“I want to thank you personally for your interest in the position and for all the time you have put into the interview process. Give us enough time to review your application and we’ll call you after the evaluation.”
Most job hunters can relate to hearing these lines from a hiring manager after an interview. Since the job application is already tough, what should you do after a job interview? No matter how sure you are to land the job, it’s still better to know the steps you must take to secure the position. Often, it’s only a matter of time to get a positive response. However, how long should you wait? According to a report from Glassdoor Economic Research, the average hiring process in the United States takes 23 days, depending on the industries that an applicant is applying for.
Regardless of waiting, a wise step to consider is to ask for an update. Thus, sending a follow-up email after an interview is pertinent to increase your hiring chances.
What’s an Interview Follow-Up Email?
An interview follow-up email is almost the same with any other types of follow-up emails. It’s one of the most effective ways to reiterate an applicant’s interest in the job and mention the details they forgot during the interview. Sad to say, most job seekers—from beginners to even seasoned pros—lack the skills in writing a follow-up email. Others fear that doing so might ruin their chance or turn their potential employer off. However, proper play of words in your follow-up email can boost your chances.
Weeks after the interview, you’ll doubt your performance and recheck your resume, thinking about what you’ve done wrong and assuming the job isn’t for you. That being said, a better move is to send a follow-up email after your job interview.
Why is it Important to Submit a Follow-Up Email After an Interview?
Sending a follow-up email after an interview is not a thing in all job markets and countries. However, in some countries including the US, it’s a common practice designed for job applicants who haven’t heard any updates from the hiring manager after the interview. Through this, they’ll be able to convey their enthusiasm and passion for the job. Additionally, it’s one the appropriate methods to express an applicant’s gratitude for the interview chance, which is a plus to snag the job.
How Does an Interview Follow-Up Email Work?
Imagine yourself itching to know the status of your job application. To remove your worries and stop thinking too much about the outcome, compose a follow-up email. Another point: Maybe you’ve realized you didn’t stress your ideas better, ask an engaging question, or mention a skill aligned with your prospective job. By submitting an interview follow-up email, you show your intent for the job.
What Should I Include in an Interview Follow-Up Email?
To create an engaging interview follow-up email, note the factors to include in your letter. Avoid sounding too desperate because it may show a lack of professionalism and kill your chances to land the job. Instead, use this as an opportunity to reiterate your interest in the job as well as your qualifications, skills, and experience that you can contribute to your prospective employer. Here are the things to say in a follow-up email after an interview.
1. Clear and direct interest
An effective interview follow-up email must not contain unnecessary statements. It must be direct to the point and lead your employer to see your eagerness to work. Aside from this, express how perfect you are for the job and stress your unique skills and characteristics to outshine the role. Make a clear statement that regardless of the offer, as long as it’s reasonable, you’ll accept the job.
2. Details you weren’t able to tell
Do you have chunks of information you forgot to mention during the interview? Take advantage of highlighting them through your follow-up email. Apart from solidifying your points, this can help your employer find out more about your capabilities.
3. Thank your employer for the chance
One important part of your follow-up email should focus on thanking your potential employer. Acknowledge their time and effort to set an interview. When you express your gratitude with a follow-up or a thank you letter, you gain an advantage with your professionalism.
Are There Words to Avoid When Writing an Interview Follow-Up Email?
Just like your resume and cover letter, there are also words that you must not include on your follow-up email. Mentioning such words might ruin your hiring chances. Read on.
1. ‘Important’, ‘Need’, and ‘Fine’
Given that the job is an excellent source of income, don’t sound too desperate. Word usage is vital across all aspects, and although these are not negative words, using them in the subject line to follow up your application is wrong. Besides sounding too demanding, you may convey a sense of boldness that can make you lose your grip. Limit these words when you write a follow-up email.
2. ‘Thanks’
“Thank you” won’t hurt, so use it instead of “Thanks.” It’s a better and more formal way to express your thoughts and feelings. Never exchange your professionalism and sincere intention for the sake of brevity.
3. ‘You’
The simple pronoun “you” can kill your job opportunity when used in a rather improper way. Don’t sound too close in addressing your employer because it can stain your character. Accord your employer due respect or use the company’s name instead.
4. ‘Me’/’My’
Even if these words tell your presence or highlight your skills, using it can show you’re demanding too much attention. Hence, as much as possible, use words that don’t point to you. For example, instead of saying “This offer made me excited to share my skills and contribute to the company’s growth and success,” use “This opportunity is a perfect means to show the skills required to boost the company’s growth.”
5. ‘Sorry’
Don’t say “sorry” in your follow-up email. Don’t make up stories for the sake of sending a follow-up email. Refrain from apologizing and keep a positive tone during your job application. Further, this word is too risky to use when waiting for an update. It isn’t wrong at all, though. Yet, think about how it may affect your application and character.
How Long Should I Wait to Send a Follow-Up Email After an Interview?
Remember: Don’t complicate your follow-up email. As much as possible, craft a simple one that’s direct, clear, and polite. Allow 4-5 business days and then send your follow-up email after the interview. A few employers love to hire eager applicants and those who display interest.
To give you an idea how it is written, here’s an example of an effective interview follow-up email:
Date
Name
Position
Company Name
Company Address
Dear Name:
I want to express my gratitude for the opportunity you gave me for an interview for the job title position. I greatly appreciated the company’s work environment and enjoyed meeting you and the staff members.
The interview gave me a chance to measure how my background, interest, and skill sets are aligned with the goals of Company Name. As we discussed during the interview, (Here, you write something about your background that you have discussed with the interviewer), has prepared me well for this position.
Again, I am very interested in this position and believe that, with my overall qualifications and experience, I could make a significant contribution to your highly competitive company.
Thank you for your time and I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Sincerely,
John Doe
Creating an interview follow-up email is as tricky as crafting your resume. If not written professionally, your chances of getting your dream job might fade away, even if you successfully aced the interview stage. If you’re still having a hard time writing a follow-up email, we’ve got your back! Seek help from the Resume Professional Writers’ career experts who can compose your professional interview follow-up email.
