Is it time to refresh your follow-up strategy?

Have you ever felt like you were at the edge of your seat after an interview, awaiting a phone call or email about next steps in the hiring process? 

Let’s face it, the waiting game after an interview is NOT fun and can lead us to feeling anxious. Sound familiar? You’re not alone. These anxious feelings are real, but you have a choice. You can choose to let the anxiety win, or you can choose to take a proactive and strategic approach by following up. 

Here, I’ll unpack strategies to keep your candidacy top of mind for recruiters at all times during your job search. But first, let’s tackle some common myths! 

• MYTH: Following up after an interview will make me look desperate 
• MYTH: Email should be the only method of communication that I use to follow-up
• MYTH: If I don’t hear from the recruiter/hiring manager after one follow-up message, they must not be interested in my candidacy 

And now, let’s talk about the facts:

• FACT: Following up after an interview does NOT make you look desperate. In fact, it’s quite the contrary. A thoughtful follow-up message conveys your interest in the role and shows that you’re persistent. Persistent candidates that demonstrate their passion for the company, skills for the role, and desire to learn and grow get jobs.
• FACT: When following up, it’s important to tailor your message and communication method to your audience. When reaching out to recruiters, I always recommend starting with LinkedIn, as chances are greater that recruiters will see that before an email. Rather than sharing a transactional message focused only on the status of your application, start by conveying your excitement about the opportunity (see template at the end of this message). 
• FACT: While you are understandably eager to hear back after an interview, it’s likely that the hiring manager or recruiter is navigating multiple projects and priorities at a time. Do not be disheartened if after one follow-up, you don’t hear back. I encourage following up twice, and to wait five days between messages.

Here are a few more thoughts on common questions when it comes to following up:

How soon after my interview should I follow-up? During the interview process is a great time to clarify expectations with the recruiter or hiring manager about their timeline to make a hiring decision. At the end of your initial conversation, you might ask, “Can you help me understand what the process looks like from here?” If the recruiter or hiring manager specifies a date by when you’ll hear something, it’s best NOT to follow-up before then. If the day they specify passes, send your follow up the next business day. 

Which point of contact do I follow-up with, the recruiter or the hiring manager? In most cases, especially at larger established companies, the recruiter will be the best point of contact for follow-up. If you are interviewing at a small scale company or start up, I suggest reaching out to the person that you were most recently in contact with. 

What do I include in my follow-up message? The best follow-up messages are brief, to the point, and NOT transactional. Open with a sentence that conveys your enthusiasm about the role. You might even pull in something that you learned from your initial interview Below is an example that you’re welcome to draw from: 

"It was wonderful meeting you and (add interviewer names) and learning more about (add role name) at (add company name). The insights that you shared (add something you learned from the interview) only added to my excitement of joining your team. I wondered if you might have an update on what the next steps look like in the hiring process? Thanks so much and I look forward to hearing from you!"

And remember, while we can’t control the actions of others, we can control the actions we choose to take. I guarantee that you’ll start to feel more empowered and more confident with each follow-up message that you send.