Job Interview Follow Up Tips

You have just left a job interview and it's a position you would love to be offered. What can you do next to help ensure that you get a second interview or a job offer? The most important thing you can do is to follow up to reiterate your interest in the position and to thank the interviewer for taking the time to meet with you.

Why You Should Follow Up After an Interview

Following up can help you stand out to the crowd and can reinforce the fact that you're a strong candidate for the hiring manager. Not following up could even cost you the job. A CareerBuilder survey reported that 15% of hiring managers wouldn't hire someone who didn't send a note, and 32% would think less of them.

Interview Follow Up Tips

Take the time to follow up with everyone you met with (collecting business cards is a good way to get contact information) and review these tips on how to follow-up after an interview:

• Follow up after both in-person and phone interviews.
• Send a personal thank you email to everyone you met with.
• Email is the fastest way to say thank you.
• Send your email message as soon as possible after the interview.
• Consider sending a handwritten thank you note, as well. Keep a box of thank you note cards and a book of stamps handy.
• Send your note within 24 hours of the interview.
• Use this opportunity to reiterate your interest in the job and the company.
• Highlight your relevant skills.
• Mention anything you wished you had said, but didn't, during the interview.
• Keep your correspondence short.
• Proofread your email and notes before you send them.
• Review sample thank you notes if you're not sure what to write.