Follow Up with Class to Land the Job

The first few minutes of an interview makes them want to find out more about you, but the last few minutes should leave them with a smile and remind them of how professional and classy you are.

Here are 5 interview tips for following up with class:

• Close the Sale. The very first step in following up with class begins before you even leave the interview. At the end of the interview, give a bright, enthusiastic smile and restate your interest in the job. Then, thank the interviewer for their time, make direct eye contact and offer your hand for a handshake.

• Ask for the Next Step. As you're preparing to leave, be sure to ask for a business card if you haven't already been given one and clearly ask what the next step will be. At this point, the interviewer can say “Don't call us, we'll call you if we're interested” or “We should have a decision by next Tuesday.” If you're given a specific day or date, repeat it back to them, just to be sure you have it right. Then, once you're out of the door or at least out of eyesight, write the information down on the back of the card.

• Have a Thank-You Note Ready. Bring a card or note with you to your interview. Once you've left the building, but before you go home, you should pull it out. Using the information from the business card (including your notes!), write and address the thank-you. Be sure to mention something specific about the interview and restate your interest in the position. Make sure you thought ahead to bring stamps as well, because it's best to drop this bad boy in a mailbox before you get home.

• Call to Follow Up. Unless you were told not to call, you should always follow up. Once you're home, mark the next step date from the back of the business card on your job search calendar. When you make the follow-up call, try to call between 9 am - 11 am or 2 pm - 3 pm (if the company operates on a regular 9-5 business day). The idea is to catch them in the morning or right after lunch. If there is no answer, leave a message. It may help to write a scripted message before your call. Edit it down to ensure that you have all of the pertinent information, like name, phone number, date you interviewed and the job title. Practice reading the script until it sounds upbeat and professional. Next, make the call. If you reach a voice messaging system, read your script and hang up feeling confident.

• Do a Soft Follow-Up Later. If your follow-up attempts result in anything less than a job offer, the next step can be tricky. You want to touch base with them, but don't want to appear pushy. You could give them another call. It's not bad manners, but it is a little risky and could be off-putting. In that situation, it's easier to do a soft follow-up. If you have the person's email address, send them a link to an article about something you discussed in your interview, the industry, or something professional that you think they would enjoy or find informative. Keep your email brief and friendly. Remind them that you met them when you interviewed for [Job Title] position and then mention that you ran across this article and thought that they would enjoy it or would be interested in the information. For soft follow-up purposes, don't ask about the job. When they see the email, they will remember you and if they needed a push to make the job offer, then they have one. Sometimes, they will send you a quick email back to thank you for sharing and mention the status of the job. Trust me, they'll understand why you're contacting them, you don't have to beat them over the head with it.

Leaving a job interview professionally and then following up in ways that continually show that you're classy and professional is a great way to make an excellent impression. Although you won't always get the job, you will build a good reputation and get more practice in behaving like the amazing professional you are.

What do you think? Have you ever done a soft follow up? Please share your thoughts and experiences in the comments.

Image source: JFK Library