The Guide To Effective Interview Follow Up

You had a great interview. You really seemed to click with the employer, making jokes, remembering when you were both at the same band camp. You have all the necessary skills and experience to do well at this job, and you did your homework so you know what they are looking for. However, your impression on the potential employer does not stop at the interview, even a great interview. It is vital to follow up your interview opportunity with an acknowledgment of some kind.

The most recommended way to follow up after an interview is to write a thank you note. This may sound simple, but there are some guidelines you should follow to make the best impression.

First, send a typed or handwritten note. You may think this is old-fashioned, but it gives the impression that you are willing to invest your personal time and thought into the job and that you truly appreciate the opportunity to interview for the position. If you exchanged email with the person you interviewed with, then an email thank you note is acceptable. However, if you have any doubts, stick with the snail mail kind.

Write the note on plain white, off-white, or grey paper. No fancy stationary or scented notecards. You will not impress the person by showing your creativity in stationary selection. You want this to be a professional representation of you. Write the note in standard business format. If you are unsure of this, check online for samples. Be sure to put a colon instead of a comma after the greeting. Separate paragraphs with a space rather than indenting at the beginning of each one.

In the first paragraph, tell the interviewer again how enthusiastic you are about the position and thank them for meeting with you. You might refresh their memory by mentioning the date and time of your interview. This is especially pertinent if you are vying for a position at a large corporation.

Next, mention any skills or experience that you have that are especially applicable to the job. Remind the person of the reasons you would be well suited for the company. You can also bring up something that was said in the interview that interested you about the company or the interviewer. But don't get personal. This is also the time to mention anything that you may have forgotten during the interview. We all hate that feeling of leaving a conversation and coming up with just the right thing to say when it's too late to say it. Well, now is your chance to impress them with whatever that was.

Finally, in the last paragraph, thank them again and provide your phone number, stating that you look forward to hearing from them. Be cordial, but do not be needy here. You are a professional whose time is also valuable. No need to plead with the person to pick you or remind them of your available start date. Just thank them, and sign your first and last name under an appropriate sign off, such as "sincerely" or "best."

Be sure that you address the thank you note to the person who interviewed you, rather than the supervisor of the department or other individual. Double-check the spelling of his or her name. If you were interviewed by more than one person, you can write note to each one, or you can write one note to the leader of the interview and mention the other people who were present.

After you are finished writing, proofread your letter for grammar and spelling errors. Using the spell check on your computer is not enough; it will miss common errors such as writing "an" instead of "and." Also, have a friend read your letter. A second pair of eyes can often catch something that you read right over. When you are satisfied with your letter, drop it in the mail. It is best to send the letter within two days of the interview. If you don't make this deadline, do not abandon the letter altogether. Just aim for the soonest date possible.

If you are careful and professional, a thank you note could affirm for the potential employer what a great hire you will be.

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