You had the interview of your dreams, and you crushed it.
You're feeling good.
You're feeling confident.
You're feeling positive about your future.
And then all of a sudden, you don't.
The worry starts to creep in, and that's
when you start to wonder, did I get the job,
and did I say all the right things?
That's where following up after interview comes into play,
but we do know that it can feel a bit confusing.
How much communication is too much or too little?
How do I follow up, and what's the best way
to show appreciation for the job opportunity?
How's it going, everybody?
I'm Sinéad.
And coming up in this video, we'll
share how to follow up after your interview.
We'll even include example emails
followed by actionable tips that you successfully communicate
your goals for the role.
And be sure to stick around until the very end
for our bonus tip on what not to do.
Avoiding this mistake is crucial.
All right, so let's follow up, shall we?
The first step to following up is step one,
send a thank you note.
So within a day or two after the first interview,
it's time to express some gratitude.
So if you were vibing during the interview,
chances are the interviewer was, too.
Sending a note thanking your interviewer
for their time and the opportunity
to get to know more about the role
is a great way to stand out.
And a handwritten note that you can deliver in person,
if given the opportunity, definitely says a lot,
but sending an email is the standard and often the faster
way to get your message across.
By sending thanks promptly, you demonstrate that you're timely
and that you're professional, and you're also
showing that you are taking this opportunity seriously.
So definitely do not skip this step.
In the email, be sure to thank them for their time
and consideration.
Reference your conversation.
This will help solidify their memory
and their impression of you.
Reemphasize your interest in the role
and briefly share your qualifications
for the role and then, of course,
steer the conversation towards what the next steps might be.
So an example thank you note might look like this-- subject
line, Thank You For Your Time Today.
"Dear Cassandra, thank you for speaking with me yesterday
about the sales position at your company.
It was a pleasure getting to know more about your passion
for helping others solve their business problems,
as I am very passionate about this as well.
Having the chance and opportunity
to work with a company that supports this mission
is very exciting.
I believe my combined background in business development
and management makes this role a great mutual fit,
so I look forward to any potential next steps.
Please let me know if I can provide further materials
or information.
I'm really looking forward to hearing your response.
Best regards, Sinéad."
Now, before hitting send, be sure to include your contact
information in your email signature,
and if you have been asked to send over materials
or attachments, make sure that that is all included as well.
And repeat this gesture for each person
that you speak with throughout the hiring process.
However, it's not necessary to send multiple thank-yous
to the same person if you interview with them
more than once.
All right, now, before we move on to the next step,
if you have watched this far, be sure to give us a like,
subscribe to our channel, and, of course,
hit that notification bell so that you never
miss out on our weekly career tips from Indeed.
All right, let's move on to step number two--
touch base with company contacts after the first interview.
Did someone refer you to this role?
Did a recruiter connect you with this opportunity?
Or are you in contact with someone else at the company
that is not the hiring manager?
If so, do your best to share your success.
While this person probably can't single-handedly
get you the job, keeping in touch
with the person who connected you to the role
is a very good move.
They might be happy to hear how the interview went.
This person may be able to vouch for you,
which can make a big difference in the final interview stages.
By setting them a few lines of thanks
and sharing your continued interest in the role,
you help shape their investment in you.
But do your best to make this outreach concise
and not overwhelm them with too much information.
So here's an example of what you could say-- which you should
tailor to the stage of the process
that you're in-- subject, Interviewed for Sales Role.
"Dear Joe, hey, I hope you're well.
I wanted to let you know that I had the pleasure of speaking
with Cassandra today about the sales position
that you referred me to.
The ambitious scope of clients sparked my interest,
and I believe my background in business development
equips me well to serve the company's business goals.
I am hopeful to learn more in further interviews.
Thank you again for referring me to this role
and for your invaluable support in this process.
Best, Sinéad."
All right, now, for more advice about building and maintaining
your professional network, you definitely
have to check out this video right up here.
Let's move on to step number three--
send a follow-up email one week after your last interview.
All right, so if the communication lulls
and you don't hear back from an employer,
it is time to send a brief follow-up message.
If an employer has given you a timeline for when you should
expect to hear from them, of course,
allow that period to fully pass before you reach out.
But if they didn't provide a timeline,
it's standard to send a follow-up email one week
after your last communication with them.
So start with the subject line that
directly refers to the role that you're interested in.
And be sure to provide contacts to remind
the interviewer of who you are, especially if the position
is highly competitive.
You'll also want to include the position
title, the date of your interview,
and one piece of information that makes you stand out
as a qualified candidate.
It should be different than what you mentioned in the thank
you note.
So here is a great example--
subject, Follow-up for Sales Role.
"Dear Cassandra, thank you again for taking the time
to speak with me last Wednesday about the Sales role.
It was great to meet with you, and I welcome the opportunity
to learn more about the position that you're looking to fill.
My passion for relationship building and problem solving
has me eager to know what the next steps might
be for this position.
Then explain your purpose for writing.
It could be any of the following--
I wanted to reach out to see if you
had any updates on your decision timeline;
I want to affirm my interest in this position;
I wanted to see if there are any other materials I can provide."
Now, let's say that you didn't completely nail your interview,
but you know your skills and your experience
prove that you're a great fit.
So try to address that in your email.
Build your case.
Everybody gets nervous, and we don't all interview well.
That's what this video is for.
So here's an example.
I wanted to clarify that, after I reviewed the data,
I actually exceeded my sales quota by 12%, not by 8%,
as I had mentioned before.
And then finally, conclude with a call to action,
like I'm happy to provide additional information
about my experience as it relates to your role.
Thanks again, and I look forward to continuing our conversation.
As always, do your best to keep the focus on moving forward
in the process.
By sending a follow-up email, you can accomplish two things--
redemption-- give yourself that opportunity to show that you,
yes, know your stuff; and determination--
you're enthusiastic, and you want the job--
a quality that most desired in an employee.
And for even more examples on how to follow up,
check out this video right up here.
Step four, do not overwhelm the hiring manager.
Instead, seek other routes of communication when possible.
So beyond a thank you note and a follow-up,
there is no need to keep emailing the hiring manager,
and that's because, ultimately, it
can feel overwhelming to the hiring manager
and can actually position you to seem impatient.
And what if they actually do hire you?
Do you want to lose your leverage
for salary negotiation?
You may need a job but try not to stress that urgency,
or else you may come across as desperate or even insecure.
And while every hiring process is different, in most cases,
you will have the information of either a recruiter or an HR
professional to help you through the interviewing process.
Now, consider this person your main point of contact.
If you have updates and other job offers
or have any further questions, you should tell them.
They will coordinate with you on the next best steps.
Now, if you're interviewing with a small company
where the hiring manager truly is
your only source of communication,
it is OK to reach out as needed.
They're likely expecting to communicate with candidates
more often.
However, aim to streamline your communication
so that you can get what you need without flooding
anybody's inbox.
And here is a pro tip-- in most cases,
there is no need to follow up twice.
It can be tempting to send that second outreach,
especially if you are very hopeful about this opportunity.
But if you don't hear back after your first follow-up,
I suggest that you refocus your attention
on another opportunity.
A successful interview isn't just about getting an offer.
It's about determining if your needs meet the company's needs.
Your time is valuable, so if the company isn't showing interest,
pivot your attention and devote your time
to finding a different opportunity.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
If you found this video helpful, please
be sure to give us a big thumbs up, subscribe to our channel,
and, of course, hit that notification bell
so that you never miss out on our weekly career tips.
Right now, we do have even more tips and pointers
for interviewing right over here.
And for seven advanced interviewing tips,
I definitely recommend checking out this video right up here.
Thank you all so much for watching.
I'm Sinéad, and I'll see you next time.