Follow Up After the Job Interview

More and more employers expect job seekers to follow up after
the interview. They want to be able to make an effective
decision about who to hire, and those who follow up get the
advantage.

Strategic follow up also gives an opportunity to an employer to
ask any additional questions he/she might have about your
qualifications. This helps the employer make sure that you are
the best person for the job. It relieves any concerns he or she
might have had before the follow up.

There are several way to follow up after the interview. Some
people send thank-you cards and letters. Most people send a
letter by e-mail or regular mail. Sending a letter is seen as
being more effective if done right.

The follow up letter is your chance to thank the interviewer,
show you're still interested in the job and that you would like
to speak with them further about the position, by phone, on a
specific date and time. Send the letter right after the
interview.

Make sure you have the name of the interviewer, the position you
interviewed for, and the name of the company on the letter.
Check the spelling of the interviewer's name. This is very
important because no one likes to receive a letter with their
name spelled wrong. The person will stop reading the letter at
that point and throw it away.

Once you've sent the letter, make sure you follow up with the
phone call. The phone call is an added advantage in that not
many people will even follow up with a phone call after sending
the thank you letter. Because you did, the employer will have
your name firmly in mind when they start making the hiring
decision.