So…how’d your interview go? Did you feel like things went well, and now you’re even more excited about the opportunity? Or were something a little awkward because you were nervous? Or, maybe, the whole thing was a disaster, but you’d like to try for another chance?
One of the best things you can do — and you should do– after an interview is to follow up with the person who met with you.
Here’s how to follow up and ensure the team responsible for making decisions thinks highly of you when they do.
Send an email.
This is the easiest and fastest way to provide a little communication. Within 24 hours of your interview, send a note to the person you met with, copying the HR manager (if you’ve been in contact with them previously) to thank the person for their time and say that you enjoyed meeting with them. This is a great opportunity to rehash some of the things you talked about or highlight ways in which you think you’d be a great fit for the job. It’s a chance to provide additional documentation (work samples, any articles you discussed, references, etc.) that might be helpful. But be mindful of their time — you’re not the only one being interviewed for a position. You want to be friendly, helpful, and considerate without re-doing your entire interview. Build on it and show that you’re still excited about the position without going overboard.
If you’ve been communicating via a different platform, use it.
With the pandemic and a change to more hybrid and remote positions, maybe you had a video call interview instead of an in-person one. Perhaps you’ve been communicating largely via a messaging service or platforms like Slack, Teams, or something else. Within a day or so of your interview, message the person back and thank them for their time. These messages can be shorter than email, but you want to get the same point across: You appreciate their time and interest, you’re still excited about the job, and you’re open for further discussion if needed. Resist the urge to use emojis, though, because this is professional communication.
If you were given a timeline for a response, it’s ok to check-in.
If the person told you to expect a decision within a week, and it’s been 10 days, it’s ok to send a brief email or note to ask how things are going. Be careful with your wording here: You want to be cordial and polite, asking in a friendly but professional tone if there’s an update on the position. You might get a response back that you don’t like, of course, or you might find out that there’s been a delay in the process for some reason. In any case, it’s perfectly fine to check in if a deadline has come and gone without a response.
There’s a lot of pressure on companies to streamline and speed up their hiring process. But significant changes like that don’t happen overnight. A hiring manager might have the best intentions to get back to you when they promised, but things come up — a key member of the hiring team is out unexpectedly, a blizzard disrupts operating conditions, etc. Be patient but kind; after all, you might be waiting to hear back from a number of possible employers before making your own decision! And, if you accept a job offer while waiting to hear back from a company, it’s in good form to let all potential employers know you’re off the market. Things might change, and ending things on a high note is better than ghosting them.
If you didn’t land this particular job and you’re getting frustrated with the process, or if things are taking too long, consider working with a staffing company like Debbie’s Staffing. We have great relationships with plenty of companies looking for good candidates just like you, and we’re happy to help put your resume on their desks. Give us a call today, and let’s talk about how we can help!
