Should I Follow Up After My Interview?

So the interview is over and you’ve moved one step closer to securing your new job but now the hard part begins- waiting to hear if you have been successful.

So the question is what to do in the interim in terms of communication with the employer? The ball is after all firmly in their court but is there anything you could or should do to get your shot over the winning line? Here we find out why following up after the job interview is a critical stage on the roadmap to job success and explore how to approach this important task.

Following up – The Why

In today’s competitive jobs market employers expect candidates to follow up. In a major survey carried out by one top UK recruitment firm, 82% of recruiters stated that it reflected well on candidates when they followed up their application.

Conducting a professional and polite follow up can reinforce your positive and impactful impression and make you further stand out from the crowd.

Following up- Key Considerations

Before launching into the follow up, take some time to reflect on how the actual interview went. Write down any specific issues which came up which could be revisited in the follow up. Assess how many other candidates there were as this will give an indication of how long the decision-making process is likely to take. It is important to schedule the follow up within that timescale while your application is still under consideration.

It is important to schedule the follow up within that timescale while your application is still under consideration.

Following up – The Methods

Recruiters consistently say that one of the most effective follow up tools is a thank you note. Sending by email works best as it is quick and also allows the recipient to reply. Tailor the note to the specifics of the interview as this will demonstrate your attention to detail and reinforce your commitment to this particular job.

Thank the interviewer for their time and express your continued enthusiasm for the post. It is again important to be as specific as possible, linking the job, your interest and the skills/experience you can offer with that enthusiasm – think of the letter as a seamless continuation of your own personal sales pitch.

Another option is to call the interviewer and ask about progress with the recruitment process. This can be a little trickier as in the immediate aftermath of your interview they are probably seeing other people. It can therefore be difficult to get hold of them and a challenge for them to have sufficient time to talk.

A better option is to save the phone call for the next stage after the thank you email. Time the email for around a day after your interview and schedule the phone call for a week later (if you have had no reply to the email or even better a job offer).

As with the email think carefully about what you want to say and write out key points in advance. By applying this sensible advice, you can navigate your way through the sometimes choppy waters of the post interview stage and move forward with securing your new job.

For more advice and insights into this particular area and help with all aspects of interview preparation, learn from the experts at Interview Skills Consulting.