What is The Right Way to Follow Up After an Interview?

It’s fairly standard to follow up with recruiters and hiring managers after a job interview; but with the rising popularity of email and digital communication, finding just the right method can be tricky, especially for new professionals. Here are three non-annoying ways to send a follow up after a job interview or introduction.

Sending a thank-you note in any medium is a fantastic way to follow up, and the faster professionals can get these notes out the better. Sending the thank you as an email from a smart phone, even while in the parking lot, is an impressive way to follow up with the decision maker immediately. However, some may argue that sending or dropping off a physical thank-you note makes a longer lasting impression. It can take days for a note to make it through the post, job seekers may benefit from simply dropping the thank-you note at the front desk to be delivered by the receptionist.

LinkedIn in a great place to connect and network with other professionals—hiring managers included. However, it can come across as inappropriate to reach out on LinkedIn without prior notice, so always ask a hiring manager or recruiter after an interview if they’d like to connect. Then, when making the connection, always leave a detailed connection request so that job seekers don’t appear to have an entirely separate motive. Even if the applicant is rejected for the position, he can maintain a long-term networking relationship.

Checking in from time to time if things aren't going as quickly as expected is another acceptable way to follow up after an interview. Sending a short email asking if there are any updates on the status of the process or position should occur no more than once per week—ideally, job seekers should space them out to once every two weeks approximately.

Remember, remaining connected shows hiring managers that an applicant has dedication and is sincerely interested in the position, but the applicant shouldn't come off too strongly. By the same token, if the applicant receives an email stating that another candidate was chosen, he should always respond with a request for his CV to be kept on file for future positions.

As always, applicants should never leave an interview without thanking the interviewer for his time. If the method for following up is unclear, asking what the next steps are or when to expect a call is a good idea.

Applicants should always follow up, even if it doesn't seem like the interview went very well. Not only is it considered polite, but it shows that the applicant has genuine interest. Likewise, it makes hiring managers and recruiters a little more likely to remember the applicant next time a position opens up.

Image courtesy of Roger Carr on Flickr.com