Having a successful job interview is not always enough to land you a job. Interviewers will meet with many job candidates before making a decision, so your name can easily get lost somewhere in the middle. This is why following up after your job interview is absolutely crucial if you want to receive a job offer.
● How Do You Follow Up?
Following up after your job interview should be done after 24 hours. You do not want to respond immediately, but you also should not wait too long. To follow up, you can either make a phone call or send a card, a letter, or an email. But make sure you choose the response that would be most natural for that company. You might be able to tell by the company’s atmosphere that they prefer emails, others are hard to reach by phone, and some might prefer a handwritten note. Whichever method you choose, make sure to personalize your note with specific information about the company and the name of the person who interviewed you. Do not send a form letter. Make sure your information is correct so that you use the proper names and titles. This attention to detail shows that you care about the company, and your interviewer will appreciate that you took the time to write a thank you letter or email.
● Should You Follow Up More Than Once?
If you are truly interested in the job after your interview, you should be prepared to follow up more than once. Following up after your job interview shows that you care about the position and want to work for that company. Employers do not want to hire someone who doesn’t care about their company, so you want to impress them with your determination. However, do not be a bother to the receptionist or another employee of the company. You should stay in touch with the interviewer or someone else from the company. Send them input, feedback, and ideas.
● Find Out When They Will Make Their Decision
If you did not ask in the interview, it is important to ask your interviewer when they will make a decision about the job when you follow up. Also, try to find out if they will be conducting a second round of interviews. Knowing when the decision will be made will help you to stay in touch without annoying them. If you do not hear back from the company by the time they say they will have made the decision, give them a call and ask if the job is still open.
Following up after your interview is a way that you can show employers that you really want a particular job. It also serves as a reminder of their interview with you to make sure that you are not forgotten in the midst of multiple applications.
