Congratulations on completing your interview! You’ve jumped through many hurdles to get this far but you’re not quite finished yet. Here are some tips when it comes to following up after your interview.
The Thank You Email
For in-person interviews, be sure to ask for a business card of the interviewer so that you have their email address, mailing address, and phone number. Make sure to also ask when you can expect to hear back from them. This will save you the stress of wondering whether or not it’s an appropriate time to follow up. On the day of the interview, send an email to the individuals that you interviewed with, thanking them for their time and the opportunity to speak with them. Be sure to emphasize your interest in the job and feel free to mention one thing from the interview to jog their memory. This is also an opportunity to address any questions you felt you didn’t answer well during the interview. Keep this email short and to the point.
When You Don’t Hear Back
Perhaps it’s been a few days past when your interviewer said they would touch base with you and you still haven’t heard anything. Now would be good opportunity to send a follow up email.
The Subject Line
Your subject line is crucial because it will determine whether or not your email will be read. The best subject line, and the one that is most likely going to get opened is simply replying to the latest email between you and the interviewer. This subject will most likely look like this:
“Re: Interview on Wednesday at 10AM”.
Your interviewer will most likely open this because it will appear as part of the previous conversation.
The Body
The content of this body email should be upfront. Express your gratitude for the opportunity to interview with them and, again, contextualize the conversation that you shared to jog their memory. Remind your interviewer that you’re waiting for news and are still interested, and ask for any possible updates that can be shared with you.
Your interviewer will likely get back to you and update you. If they do not have any updates for you, you can respond with an email asking about an appropriate time to check back in again.
Still No Response?
If you sent a follow up email and don’t hear back within three or four business days, you can send a follow up to the same person, again, replying to the same email you already sent and keeping the subject line. If you still haven’t heard back within 48 hours, you can attempt to email somebody else in the company, but sometimes, all you can do is wait and be patient. There is a fine line between being eagerly persistent and annoying. Don’t let their lack of response get you down, and don’t be quick to make the assumption that a company that isn’t courteous enough to get back to you isn’t worth working for. Recruiters can easily be swamped and the people who you interview with are not always the same people you would be working directly under. So stay optimistic! In the meantime you can continue to look for a job while you wait.
Good luck!