Did you know job interviewers have about a 37% chance of getting an offer after one interview? Did you also know you can improve that chance by sending a follow-up email after an interview? It is not only polite, but it makes a good impression on the hiring manager/interviewer. Plus, it is an opportunity to get your name in front of the decision-maker one more time.
Interview follow-up is often a daunting task because most people don’t know the rules around what to do and when. If you do it too quickly, you look desperate. If you wait too long, it seems like an afterthought. So, when do you send a follow-up?
Keep reading to learn more about the guidelines for following up after your interview. And get an example you can use to follow-up after your next meeting!
How to Write a Thank You Email After an Interview
Despite what many people think, sending a thank you note after an interview doesn’t take long to complete. While writing a letter may be simple and not take a lot of time, the gesture is loud and memorable with hiring managers. When writing your thank you letter after an interview, make sure you include the following:
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- A personalized greeting
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- Show gratitude for their time and effort
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- Let them know once again how interested you are in the role
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- Be specific when showing interest in the role; include the title
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- Include a question about the next steps and/or status of your application
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- Include any additional information that was requested (such as references)
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- Thank them again for their time
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- Let them know you look forward to hearing from them soon
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- Sign it with your name and contact information
You must proofread your email. You can run it through Grammarly’s free app or get a friend to look it over. You don’t want to get disqualified for a simple mistake.
Example of a Job Interview follow-up Email
A follow-up thank you note does not have to be a letter. It can be a few short paragraphs that express your gratitude and interest. Here is an example:
A follow-up thank you note does not have to be a letter. It can be a few short paragraphs that express your gratitude and interest. Here is an example:
Dear interviewer,
I hope you are doing well today. I wanted to send a short note to thank you again for the opportunity to interview for the open role title with the company’s name. I enjoyed getting to know more about you, the company, and the team.
I was hoping to follow-up about the status of my application and find out the next steps. I am extremely interested in the role and believe I am a great fit based on two or three qualifications discussed during the interview. I look forward to speaking to you soon.
Sincerely,
Your name
email/phone number
You can even use this exact template and fill in the bolded and italicized parts of it.
When to Send a follow-up Email After an Interview
You need to send a thank you note within 24-48 hours after the initial interview. You likely won’t have a decision in that amount of time, but sending it within that time frame is recommended in the resume-writing industry. This lets the interviewer know you are interested in the role and are professional.
It is okay to send another email after 7-10 days following the initial thank you to check on the status of the application. You don’t want to send multiple emails in a short time or continue to send emails if you do not receive a response. Hiring managers are very busy, and some companies don’t follow-up with candidates who didn’t make the cut.
Here’s What to do if You Have Completed Multiple Interviews
The above rules are best followed after an initial interview. But what if you are past that interview and waiting for a final decision? If you get past the first interview, we recommend you ask the recruiter in person about how long they think it will take to make a decision. In fact, a great place to ask this question is at the end of your interview when they want to know if you have questions for them.
Most companies don’t spend a very long time on this part of the process. In fact, only 43% of job postings close in 30 days. If you still haven’t heard from them after a week or so, it’s okay to send an email to check-in.
Don’t panic if you haven’t received a follow-up in a week! You don’t know if other people had to be interviewed before a decision was made or if others were involved in the decision. These things take time, and while it makes waiting a pain, it doesn’t instantly mean you were passed over.
Update Your Resume Today to Improve Your Job Search Results
Now you understand when to send a follow-up email after an interview. While the email may be short and sweet, the impact could mean you land your next job. We hope you understand the guidelines for interview follow-up, depending on where you are in the candidate process.
Are you not landing enough interviews? Your resume could be the problem. Contact us today to discuss your options for optimizing your resume so you get more interviews!
