You work long and hard to get to the interview stage with an employer. But the hours of preparation and practice are nothing compared to the stress of waiting to hear whether you got the job. Days creep by at a snail’s pace. You leap for the phone every time it rings or scramble to open your inbox with every new mail alert. Following up is important during this waiting period, as it can help pass the time and solidify your enthusiasm for the position, but there is a right way and a wrong way to follow up. Use these tips to follow up like consummate professional and avoid coming across as desperate or pushy.
“Follow up is critical to any successful person, and the way the follow up is handled must incorporate common sense and smart social clues. One extra tip, in addition to what is below, includes summarizing the follow up after each conversation and then following up with a timely email showing this “take away” was completed. This advice follows best business practices to get your reputation in any relationship off to the right start!” Says Marybel DiScala, Digital Marketing Leader, Contemporary Staffing Solutions.
Follow Up Begins While You Are In the Interview Chair
Your follow up strategy really begins while your interview is winding down. Never leave without asking about the next steps and the hiring manager’s timeline for making a decision. This will let you know how to time your follow up strategically and it shows the interviewer that you are enthusiastic about the opportunity.
Send Thank-You Notes
As soon as you get home, sit down and write two types of thank-you notes: Email and handwritten. The email will go out immediately and confirms to the person or people you interviewed that you are still interested in the position. The handwritten note will reinforce your interest a few days later, and shows you’re willing to go the extra mile. Send one note to each person you interviewed with and make them personal. Do not mass email your interviewers and do not send one card to the group. It might seem like added work, but if it comes down to you and one other candidate, you want to be the person who took the time to write personalized, handwritten notes.
Make LinkedIn Connections
After you write your thank-you notes, take a moment to send LinkedIn connections to the people you met with throughout your interview process. Even if you are not ultimately the chosen candidate, you never know when these connections might prove valuable down the line.
When The Time Is Right, Check In
If the hiring manager said they would decide by next Friday, don’t start hounding her on Tuesday. First and foremost, hiring decisions often move slowly. You have no idea when the team will actually sit down to have their deliberations. Second, you do not want to seem desperate nor do you want to seem pushy. If Friday was the day to hear and no one reaches out, you can check in the following Monday. You can send a short, friendly email or place a phone call, but avoid doing both. Always respect the timeline you were given and provide the hiring team some breathing room. If the hiring manager was unable to provide you with a timeline, a good rule of thumb is to wait at least five business days before checking in.
If you are seeking out new professional opportunities and you are ready to accelerate your job search by partnering with an expert recruiter, contact the team at Contemporary Staffing Solutions today. We are committed to the success of our talent network, and we can help connect you with a position that will help you achieve your career goals.