6 follow up interview techniques that impress

Post interview. You know you’ve aced it. Now you just have to wait to hear back… along with everyone else who interviewed for the same role as you.

Considering all the time and effort you put in prior to the interview, doing nothing afterwards is unwise.

How you follow up after your interview may, in fact, increase your chances of getting a second interview, if not the job itself. It can even get you considered for a different role that may not be posted yet.

1. Ask about next steps

The last question you have for your interviewer before you leave should be to find out about the next steps.

By asking about a company’s process and timeline, you know how and when to be proactive in your follow-up.

2. Collect contact information

Make sure that you get all of your interviewer’s relevant details. If you interviewed with 4 people, you want to follow up with all 4 of them.

It is crucial to obtain not only the email addresses and job titles of the individuals you meet but also to ensure that you have correctly spelt their names.

If they do not provide business cards during the interview, you can ask the receptionist for their details, check the company website, or search for them on LinkedIn.

3. Request to connect on LinkedIn

Once your interview has been completed and before you leave, it is a perfectly appropriate time to request to connect on LinkedIn.

Make sure that your request is logical and adds value. Is there a conversation or topic that came up in your interview that you have additional information on?

This is the type of information you want to include in your LinkedIn request. It shows you are already engaging in collaborative thinking and the contributions you could make to their company.

“I saw this great article on LinkedIn/Forbes/News Weekly about the way Gen X and Millennials are now 50% of the working population and the ones truly driving the economy. I would love to send it to you as your company seems to be embracing that change. Can I connect with you and send it through LinkedIn?”

That is your ‘in’. You never know how a long-term relationship may develop, regardless of whether or not you land this position. It is also a great form of networking.

4. Send a personalized thank you email

Within the first couple of hours of your interview, you should send a thank you email.

Do not ask for the job. This is where you show your appreciation of the opportunity to work with them and acknowledge their time spent with you.

People are seldom thanked for their efforts and time. Make this about them and not you.

Don’t go overboard with flowery words but be sincere. If you have never written a thank you note, take the time to look through some examples on Google first – and check your spelling before hitting send. Below is an example of what you could send.

“To: [Recruiter]
Subject: Follow up on XYZ position

Thank you for the opportunity to meet with you about the [XYZ] position. I genuinely enjoyed my interview and wanted to let you know I am incredibly interested in the role.

I really appreciate you taking the time to meet me, especially during month end which you mentioned is an incredibly busy time for the team. If there is anything I can do to further my candidacy, please let me know.

Sincerely,
[Your Full Name Here]

5. Send a handwritten note

In this digital age, if you can manage to handwrite a thank you, do so. When was the last time you received anything in the mail that wasn’t a bill?

A handwritten, mailed note creates double the impact and shows you care enough about the position to take that extra time. Remember to use your best handwriting!

6. What if you haven’t heard anything?

If the interviewer advises you that they are hoping to hire within the next week and 2 weeks pass, it’s important to follow up.

If you have been proactive, you know their next steps. Use this information politely in any emails or calls you make to get an update of their progress.

Now, admittedly, many times, you don’t hear back right away because most people don’t like to give out bad news and thus avoid it for as long as possible.   That being said, it is just as likely that they got swamped and have fallen behind slightly. Err on the side of positivity.

“Hi Jane, This is Sarah.

During our interview for the operations manager position, you had mentioned that the team generally takes a week to make hire decisions after an interview.

As it has been 9 business days, I was looking to get an update on the progress for this hire. I had a great interview with the team.

I am hopefully that I have been chosen to fill the role. But if you have gone with another highly qualified candidate I would love to know so that I can continue my job search.

Thank you for your time, looking forward to hearing back soon.”

While this job may be your focus, it is important to remember that it may be one of several that your interviewer or recruiter is hiring for, and it will likely take them a while to get back to you.

Though you need to be patient and understanding, you can still be proactive. Staying top of mind is incredibly important, especially if your interviewer met with a number of candidates for the role.

And finally, even if you aren’t the right candidate for this role, adding that wow factor can be incredibly valuable down the line, and following up is one way you can stand out from the pack.