The basic premise or formula is to recognize that when your skills + traits + behaviors are placed in the right environment the outcome will give you a greater chance of success and happiness in your work.
Within 24 hours of your phone or in-person interview plan to send a follow up note to everyone who you interviewed with and the person who arranged for the meetings.
It is important to take this opportunity:
· To send your appreciation for the time they took from their day to meet you
· Mention anything that may have come to mind since the interview
· Correct anything that may not have been as clear as you wanted
· Remind them that you are a well-qualified candidate
· You are enthusiastic to have this job
At MJG we really like a handwritten note. It shows a level of professionalism and personality that cannot come across as strongly in an email. But it is perfectly acceptable to send the individual emails to each person. In either case proofread twice. A misspelling, poor punctuation and poor grammar will be noticed. We suggest the subject line in an email be your name, the interview date and job title. If you are following up on an existing email chain, then use this subject in the opening lines to help refresh their memory. Do not expect them to answer, that is a bonus but not mandatory. They may be interviewing others before they answer you. Try to be patient, and we understand this is quite difficult when you really want the job but try.
What if you don’t hear back in one business week. Using the same email conversation, you may send a follow up email to the hiring manager. Reaffirm that you are still very interested and very excited for the opportunity to work with them. Ask for an update on the position being filled. Keep this short and sign off with a ‘thank you’ and your name. Proofread twice. Make sure it doesn’t sound pushy, anxious, desperate and NEVER mention that you are trying to decide between them and a different company as if to hurry their decision. That’s a sure turn-off.
If a month goes by then a touch base email to the HR contact could be in order.
For a deeper dive on this topic check out: https://www.forbes.com/sites/dailymuse/2012/05/30/4-non-annoying-ways-to-follow-up-after-an-interview/#62f3a0187097
While a thank you note will not guarantee you a job offer, reports state that 91% of all interviewers liked getting a follow-up and yet only 43% of all candidates send them. Good manners will stand out and get you ahead of the competition.
For your homework, buy your thank you notes and have the stamps ready to go and place a marble in your jar!