After the Job Interview, How to Follow Up

You’ve anxiously waited for the interview, and now you’re on the other side of it. Now what?

For most applicants, the interview is the most important piece. And all that’s left is wait for “the phone call”. But this waiting period offers a great opportunity to get ahead.

As social interaction has changed over the years, many young jobseekers favor quick responses over well-worded correspondence. But as competition continues to increase to set oneself apart, consider taking an extra step, such as:

• A follow-up email
• A phone call
• An in-person visit to your desired place of business

When it comes to an email, it can be a short, few sentences thanking the interviewer for their time. This communicates not just good manners, but also thoughtfulness and follow-through. Taking extra time and energy to be considerate may increase the interviewer’s confidence. After all, they’re hiring a good fit for the role and someone to complement their existing team. 

As many job-seeking processes are conducted digitally, including business email addresses or social media accounts in a follow-up is a wise choice. Whether or not the applied-for position was a right fit, this is a great way to showcase your work and personality to employers, not to mention for the sake of networking.

In seeking employment, future opportunity is always possible through the process of job-seeking. Networking always helps, and interviewing falls into that category. The person in charge of your interview may find themselves working somewhere else in a years’ time. Taking an extra step could increase your candidacy for their next venture.

Treating everyone you encounter as a peer and keeping up with others in a field you are embarking on can only open more doors. Single-mindedness rarely yields extraordinary results. 

When someone wants to be a titan in their field, they go above and beyond. They bring thorough business practices into all areas of life. They meet opportunity with an open mind and treat others’ time with respect. Such qualities make people stand out and are highly attractive to employers. 

After your next interview, try following up with an email, phone call, or stop by in-person to stand out (if the working environment allows for that). Getting your foot in the door in a mostly digital world can seem impersonal; be the reminder that steady, thorough, and reliable aren’t just words, but qualities you would be bringing into their employment.