How to Follow Up After an Interview

During an interview you want to make sure your interviewer knows you are interested after leaving the interview. One way to do this is by asking for a business card. Asking for a business card lets the interviewer know that you are ambitious and most importantly that you plan on following up with the job opportunity. Additionally, it gives you the interviewer's direct contact if you have any questions related to what you talked about during the interview.

One big thing employers notice now a day is hand written letters of thanks after the interview. I believe a hand written note adds a personal touch to a follow up letter. Be sure to include something personal from the interview. For example, if your interviewer asks about your hobbies you state how you enjoy mountain biking. He then tells you one of his favorite hobbies is mountain biking. So something appropriate to include in your thank you would be "Hope to see you winding the trails in Grenalds Park this summer".

All of those reading may not want to put in the extra effort of a hand written follow up and that's okay. Leave an E-mail it is a bit less personal, but it will make you stand out regardless. You want to make sure you use a solid subject title so you wont get sorted in to spam or ignored. Something I would put is "Mr. Jones: Following Up on Our interview" be sure to use his last name. Using a first name is only acceptable if the interviewer introduced himself by his first name. In a follow up E-mail be sure to include your full name, Mailing address, E-mail address and a number you can easily be reached at. Underneath all the info, a personal signature would be a nice touch.

Remember when writing you want to portray yourself as a professional at no time is it acceptable to use slang and try to avoid contractions. Make sure you state what you would be bringing to the position. Additionally, you should reiterate you interest in the company and position. Try to make the greeting/closing warm try using "Dear, Mr. Jones" or "Sincerely, Zach Golt".

You want the employer to receive your follow up when he still has you in the back of his head. A follow up letter sent out three weeks after the interview has taken place will not send the best impression. If you plan on sending out a follow up letter then you want to do it with in a seventy two hour period. Any more time, you mind as well not even send it. If you are mailing the letter try to get it out that day, so the interviewer will receive it within the seventy two hour window.

Notes:

You don't have to make the follow a couple pages, if it is they probably won't read it.

Never tell the employer to contact you back; if they want you they will contact you.