Are You Following Up After the Interview?

Confidence is essential when searching for a job, but overconfidence after a job interview can impact your opportunities for success significantly. Although you may have a stellar resume and an appealing cover letter or have mastered the art of interviewing, these successes may be in vain if you are neglecting to follow up with potential employers.

Initial Contact

After a successful job interview, candidates need to follow interview etiquette and follow up with the hiring manager. This task can be tricky. For example, an overzealous candidate can come on too strong, and a timid candidate may seem uninterested. Find a balance by initiating contact after the interview. Send a thank-you email to the hiring manager the same day of the job interview. Your prompt follow-up shows that you take action, appreciate the time spent exploring your skills and experience and have respect for the interviewer's time. Initial contact also helps keep you on the radar as a prospective candidate; not to mention it is protocol for interview etiquette and expected by potential employers.

Write your thank-you email in an engaging style that is professional, yet brief. Mention specific examples of your experience discussed in the interview, and reiterate how you hope to impact the company's productivity and profits. Show that you are a strong fit for the position and the company culture.

The Follow-up

Job candidates should check in with hiring managers again a few days after the decision is expected. During the job interview, make sure you ask the potential employer about a target hiring date and a time or date when you will be contacted regarding the decision. Note this date, and follow up a day or two after if you have not received word about the position. Avoid taking an aggressive approach; instead, send a brief email reminding the hiring manager that you are eager to know the decision and hope to hear from him or her soon. You can also make a personal call to inquire about the decision.

The Check-in

If the hiring manager indicates a delay in the process of hiring a candidate, inquire about the change in plans to schedule your next follow-up a week or two after the job interview. For example, if the interviewer says that the decision should be approved by the end of the week, follow up on the next Monday. However, take a professional approach and avoid pressuring the hiring manager. Some companies take ample time to carefully weigh options or process paperwork before making job offers.

A candidate who is still waiting to hear back from an employer after a few weeks or months following the job interview can still follow up with a brief email or phone call. However, it's important to keep options open as the need for an employee may have changed, or the potential employer may not be interested.

Photo Courtesy of stockimages at FreeDigitalPhotos.net