the company, you can send an occasional email to your contacts at the company. These emails should not regard a previous interview or job search. Rather, send casual emails that contain either a congratulatory message, news article regarding the company or other related issues.This won’t come off as pushy at all, but it will keep your name in the mind of the hiring manager should another position become available.Dealing with rejectionIts normal to be a bit disappointed when they go with another candidate. Dont be too hard on yourself and continue on your job search. Remember that most job seekers go on a few interviews before they land the job. The other candidate couldve been more qualified, experienced or even referred  by someone within the company.Here are 5 quick tips to keep in mind when following up:Keep your em ail short and to the point. Writing long emails will annoy the hiring manager and even seem desperate.Do  not keep emailing the employer if you dont get a response. There is a reason theyre not answering you and it will annoy them.Only contact the employer through a professional email address. If the email is coming from an email like xB11aiom they wont take you seriously. Your email should be a combination of your name  and avoid using too many numbers.Do not stop job hunting when youre waiting for a response. Many job seekers stop applying for positions and put all hope into landing the job they interviewed for. Keep on applying to as many positions as youre qualified for.Only contact the hiring manager via their email address. Dont message them on LinkedIn or  any social media. This will be a major turn off and make you seem desperate.Follow-ups are one of the most difficult parts of a job search because theres no right way to do it. If youre organized, keep track of your follow -up schedule and carefully navigate the line between excited and desperate, youll be on your way to that dream job in no time!And remember that you dont want to come off as annoying. Check out this Forbes article on 4 ways to follow-up without being annoying. 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