Job-Seeking Journal Part 4: How to Follow Up

Following up after an interview

You left the interview feeling good and loved everyone you met in the office. Although you may feel confident, you aren’t done with the interview process just yet.

As a proactive job seeker, you want to guarantee that you’ve done everything you can to secure that offer. From the moment you step out of the office, your thoughts should be on how you will follow up on the interview.

1. Jot down what you talked about

Once you leave the interview, pull out a notepad or your phone to write a few quick notes about specific conversation points and current events relevant to the company. Take note of how your qualifications can meet the job expectations. They’ll be fresh in your mind at this point and will be a huge help when you go to write thank you notes later on. Remembering key points of the conversation will show you were actively listening and interested.

2. Send a thank you email that day

Writing an email thanking the interviewer on the same day that your interview took place shows you are making this position a top priority before you even have it. The interviewer will get a sense that you care about making a good impression. It’s also important to send multiple thank you emails if you interviewed with more than one person.

The email doesn’t have to be anything long, but it should thank them for their time, reiterate some of what you discussed (as noted above), and state that you look forward to hearing back from them. Proper email etiquette can make or break your follow up, so remember to keep it professional.

3. Reply with a handwritten thank you card

Although not a requirement, a blank thank you card in which you can write a handwritten note goes a long way. As in your email, thank them for their time and bring up conversation points that will help them recall your interview. Whereas emails get read and then buried in the interviewer’s inbox, a physical card sits on their desk. It’s a gesture that shows you’re a job seeker who takes initiative.

Andrew LaCivita, chief executive of milewalk Inc., believes two of the most important aspects of the thank you notes are “speed and thoughtfulness.” An email can be sent quickly, but a physical card shows that you took the time to think about the interviewer and care about the position.

4. Send a second follow up if needed

It’s important to be patient in waiting to hear back from the company. If they tell you that you can expect to hear back in a week and you still haven’t heard from them after that, however, it’s okay to send another email.

There’s a fine line between politely reminding them that you look forward to hearing back and annoying them because you’re still waiting for their response. Sending a short follow up from your last email is an acceptable way to see where they are in the selection process.

5. Ask for feedback

If you receive news that you were not offered the job after your interview, remain courteous and thank them again for their consideration. It’s also beneficial to politely ask what you could have done better in the interview or if they have any recommendations on areas you can improve for future interviews. This way, you’re making the best of the situation and turning it into a learning experience.

Thinking about business school? Challenge yourself to our free 20-minute GMAT workout to start shaping up your application.

The post Job-Seeking Journal Part 4: How to Follow Up appeared first on Business School Insider.