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How to Follow Up After an Interview

Imagine this. You’ve gotten the call, you had the interview, as far as you know, everything went well. So why haven’t they offered you the job? Slow down. The first thing to do is not stress out. Just because you haven’t heard back yet, that doesn’t mean it’s time to give up hope. The hiring process takes time. However, that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t follow up. Here’s how to follow-up after an interview and not be needy, annoying, or desperate. Let’s get started.

Follow-Up with a Thank You

After an interview, the first thing you need to do is send a thank you email. Don’t wait on this. Send the email within a day of the interview, while you’re still fresh in their mind. We’re not saying you won’t get hired without one, but it’s the courteous and professional thing to do. So how do you write one? First off, keep it brief. In all likelihood, they won’t respond to it. Be friendly and conversational in your email. Make sure to restate your interest in the job and thank them for their time.

Check-In

Alright, the easy part is done. Sending a thank-you email is par for the course. So, you should hear back already, right? Maybe not. If not, it’s time to check-in. Before we get into it, you should be checking in a few days after the interview. A check-in email should be sent around two weeks of your interview. Don’t worry, you’re not being annoying. This is the professional way to express interest in the job and try to get yourself an update.

When sending your check-in email, there are a couple of things to do. In your email, don’t phrase things or assume that you haven’t got the job or aren’t a favorite just because some time has passed. You don’t know what is going on behind the scenes and why it’s taking a while for updates. Next, express your interest in the position again and ask if there’s anything else you can do to help move the process along. If you have to, you can ask for a timeframe for a decision on when the position will be decided on.

Stay in Touch

It’s been weeks, maybe longer, and you haven’t heard back. Maybe you haven’t gotten the job. It’s okay, it happens. Just because you haven’t gotten the job, doesn’t mean you should completely go quiet. This is the time to send one last email. Instead of seeing this as a loss, see it as a chance to build a connection. Send another email thanking them for everything and try to establish a business connection. Additionally, ask that they consider you next time they have a position available. Who knows, maybe that’ll be how you get your next job.

Your role in the hiring process doesn’t end after your interview. Sending follow-up emails and checking in from time to time, is a must-do. From sending a “thank you” email to staying in touch, don’t skip any of these important steps. Remember, be professional, be friendly, and remind them why you deserve to get the job!

When you’re looking for your next job, JōbSource is the one to trust. We have hundreds of new jobs with America’s top companies. Come learn why the top candidates come to us to get them hired. Check out our postings here online or visit any one of our branches to get paired with a friendly, professional recruiter. See you soon!