You've just had a great interview or attended a job fair where you met some potential employers. What's the next step? How do you keep in touch and show your interest without being annoying or desperate? Here are some tips on how to follow up after an interview or job fair and make a positive impression.
One of the most important and effective ways to follow up after an interview or job fair is to send a thank-you note to the person or people who spoke with you. This is a simple gesture that shows your appreciation, professionalism, and enthusiasm. You can send a thank-you note by email, mail, or even LinkedIn, depending on the situation and the preference of the recipient. Try to send it within 24 hours of the interview or job fair, and make it personalized, concise, and specific. Mention something you learned or enjoyed from the conversation, restate your interest and qualifications for the role, and express your eagerness to hear from them again.
As a recruiter, I love receiving thank you notes from candidates. This shows initiative, appreciation and confirms and reiterates the candidate's interest in the position. Job seekers should send a thank you note to every employee they speak or meet with. Each note should be different and should be sent no later than 24 hours after the interview. The candidates who send thank you notes always stick out more than candidates who don't. All things being equal between candidates, this gesture goes such a long way and just may be the difference of whether or not the job seeker receives an offer.
Some argue that "thank you notes" are outdated. I believe there are a lot of similarities between sales and a job interview. As increased number of touch points increase chance of a sale, in a similar way it helps secure a job. After each interview, make sure to send a to-do-point, thank you note making clear references to the interview and what new information made you more excited for the opportunity. This way you can separate yourself from other applicants, and articulate in writing how your background would be a fit for the role on top of the interview.
My advice on thank you notes is and will always be summed up succinctly in 4 words: sometimes helps, never hurts. I have had the privilege to place over 200 candidates in my tenure as a recruiter and over that time I've advised many hundreds more. I have yet to encounter a single client who was perturbed by someone having the audacity to be gracious.
Once, I was headhunted on LinkedIn. The hiring manager sent the job link and awaited my application. Intrigued by the role and company, I updated my long-neglected resume and quickly got an interview invite. Assuming being headhunted meant certain hiring, I overlooked sending a thank-you note post-interview and missed the opportunity. A year later, I sought feedback: - Key Takeaway 1: Being headhunted doesn't guarantee a job. - Key Takeaway 2: The deciding factor? A personalized post-interview thank you note from another candidate. - Learning Lesson: Always send a tailored thank you after interviews; it might set you apart.
La meilleure fa?on de faire un suivi après une entrevue ou un salon de l'emploi est d'envoyer un email de remerciement personnalisé dans les 24 ou 48 heures suivant l'événement. Exprimez votre gratitude pour l'opportunité, réitérez votre intérêt pour le poste ou l'entreprise, et mentionnez un point de discussion spécifique de l'entretien. Cela montre votre professionnalisme et votre engagement, et vous aide à rester présent dans l'esprit des recruteurs.
Another way to follow up after an interview or job fair is to keep track of your progress and the status of your application. You can use a spreadsheet, a calendar, or a tool like Trello to organize your information and reminders. For each interview or job fair, record the date, the name and contact details of the person or people you spoke with, the role or company you applied for, and any feedback or next steps you received. You can also set a date for when you plan to follow up again, if you haven't heard back by then.
My favorite tools are Trello and Google Docs. You can create reminders and dates to ensure you never miss a follow-up. Also, you can create cards on each person so you remember the important and personal details they shared with you to keep your interactions relevant.
While it's natural to be eager and curious about the outcome of your interview or job fair, you also need to be respectful and patient with the hiring process. Don't bombard the employer with multiple calls or emails, or expect an immediate response. Remember that they may be busy with other tasks or candidates, and that they may have their own timeline and procedures for making decisions. Instead of being pushy or needy, be polite and professional, and respect their communication preferences and boundaries. If they tell you when they expect to get back to you, wait until then before following up again. If they don't, you can follow up once a week or every 10 days, unless they indicate otherwise.
As part of your interview questions for the panel, ask what their recruitment timetable is or what is their time frame for responding to candidates post-interview. Clarify if you should expect contact via phone or email. Always write down any questions for the interview panel in advance in a notebook and take this with you to interview. It’s less for you to have to remember on the day and then you can note down the panel responses in real time rather than during that post-interview endorphin rush! If you haven’t heard anything within the given timeframe, I’d recommend following up with an email in the first instance…the chances are, if the job was yours, you’d know about it already.
One more way to follow up after an interview or job fair is to showcase your value and demonstrate your fit for the role or company. You can do this by sending relevant updates, articles, samples, or testimonials that highlight your skills, achievements, or industry knowledge. For example, you can share a recent project you completed, a positive feedback you received, a blog post you wrote, or a news article that relates to the company's goals or challenges. This can help you stay on the employer's radar, show your interest and initiative, and reinforce your suitability for the role.
I recommend to also use the follow-up email as an opportunity to address any concerns or missed discussion points during the interview. For example, if you feel that you did not sufficiently display the required Leadership skills (either through self-evaluation or asking for real-time feedback), be sure to address that in your follow-up email. This shows that you are - 1) open to feedback 2) an active listener 3) coachable 4) self-reflective. Another advice - if you are engaged in an interesting discussion with the interviewer (about the business, industry etc.) and you ran out of time, be sure to add on a few additional pointers in the follow-up email, as it shows your genuine interest and passion for their business.
To make your follow up email stand out: Instead of following up with just a thank you, a 'looking forward to the next steps' email, and that's it -- send an email after one week that shares something the person mentioned during your interaction and how it made you think. People love the feeling of being appreciated and seen -- use it to your advantage to further the conversation! (Bonus: Connect it to a similar experience (ideally result) you've had and ask them a follow up question.)
Showcasing your value after the interview can be a good way to stay in front of the hiring team and show your interest in their company. An example from my past job searches is a company used a new video interviewing software and I was one of the first applicants to use the software. So after the interview and after sending thank you emails and hand written notes, I followed up with a quick review of the product from my perspective. The hiring manager engaged me in several emails asking questions and thanking me for my insights. You can highlight yourself as willing to help even before being added to the payroll.
Finally, you should always be prepared for the next steps in the hiring process, whether it's another interview, a test, a reference check, or an offer. You can follow up after an interview or job fair by asking about the next steps, confirming your availability and interest, and preparing the necessary documents or materials. You can also research the company, the role, and the market, and practice your interview skills and questions. By being prepared, you can show your professionalism and confidence, and increase your chances of landing the job.
After 8 years in recruitment and career coaching, one of my top recommendations is to close out the interview with these questions: — What are the next steps in the process and what should I prepare to discuss? — When should I expect to schedule my next interview? — After speaking with me today, what’s the one thing that sets me apart from other candidates, that will help me move through the interview process? — What’s one thing that would deter you from recommending me from moving forward with the next step? By asking confident, open-ended questions like this, it shows the interviewer that you’re serious. You can also take this information and follow up afterwards with specific responses to those questions and assume the interview ??
I am old school. Always encourage candidates of any level to send both an "e-thank you," as well as a hand-written note (for in-person interviews). Now, if you interview with a panel of 5+ leaders, then pick the top 2 decision makers and break out the pen and stationary. The personal touch is (at least) a tie-breaker in the hiring process. Best wishes...
Be yourself, be authentic, and remember that every interview is a 2 way street. You are interviewing us, just as we are interviewing you! Make sure to come with questions and research as much as you can. (We always love a good notepad and ambition :) )