Interview Follow-Up: Email, Phone Call or Letter?
If you going through the process of looking for work, you may be wondering what the etiquette is regarding interview follow-up:
email, phone call or letter? This can be a sensitive matter that must
be handled properly for the best results. Once the interview is
completed, there are some things you can do to improve your chances of
a positive outcome and a job offer. Here are some guidelines for
following up the right way after a job interview.
Interview Follow-up Letters
A
follow-up letter is always a professional way to express gratitude
following a job interview. In order to write a post-interview letter,
start with a simple thank you statement so that the person who
interviewed you knows how much you appreciate their time. It's also
appropriate to let the receiver know that you enjoyed learning more
about the job opening and its requirements in addition to learning more
about the company as a whole.
In your letter, leave off with a
statement that invites them to contact you if there are any additional
questions or information needed and include a good contact number by
which you may be reached. The thank you letter should be mailed as soon
as the next day after your interview and be sure to address it directly
to the person who interviewed you.
Emailing after the Interview
We
live in a fast-paced world and in some cases a post-interview email can
be utilized. This is especially true when interviewing for a job out of
state or for a telecommuting job. In some cases, human resource
managers prefer to communicate by email because it is an easier and
more efficient method for keeping in contact with candidates. It's also
a common way to keep track of candidates throughout the hiring process
or to save resumes and other information digitally for future reference.
If you are working with a hiring manager that has used email as a
large part of their communication with you, then by all means send
post-interview communications that way. However, be sure to keep all
email messages professional and refrain from sending emails that
include pictures, cute sayings or forwarding spam to the recruiter you
are dealing with. Try to follow up with a phone call occasionally as
well.
Post Interview Phone Calls
Making phone calls to recruiters can be tricky at times because you
don't want to call too soon or too much and become a nuisance. However,
there are ways to handle post-interview phone calls in a tactful way
that will produce positive results. Once you've taken the time to send
a professional letter to the hiring manager, it's generally advisable
to wait at least three to four days for them to receive it. Then feel
free to make a quick call and just let them know how much you
appreciate their time and ask any additional questions you may have
though of regarding the opening.
Be sure to say thank you and
let the recruiter know you look forward to hearing the outcome
regardless of the final decision. Avoid making repeat phone calls
unless you have not heard anything after a week. Calling anymore than
that will make you seem like a pest and less like a good choice for the
job.
