Interview Follow-Up
It is key to reconnect soon after an interview in order to stay on their mind. The purpose of follow-up is:
- to influence decision makers and influencers
- to show ability and excitement
- to reassure the hiring manager
- to make it hard for them to reject you
Follow-Up Letter or E-mail
Within one or two days (at most) of meeting someone regarding a job opening or future opportunity, be sure to write a follow up letter or e-mail.
- Thank the person for meeting with you.
- Reiterate why they should hire you or use your services.
- Include some skill or point from the interview that you want to elaborate on.
- Deal with any issue that came up in the interview or meeting.
- Remind the person you are still interested.
Be sure to keep them informed of your status periodically and do not stop communicating with them even after you are employed. The key is to build up a relationship that you can nurture and utilize over time.
If someone else is chosen for the position, you should continue to follow up. Write to say you were disappointed that the position was filled, but you hope they will consider you for future opportunities or if this new employee does not work out. If you felt comfortable with the hiring manager, you might call them to get some feedback about why they did not choose you.
Timely follow up can make the difference between getting the job or not.