How do I follow up after an interview?

Question:

How do I follow up after an interview?

Answer:

You should immediately follow an interview with a thank you note and then, unless you’re given a specific timeline, send a quick email about a week later.

Explanation:

Last week, we talked about how to follow up after you’ve submitted a job application. This week, we’re moving on to the next stage. Unlike the previous stage, it is absolutely expected that you (or they) will follow up after interview, so you don’t need to worry about “bothering” the recruiter, unless you’re sending a multitude of emails or not waiting an appropriate amount of time. Let’s get into specifics: the who, the when, and the how.

The Who

In almost all cases, it’s best to keep your contact limited to the recruiter. If you had a preexisting relationship with the hiring manager or if they specifically gave you their contact information, then you can reach out to him or her directly, but in all other cases, the recruiter is the way to go.

The When

You should ideally send that thank you note within 24 hours of your interview. Feel free in that email to ask about next steps or an estimated timeframe. If the recruiter gives you a timeline (for example, she might say that they’re interviewing candidates all this week and next week), then you should add a couple of days to the timeframe given and then send your follow-up. If you are not given a timeline, then one week is a good rule of thumb. If you don’t get a response to your follow-up, you can follow the rules I laid out in last week’s post.

The How

At minimum, a follow-up should express your continued excitement for the role and then politely ask for a status update on the process. But ideally, your follow-up should include new information that relates back to your interview in some way. For example, let’s say you’re applying for an HR role and during the interview you discussed the company’s approach to onboarding new employees. You might include something you’ve thought about in the meantime since the interview regarding your experience with onboarding or any ideas you have for that process. The goal is to show a) you listened and were engaged during the interview, b) you’ve been continuing to think about how you can add value to the company, and c) that you’re clearly excited for the opportunity.

A follow-up email is actually a great opportunity to stand out from the competition. You might be surprised at how far a professionally written email that shows engagement, thoughtfulness, and excitement, can get you.