Follow-Up After the Interview
Make sure to follow-up after the interview with the employer. Generally, a follow-up thank you letter to the interviewer is an important step in the interviewing process, and one that candidates often forget. Sending such a letter is not only proper business etiquette, but it also makes you stand out from the other candidates competing for the same position. It is generally best to write your thank you letter within a week or so after the interview.
You should even send a follow-up thank you letter if you don't want the job. If this is the case, let the interviewer know that you’re not interested in the position anymore. Ask the interviewer to keep you in mind for any positions with the company that might be available in the future.
Components of the Follow-up Thank You Letter
Your thank you letter can be typed in a business letter format or handwritten in a card. The letter or note should express appreciation to the interviewer for the opportunity to interview. You might also want to write about the following, but keep the letter brief:
- Continued interest in the position.
- Date and time of your interview.
- Very brief re-cap of your most important skills and attributes.
- Any information that you forgot to mention in the interview that is pertinent for the employer to know, but keep it brief.
Sample Thank You Letter (Business Letter Format):
Interviewer’s Name & Title
Company’s Address
Dear [Mr/Mrs. Interviewer’s Last Name],
Thank you for the opportunity to interview with [company] this past [date]. I am still very interested in the [position]. In particular, I was impressed with [express what you like about the interview]. I believe my [brief recap of your skills] would add to the value of the [company].
I would welcome the opportunity to work for [company], and I look forward to hearing from you in the next two weeks.
Sincerely,
[Your signature]
Your Name
If you chose to write a handwritten card, chose a simple preprinted thank you card and include language similar to that in the "Sample Thank You Letter" above.
Finally, we’ll conclude on the next page with some main thoughts.