How To Send a Follow-up Email After an Interview
A follow-up email after an interview can be key to landing a job. What do you need to know about sending a follow-up email?
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What Is a Follow-Up Email After an Interview?
An interview follow-up email is exactly what it sounds like: a follow-up correspondence sent after a job interview to indicate your appreciation to your interviewer and reiterate your suitability for the job title you have applied for. This kind of correspondence can be sent after any kind of interview—whether it was your first or second, whether the job interview took place in person or as a phone interview. Writing an effective follow-up email is now a standard part of the hiring and interview process. In fact, sending a follow-up email is considered good career advice, because it can increase a job seeker’s chances of success by as much as 68%.
The Structure of a Follow-up Email
1. Open with a salutation
Keep your subject line concise but detailed, including the name of the position you’re applying for, and “thank you for meeting with me.” For example: “Project Manager position at ABC Company: Thanks for meeting with me”. As for your salutation, you should use the interviewer’s name in your salutation. If you had a panel interview, you should address the interviewers as a group, but it would be better to address each individually. If you have had more than one interview, you should send each a follow-up email of their own.
2. Express your appreciation for the interview
Start by addressing your recruiter in a way that shows appreciation for the time and consideration they gave you and if you can mention the company name and job title you applied for. This may help you stick in their minds as they go through the decision-making process.
3. Refer to specific elements of the interview
Make a point of referring to specific elements of the interview and ask additional questions during this check-in if you have any, especially if it was your first interview.
4. Mention how your skills can help the company
Though any post-interview correspondence should not repeat too much from the interview itself, it can be helpful to reiterate your skills and strengths to ensure they are firmly in the interviewer’s mind as they proceed with the hiring process.
5. Offer additional information if necessary
If you think you have failed to mention something in your resume, cover letter or interview that you should have, the follow-up email is a perfect time to bring it up. This last point of contact could make or break your job search, so be sure to give it your best. This basic structure by itself doesn’t create an exceptional follow-up email; take steps to personalize your message and make it relevant to the hiring managers you spoke to, as well as the job title you have applied for.
Make Sure Your Follow-up Email Stands Out
This means ensuring you have an eye-catching subject line, greeting your interviewer by name, and signing off with your own full name, of course, but there are other things you can do to impress a potential employer. If you have good writing skills, you can ensure your thank-you note stands out by being eloquent, but you should also be concise to show respect for your interviewer’s time.
If you’re less skilled as a writer, focus on your enthusiasm for the opportunity, and reiterate the things you think make you a perfect fit for the job may help influence the hiring decision and land you a second interview. Whatever you do, make sure you proofread and spell-check your follow-up note. Bad spelling and grammar will make a bad impression.
Finally, don’t worry too much if you get no response; hiring managers have a lot to consider in the hiring process, and they are often too busy to respond to a thank-you letter, no matter how well written it is.
FAQ: Follow-up Emails After an Interview
Q: When should I write my follow-up email?
You should aim to write your follow-up email within a day or two after your interview, while you are still fresh in the minds of the hiring managers. Doing so is a part of good networking skills and will help you make a good impression.
Q: How long should my follow-up email be?
Your thank-you email does not need to be long. In fact, it can be only a few brief paragraphs if you want. In some ways, shorter is better because it allows your interviewer to read it quickly. You will have a limited amount of time to catch and hold their attention, so be concise.
Q: Do I need to send separate follow-up emails to each interviewer?
Yes, unless you were interviewed by several people simultaneously, you should send a personalized follow-up email to each hiring manager you were interviewed by. A personalized thank-you note or email can seriously increase your chances of successfully navigating the hiring process.
