After an interview, it’s normal to be a bit anxious. Waiting to hear if you’ve gotten the job can be one of the most exciting and stressful parts of job hunting, especially if you’re particularly interested in the opportunity.
While you might think that you’ve done all you can once you finish your meeting with the hiring manager, that isn’t always the case. Certain post-interview steps can make a big difference, potentially even increasing your odds of getting that job offer.
If you’ve interviewed for a position and want to do everything you can to land the job, here are some tips that can help.
Write a Thank-You Note ASAP
After your interview, the first thing you should do is write a quick thank you note. It’s a polite, respectful, and often expected move for you to make. In rare cases, hiring managers even discard candidates that don’t send a thank you message, regardless of how well they performed otherwise.
Luckily, writing a great thank you note is fairly simple. Begin by expressing your gratitude and follow that up by restating your interest in the role. Next, highlight a relevant skill or two that demonstrates that you are qualified, and how you would like to use your capabilities to help the company excel, ideally giving a clear example of how you can provide them value.
Then, thank them again for their time and confirm that you look forward to hearing from them. Finally, sign off, listing your contact information below your signature.
Follow-Up After the Interview
After you send a thank-you note, you may need to follow up again if you don’t hear back. However, you do need to time the message properly.
First, if you were given a timeline for a decision and the deadline hasn’t passed, wait. Following up before that may be viewed as pushy or rude, so it’s best to have a bit of patience. Usually, you can reach out just a business day or two after the deadline without issue.
If there wasn’t a deadline, then you should typically wait for one to two weeks after the interview to follow-up again. Hiring managers are often busy professionals, so it can take them time to make a decision while they are also handling their other responsibilities. This is especially true as they may be conducting reference and background checks before extending offers, both of which can take several business days, if not more, to complete.
Once an appropriate amount of time has passed, keep your message professional and concise. Open with a greeting and then state that you are following up on the position and request an update. Let them know you are still eager to hear about the opportunity and that you look forward to their response. You can also offer to provide them with additional information if they need it before signing off and listing your contact information.
A Single Follow-Up Message
Generally, a single follow-up message is all you should send if you don’t receive any information back. However, if the hiring manager replies and gives you a new timeline or lets you know that they are still working on a decision, you can repeat the process. Wait until the deadline passes or two weeks after they replied. Then, use the same formula to follow-up if you haven’t heard about a decision.
Ultimately, the process above ensures you can showcase your enthusiasm without going overboard. You’ll come across as professional and engaged, both of which may help you land the job. If you’d like to learn more about securing a new role, the staff at GSG Talent Solutions can help. Contact us today.