Once the hard part of a job interview is over, it may be tempting to disconnect and take some time to recuperate. However, sending a follow-up email to the interviewer within 24 hours can set you apart from the other candidates. In fact, 91% of employers have reported that they like to receive follow-up thank you notes but 57% of job candidates don’t send them.
Don’t make the mistake of not sending a follow-up email! In this article, we’ll cover when to follow up, how to write a follow-up email, and some examples to go off of.
When should you follow up?
Job seekers should follow up with their interviewers within 24 hours of the first interview. If you haven’t heard back a week after the follow–up email, it’s common to send another email to inquire about the status of your job application.
What to include in your email
There are five overarching elements to include in your message: A greeting, an expression of gratitude, a reiteration of interest, an offer to provide additional information, and a signature. Below, we’ve included an example of all of these components in action.
Dear [interviewer name],
Thank you for taking the time to speak with me regarding the [position] role at [company name] on [day of interview].
Since learning more about the position, I’m certain my skills and experience will aid [company name] achieve its [industry] goals.
Please do not hesitate to reach out if you require additional documentation of my credentials.
Sincerely,
[Your signature]
What to write in your subject line
A subject line is like a headline for your email and can determine whether or not your email gets read. Be sure to include some sort of indication that the message is an interview follow up, like the examples below:
- Thanks for your time today, [interviewer name]
- [Job position] interview follow-up for [candidate name] on [date of interview]
- Great speaking with you today
- [Job position] interview on [date of interview]
Follow-up email best practices
The best strategy to use when building out your follow-up email is to be concise and straightforward. Hiring managers receive hundreds of emails every day, so make sure not to waste their time with a long message. Keep your email short, positive, and free of any grammatical or spelling errors.
Another strategy you can use in your follow-up email is to mention information you may not have said in the interview. For example, if you’re interviewing for a software engineering role, it’s worth highlighting your portfolio to the hiring manager in the email so they can see your previous work experience.
Regardless of whether or not you are offered the position you interviewed for, sending a follow-up email can leave a lasting impression and help you build your professional network. Showing the hiring manager your professionalism could lead you to an even better opportunity in the future, so following up is a must! For more information on the importance of following up, check out this infographic from AngelList.
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