How to write a follow up email after an interview
This post is about how to write a follow up email after an interview. In my experience follow up comes in two stages after an interview.The first stage of following up should immediately after your interview and you’ll do this by sending a thank you note. I recommend sending the thank you note (follow up #1) the day of the interview or the day after.
Then you wait a bit to hear what’s next. The frustrating thing is that in many cases, time will pass and you’ll still be left wondering where you stand.
That’s when the second stage of follow up comes into play – the kind of follow up where you really want to say “Hey, what’s going on with this job? Am I moving forward in the process?” In terms of timing, I usually recommend waiting to send this type of follow up email 1-1.5 weeks after an interview if you haven’t heard anything.
But when you write the email, what do you say? Here are The Prepary’s tips on how to write a follow up email after an interview:
1. Remind them that you’re extremely interested in the job
After about a week and a half has gone by you’ll have had even more time to reflect on the opportunity and your interview. When you follow up, be sure to communicate that you’ve been thinking about it and remain really excited and enthusiastic.2. Tell them why you’re a great fit for the job
In the interview you hopefully explained why you would be an asset to the company and a perfect fit for the job. No harm in reminding your interviewer the types of skills you bring to the table and how you can make an immediate impact. It won’t be new information, but it’s worth emphasizing.3. (if applicable) Show off an accomplishment
This won’t always be possible, but in certain fields and situations, you may have a recent accomplishment to show off. For example, if you work in PR and have just got your company some amazing press you could share it. If you have organized an event that went off without a hitch, you can mention that.4. Ask about next steps
The most important part of the “follow up” email is to find out what’s next. While you reaching out won’t be able to speed up the process, the goal is to get information so you are in the loop. Great recruiters will be transparent with you about what types of things are unfolding in the process and what the timeline looks like. They will also let you know if they need additional information from you.Putting it all together, let’s put together a sample template of a follow up email:
Dear [interviewer],-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thank you again for the time you spent with me last [enter day you spoke]. Since our interview, I’ve been thinking a lot about the [insert job name] job and I remain incredibly excited about it. I know that my past experience with [x, y, and z] will make me an incredible asset to [company name]. I wanted to check in on next steps in the interview process. Please let me know if I can provide any additional information and if you have any information on what’s next.
Best,
[you]
How to Write a Follow Up Email After Interview: 4 KILLER FOLLOW-UP EMAILS
Now, I would not recommend sending every single one of these follow-up emails. The interview follow up email needs to be personalized and specific. You need to determine which one below is most appropriate for your situation. Always remember that there is a fine line between moving things in a positive direction and de-railing the whole process.Use common sense to determine what is appropriate. Also, these emails are to be used after you have done the initial thank you notes and some time has past. Pick the follow up interview email that works best for you. Also, if you want pointers on proper ways to follow up, read my post about thank you letters.
1. Is the Position Still Available Email (Follow up email after interview no response) - Here is a good follow up interview letter that you can use in order to get a pulse as to what is going on. If you are not sure which one of the four to use then I would go with this one.
It basically is asking for information as it relates to the open position that you interviewed for. Feel free to tailor the wording to your liking as it might be a bit bold for some, but this will give you a general feel for the type of follow-up letter that you can use.
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Mr. Smith,
It has been ________(NUMBER) weeks since we last spoke about your company’s _______________(TITLE) position. At that time, you mentioned you would be making a decision soon. As I have not yet heard back from your company, I am unsure if I am still under consideration for this position or if the position has been filled. If the position is still open, I would like to again express my interest in working with you at _______________(COMPANY).
Once again, if you are looking for a performance-oriented person to fill a position in your _______________(DEPARTMENT), my experience is broad-based and will provide a valuable contribution to the right position. I am a self-motivated individual seeking a challenging position that utilizes my strengths and abilities.
Perhaps it may be worthwhile to meet once again and explore the many ways in which I could benefit your company? If you agree, I can be reached at _______________(PHONE/E-MAIL).
Sincerely,
Brad Mills
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2. Request another Interview Email – This one is a bit bolder than the other approaches. If used in the right setting, it can work very well. It is simple and straightforward post interview email in which you can ask for a second interview. It also lets the other party know that you are interested in the opportunity.
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Mr. Smith,
My interest in working for _______________(COMPANY) and the _______________(DEPARTMENT) has increased tremendously since my interview with _______________(NAME) two weeks ago. You are obviously looking for a dedicated professional who can make a difference on the team. I am looking for a team that pushes the limits of what can be accomplished. Our objectives seem perfectly aligned.
As you mentioned in our interview, you need people who can think and act quickly in tight situations and who can deal with a variety of different types of personnel. Throughout my career, I have been recognized by supervisors for carrying twice the workload of most employees. I am proficient in time management, quick to learn new tasks, and have accomplished noted achievements in professional areas requiring diplomacy, confidentiality, and/or sensitivity.
I’ve included an updated copy of my resume so you can review once again my experience and capabilities. I would welcome the opportunity for another personal meeting and believe that it would really give you the opportunity to judge my _______________(FIELD) abilities.
Sincerely,
Brad Mills
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3. Portfolio for Your Review Included Email- This can be used as an opportunity to supply more information to the hiring manager who is in the valley of decision. Use this if you have not heard anything as it gives you an opportunity to put your skills back in front of them in a professional way. If you do not know how to put together a portfolio, then just create a one page word document with your major skill sets and bullet points listed underneath. Use this job interview follow up email as a way to throw your hat back in the ring.
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Mr. Smith,
I appreciate the time you recently took to discuss with me the position you currently have open at _______________(COMPANY). It was a pleasure speaking with you and meeting your very competent staff. I found each of my conversations extremely informative. As I mentioned during our interview, I am confident that, given the chance, I could contribute a great deal to your overall company objectives and goals.
In addition to my experience, skills, and qualifications, I am an experienced team player who brings enthusiasm and energy into group efforts. I know that I can meet and exceed your expectations.
As a helpful resource, I’ve enclosed a representative portfolio highlighting my _______________(FIELD) work. If you feel my talents are in line with your ideas, please feel free to call so we can further discuss _______________(COMPANY)’s needs.
Sincerely,
Brad Mills
Enclosure
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4. Forgot to mention during the interview – the purpose for this one is to send some additional information that you believe could be helpful to the Hiring Manager. This can give you a specific reason as to why you are reaching out to him. It is an “oh, I almost forgot…” kind of email. Used tactfully, it can be very powerful follow up email sample.
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Mr. Smith,
I came away from our interview on _______________(DATE) with a very favorable impression of _______________(COMPANY). Clearly, the leadership begins at the top and carries throughout the entire organization. I welcome the opportunity to work with such a team.
If more time had been available, I would have liked to explain in greater detail my accomplishments at _______________(COMPANY). My responsibilities included training and motivating employees, providing customer service and satisfaction, increasing merchandise sales through sales volume and profitability, shrinkage control and scheduling as well as preparing reports on daily sales and receipts. I was also recognized for high ethical standards in all work performed.
The time and consideration you have given me are very much appreciated. I will call you again next week to determine if you have reached a decision.
Sincerely,
Brad Mills
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There you have it. A powerful sample follow up letter after interview. Hopefully, these will work out well for you or if not at least it has your mind working as to the type of follow-up email you can create. For a limited time, I am sharing an internal document that I use with all of my interview coaching clients. Click the button below for a sneak peak video and for more information.
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Send a Thank-you Note Immediately After the Interview
Most
people suggest sending a thank you note right away, via snail mail, as
it takes a few days to arrive and serves as a positive reminder to get
back to you. My sister, Ali, had a few good suggestions for its content:
I almost always will send snail mail to thank them for their time and let them know how nice it was to meet them. I say (if I believe it to be to true) what a nice environment they created for the interview/audition. And I say simply at the end, "I hope to see you again soon."
It's pretty
simple, but very effective. The problem with calling or writing to ask
for more information is that you're essentially reminding them that they
forgot to do something. Although it is legitimate to send this
reminder, there's a decent chance they'll be annoyed that they have to
deal with you (if they didn't like you) or at least feel bad for
ignoring you (if they did). A thank you note is simply a polite and
positive reminder that you exist. It will help your interviewer(s) want
to get back to you.
Still need some help writing that thank you note? Here's one quick and effective method.
Send a Short, Polite Email to Check In
When
you've finished your interview, you'll often be told when you can
expect to hear back. If not, that's a question you should ask before the
conversation is over. If that amount of time passes and you haven't
heard anything, it's reasonable to call or write to check in. An email
is less-intrusive and won't put your interviewer on the spot, so it is
generally a better way to ask the question. David Hill suggests that email contain two things:
I usually confine it to email and make it a quick note - thank them again for the interview and ask if there's been an update/any movement on the position. If they respond, you can usually get a feel for whether you're annoying the shit out of them.
Deanna Parkton suggests
asking the interviewer if they need any additional qualifications or
information so your message has an additional, helpful purposes as well.
Regardless
of what you decide to do, be sure to keep it short. Here's an example
(based on a suggestion from Lifehacker intern alumni Aaron Martin):
[Interviewer],
I just wanted to follow up in regards to my interview on [date — or "last week"]. Do you have an update, or do you need any further information from me? Please let me know when you have a free moment.
Thank you,
[Your Name]
Of course,
this might be a bit formal. You'll want to make the note sound like you
and be as formal or casual as is appropriate for the situation. Either
way, the content is pretty straightforward and only takes a few seconds
to put together.
It can be a
little nerve-wracking to ask for an update when you were supposed to
hear back, as it feels like you're asking for bad news, but that isn't
always the case. If you get bad news, there will be other job
opportunities, but sometimes you'll find out that the company needed an
extra day because another interview was postponed or they simply haven't
had time to get back to everyone. You never know, and that's why you
ask.
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Question :“Dear Pete: I just got rejected for a job that I was really interested in. Is there anything I can do now to get feedback on why I was rejected? Is it even worth it to ask for interview feedback?”
ANSWER:
When an employer rejects you after an interview, there is unfortunately no incentive for them to explain to you why you were not hired. In fact, there are actually some incentives for them to offer no explanation at all. They don’t want to run the risk of citing any reason that could open them up to a lawsuit, and they don’t want to enter into an argument with you either.
As a result, it’s pointless to ask why you didn’t get hired. They probably aren’t going to respond or give you the real reason anyway, and this question will sound confrontational, no matter how delicately you choose your words. Instead, ask what you can do to enhance your candidacy for future opportunities.
It’s wise to ask for interview feedback by email. This way, the hiring person has some time to choose if/how to respond to you. It’s also easier for him to respond to an email than if you send a letter and expect him to take the initiative to send you a written/email response in return. Here is an example of what you could write in an email to the hiring person if you are not chosen for a job:
Dear Mr. Interviewer,
While I’m disappointed that you have chosen another candidate for this position, I appreciate the opportunity to interview with you.
Since I’m always looking for ways to grow professionally, do you have any suggestions on what I can do to enhance my candidacy for future opportunities _________ (i.e. in this field, with your organization, etc.)?
I respect your opinion and appreciate any feedback you might have.
Thank you again for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
John Smith
This approach is much more effective than the “why didn’t you hire me?” approach for a few reasons. First of all, it puts the emphasis on you rather than the employer and implies that you respect their decision (even if you don’t understand it). Secondly, this approach demonstrates a desire to improve yourself, a trait that every employer respects.
While the employer might not offer a clear answer (or any answer at all), it’s possible you may gain valuable feedback on how to improve your chances for employment with their organization or with others. If nothing else, you position yourself as a proactive, self-motivated candidate who understands the importance of professional development. By remaining professional and courteous, you also keep the door open for future opportunities.
One of the success stories featured in my book used this exact technique to land his dream job right out of college. After being rejected for a position with Polaris Industries, Austin Moyer sent an email to every person he knew within the company to ask what he could do to enhance his candidacy for the future.
The result? When another position became available one week later, the organization brought him back in for another interview, and he ultimately got hired!
In summary, if you get rejected for a job interview, don’t get bitter. Instead, ask for interview feedback on how you can get better. You might be pleasantly surprised what can happen with this approach.
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Here are 10 things you should never do:
Never offer a self-imposed deadline without due cause. If you have some legitimate reason–moving to the area by a certain date, receiving a promotion (at your current job) that may be accepted in lieu of an offer, an impending placement on an assignment, etc.–this flies in the world of interviewing. However, demanding an answer by the end of the week or else, does not, Parnell says.
Never lie. Any outright lie, especially one that seems implausible, will crush your chances with this employer, Kane says.
Never attempt to communicate with a hiring manager through their personal e-mail, home address, cell phone or telephone.
Never criticize the company on social media. “Unlike using your social network for good, do not give into the temptation of calling a company out on their lack of response to you,” Hoover says.
Never complain to the employer about your frustration with them.
Never call or e-mail relentlessly. Leaving three un-returned messages is a social and professional faux pas, Parnell says. “While it is reasonable for an employer to miss or forget about a single phone message, missing or forgetting a second is terribly unlikely.”
Never call on back-to-back days. Hoover says this will become a hassle for the interviewer and rather than showing your continued interest, it might tell them that you’re not aware of boundaries.
Never try gimmicks, like dropping off a shoe at the reception desk because you’re trying to “get your foot in the door.”
Never stop by with more information in the hopes that you’ll gain points for enthusiasm.
Never bribe or kiss up. You want to win the job out of merit and self-confidence, not out of ill-attempted forms of schmoozing or flattery, Taylor says.
Ref
http://www.prepary.com/how-to-write-a-follow-up-email-after-an-interview/
http://www.jonathanmilligan.com/4-killer-follow-up-emails-when-youve-heard-nothing-after-the-interview/
http://lifehacker.com/5905427/how-to-follow-up-on-a-job-interview-without-being-annoying
http://peteleibman.com/careerblog/interview-feedback/
http://www.forbes.com/sites/jacquelynsmith/2013/02/20/what-to-do-when-you-dont-hear-back-after-a-job-interview/2/
