The short answer is, "yes!" As a hiring manager, when I receive a follow-up email, it reinforces several important qualities about the candidate, which includes:
Professionalism and Courtesy
- Sending a follow-up email shows that the candidate understands professional etiquette and respects the interview process.
- It demonstrates good manners and appreciation for the interviewer's time and effort.
Genuine Interest
- The candidate’s continued interest in the position shows motivation and eagerness to join the company.
- It reassures me that the candidate is serious about the role and committed to the opportunity.
Alignment with Company Culture
- By referencing the company’s values and culture, the candidate shows they have thought about how they would fit within our organization.
- A well-crafted email, free of errors, highlights the candidate’s thoroughness and attention to detail.
Initiative and Proactivity
- Demonstrates that the candidate is proactive and takes initiative which in turn can be sign of reliability and dependability.
Benefits
- The email allows the candidate to reinforce their key strengths and qualifications, making sure these remain top of mind when the pool of candidates get discussed.
- If the candidate offers solutions to problems discussed during the interview, it shows a proactive mindset. And of course, their commitment to solve the problems discussed!
Additional Benefits of Sending a Follow-Up Email
- Reciprocity: Offering solutions to current challenges can create a favorable impression by invoking the principle of reciprocity. Candidates should absolutely look for ways to do this. It really does help!
- Reiteration of Skills: Take the chance to reiterate the most relevant skills discussed during the interview; remember hiring managers and their teams are busy. Reinforcing your fit for the role helps them remember key details about you.
- Continued Enthusiasm: The email gives the opportunity to express ongoing enthusiasm for the team and the company’s challenges, showing your are eager to contribute.
- Value Proposition: Finally, a follow-up email can be your chance to reaffirm what makes you uniquely suited for the role. For example, you might say, "I believe my technical expertise and leadership experience positions me well to drive the success of your upcoming projects by doing...."
In short, sending a follow-up email after an interview offers significant advantages over candidates who do not.
Don't miss the chance to further underscore why you are the best candidate for the team. Once the hiring team believes that, then they will be prepared to hire you at any cost. After all, you will come in an solve their most pressing problems!
Want a simple formula for a follow-up email? Use this:
- Thank them for the opportunity/their time
- Tell them you are excited
- Talk about your experience and leadership and how you will use it to solve problems; Provide any solutions pertaining to problems you discussed
- Reiterate your value proposition and let them know you will follow-up within the week
- If you built sufficient rapport during the interview, inform them you will connect with them over LinkedIn
And that's it! You got this.
Dorothy Mashburn is an Interview and Salary Negotiation Coach on a mission to help female executives (and allies!) ace interviews and secure the salary they deserve. You can find her at www.dorothymashburn.com
