How to follow up after an interview?

You have reached another important milestone in your job search: a full day of interviews for your ideal job (or at least a stepping stone to your dream job). Regarding your perspective, you nailed it! (Take a look if you need advice on how to prepare for an interview.) You are confident that you are a good fit and that they will contact you shortly with an offer. However, after two weeks of refreshing your email and checking your phone every few minutes, you begin to get a sinking feeling...perhaps the job interview was not as easy as you thought.

At this juncture, follow up with the company before putting your job interview in the rearview mirror. It would help if you continued to hunt for employment until you receive and accept an offer, but there are numerous reasons why you may not have heard back from the hiring manager.

There are probably several further applicants, and the selection procedure could take some time. There are innumerable additional causes for a delayed response. Perhaps the individual responsible for approving your offer letter has been coping with a family emergency. Perhaps the entire organization was required to participate in an important project. Maybe the department head you applied for abruptly resigned, and the organization must first find a replacement.

Regardless of the reason, you are unaware of what is occurring on the other side. Worrying about it will not help, but checking in with your contact could be beneficial. While you should avoid being irritating, you should do what you can to remain in the employer's mind. Here are three ways to accomplish this without becoming annoying.

Write a note of gratitude

You have one more opportunity to stand out and make an impression.

The first email sent after an interview should be a thank-you note within 24 hours. Some claim that sending a handwritten letter will make you stand out while sending an email is just appropriate. Always send a thank-you note to everyone you interviewed, including the recruiter.

Here are some suggestions for writing a letter of gratitude:

• Be concise, cordial, and conversational. You have already had the job interview, so show some appreciation and personality.
• Reiterate your interest in the position and include any pertinent data about your qualifications.
• Include one of the three strategies in this post to distinguish yourself from the competition.
• Thank them for their time, as job interviews typically need employers to set aside a significant amount of time, forcing them to postpone other responsibilities.
• Add any pertinent facts you failed to mention during the interview.

2. Check-In

After some time, sending a brief note to reaffirm your interest is acceptable.

Sending a thank-you note after an interview is the easiest part; determining how to follow up after a few weeks of silence can be more challenging. You may be concerned that checking in would make you appear obnoxious or desperate. But don't! Typical and expected, following up is an integral component of the process. If you approach your follow-up with care, you can appear diligent and engaged and continue to create rapport with the team that may give you the position in the future.

3. Maintain Contact

Regardless of the outcome, this is a chance to expand your network.

Occasionally, the hiring manager will deliver terrible news. Even if you do not obtain the job, having them in your network could be beneficial. It is possible that they will contact you in the future regarding another position or that you will develop a mutually beneficial connection.

Instead of viewing your relationship with the employer as a failed job interview and missed opportunity, view them as valuable new colleagues and contacts in the industry. Remember to avoid overdoing it! Always be genuine and mindful of whether you are being helpful or annoying. Remain professional, proactive, and helpful without being overly eager or pushy.