The Interview Follow-Up

Guest Author: Rasmussen College. Founded in 1900, Rasmussen College is a premier provider of educational experiences, dedicated to the growth and development of its students, employees, and the communities it serves. Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, Rasmussen College offers Bachelor’s and Associate’s online and on campus in fields with the greatest occupation opportunities.
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The post-interview stage can be just as stressful as preparing for the interview, especially when you are anxiously waiting to hear a reply. A follow-up note or phone call can send a good message to potential employers after an interview. Some even expect it.

Send A Thank-You
Within a day or two of your interview, send your interviewer a note to reinforce your interest in the position. It should include a genuine thank you, a reminder of your strongest assets, and a closing that indicates your enthusiasm about the next step. If you don’t think your interview went well, offer to give them additional references or documentation of your skills. Don’t call attention to any of your mistakes. Your message can be quick and to the point. Whether you hand-write the thank-you or email it depends on the company.

Remind Your Interviewer
You can’t always expect to hear back about the status of your interview right away. Many companies will give you a time frame of when to expect a call. If you wait for that period and still haven’t received word from your interviewer, it might not be because you didn’t get the job. Sometimes hiring managers get busy and forget to call you back or put it off. A gentle email or phone reminder can show that you’re proactive and interested in the position. If you don’t hear back in another couple of days, keep trying. Make all of your inquiries polite and short in order to impress, instead of annoy, them.

Move On
If you hear back from your interviewer and the news is not good, don’t lose your cool. Thank them for getting back to you and for the time they spent looking over your credentials and getting to know you. You might even want to ask if they have any feedback for you to use in future interviews. They might not offer feedback, but you will show them that you are open to improvements. You never know, they may call back if someone else doesn’t accept the offer.