The Value of Post Interview Follow Up

2013 is trending to be another year with job growth and more opportunities. However, despite this growth, there will still be situations where multiple candidates are competing for one position. In this case, getting the opportunity to interview can be quite challenging.

Most candidates who have been selected for an interview will often spend time preparing by researching the company, position details, and even the hiring manager, so that they are prepared to answer any question that is thrown their way. Showing up prepared for an interview will certainly help your chances to impress the interviewer and increase your chance of getting the offer. However, proving that you are the ‘best’ candidate for a position should not end when the interview is over.  After the interview, it is imperative that you follow up via email to reiterate your interest and qualifications for the position.

Many candidates who come 100 percent prepared for an interview and do a fantastic job during the interview, will often neglect the critical step of following up with the employer once the interview is over. Often, hiring managers will actually expect to receive a post-interview ‘follow up’ or ‘thank you’ note, (especially for permanent positions) and a qualified candidate may risk their chances of getting an offer if they fail to send a follow-up note.

One manager told me, “If a candidate does not take the time or show initiative to follow up after a job interview, I question their ability to follow up in the actual workplace.” You don’t want to miss out on a job opportunity just because you didn’t sent a follow-up email, right?

The following are some helpful hints for post-interview follow-up notes:

• The sooner, the better—send the follow-up note within 24 hours of your interview.
• Send a follow-up note to all people you met with—not just the hiring manager.   Most likely they will have input into who the hiring manager selects, and if they receive a thank you note, you will likely score some points and help your chances.
• Your follow-up note should be relatively short. Generally, a good rule of thumb for the length is about three paragraphs.
• Make the note unique based on the conversation you had during the interview. In each note, remind the contact how you will bring value to the company and position.  Show enthusiasm in your note and feel free to inject some humor if appropriate.
• If the hiring process gets delayed, you should stay in touch with your contacts, and follow up every few weeks, if you have not heard anything

You have taken the time to create that stellar resume, locked in the interview, spent time preparing for an interview and then nailed the interview. Don’t skip the critical step of following up after your interview, as this step could push you over the top and get you the offer. Need help preparing for an interview or writing your resume? Check out our other blog posts for more tips.

Do you think writing a follow-up note helps in landing a position? Why or why not? Let us know in the comments section below.