Hidden Key to a Successful Interview (Part 2): Quality Follow-Through
I recently interviewed a candidate. The next day I received a follow up email. It was well-written, professional, and said all the right things like: “Thank you so much for taking the time…,” “I’m confident I could make great contributions…,” etc.
It was a perfectly nice letter. But it was a huge wasted opportunity. The letter gave me no new information, and therefore did not advance my assessment of the candidate.
Just as you should prepare questions for the interview, and really make them count, the same can be said of the follow up. The follow up correspondence is not just a formality, it should be treated as another chance to demonstrate your skills and your particular suitability to the company and that job, and to reinforce a personal connection to the recipient. Use the follow up email to deliver another insight or other sign of your capabilities, and personalize that to each individual you met with. Spend some time reflecting on something meaningful that you learned in the process, or an interesting new question that you came away with, and reflect that thinking back in your note – perhaps even ask a follow-on question. Even alluding to a particular subtle detail in your conversation that demonstrates how well you listened is useful.
Nothing impresses me more than someone who invests in their interview; someone who does their homework, and then takes every opportunity to amplify their candidacy. Each touchpoint is a chance to do that. You have a limited number of touch points in the interview process – make them ALL count.
Making Cuttable a company that’s impossible to replicate, hard to resist and difficult to stop caring about...ex somethingy something.
9 年Hard not to agree with you Tim Westergren, and it's another great example to us all that we never stop learning. I'm sure there's plenty of us looking back at past interviews, thinking that this would have helped. Thanks for sharing.
Proven Regional Sales Manager | Lead, Coach & Develop Sales Teams | Improve Sales Results | Helping Companies Translate Their Business Goals to Operational Reality
10 年As a hiring manager, if a candidate doesn't follow up with a thank you email, this implies lack of true desire for a position... As a candidate searching, I've always followed up with a thank you as its a very professional way to show desire, interest & follow thru.. Business practices may be changing but the brass tacts of interviewing still remain the same - in my opinion.
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10 年I completely agree with Erin!
Trade Facilitation Committee - Logistics Advisor NTTFC (Views on Linkedin are personal)
10 年Follow up email is just an intention, desire from candidate to show commitment to work for the company, as a matter of fact human nature love writing. Some hiring manager loves a direct call or NOTHING. What matter comes if HR jump in between a candidate and hiring manager which normally lacks ability to communicate at candidate will.