How to Write a Follow-Up Email After an Interview

How to Write a Follow-Up Email After an Interview

Interviewers are always looking for the “x-factor,” what is that you have that nobody else has. Of course, you will have to display this during the interview. But the big question is what you can do afterward to set yourself apart. One of the things that can help you achieve this and possibly secure the job is sending a follow-up email. It may sound a bit technical, but it is not. Here is a guide to help you with everything pertaining to sending a follow-up email.

Writing a Follow-up Email After an Interview

1. INTRO
2. Pick a Great Subject Line

The subject line is the topic or main agenda of the email one usually states at the top when sending an email. Your first task is to select a great subject line. This will help you capture your interviewers’ attention easily. Make sure that it is short so that the interview does not get discouraged reading halfway. Of course, it should convey the main agenda of the email. Here are some few examples;

1. I appreciate your time.
2. Great Speaking With You Today

• Follow up regarding (insert the job title)

1. BODY
2. Begin with a “Thank You”

After the subject line, the first thing that follows is the body. Your email’s body should begin by expressing your gratitude. The word thank you will get the job done. But it should be included in complete sentences expressing what you are grateful for. You will have to mention the job title and thank the interviewer for giving you an opportunity.

3. Say You Are Following Up The Interview (Be Specific)

This is the part where you go into details about what the email is all about. You state that you are following-up on the interview you recently had. There are instances where interviewers hold several interviews in the same time-span. That is why it would be best if you specify the job you interviewed for. You state the job title and everything related to it.

4. Reinforce Your Interest in the Job Opportunity

For the interviewers to know that you are still interested in the job, it would be best to state it clearly.  This will make the interviewers know that you are a serious candidate. This will also put you on their radar as they pick the best candidate.

5. Set Yourself Apart

Of course, everyone can go for an interview and write a follow-up email. The big question is, how will you convince them to choose you and not anyone else? Now that is what should be on your mind when you are writing this part of the email. One way of doing this is by showing them the exceptional skills you possess. You can even go ahead and explain how these skills would improve the company.

1. CONCLUSION
2. Ask them to Contact You and Sign Off

After completing the body, it is now time to finish up the email. The best way to do this would be by asking them to contact you in case of anything. This may prompt them to reach you in case they have any questions or want to convey a message. You then sign off.

Benefits of Writing a Follow-up Email After an Interview

1. Express Gratitude

Everybody loves someone who is thankful even for the smallest things done for them. The fact the interviewers selected you to come for the interview is not something to play with. Therefore you should be thankful because there are people who applied but were not called in. Doing so helps you make a mark on them.

2. Helps you Provide More information you may have forgotten to give in the interview

Sometimes you may get a little bit scared, especially before an interview. Being a little freaked out may make you forget something during the interview. In case this happens, make sure that you write a follow-up email. This provides an avenue where you can write everything you forgot to say.

3. Gives you an opportunity to make your candidacy case

During an interview is where you do your best to impress the company officials. All in all, getting another chance to impress them, even more, would not hurt. One of the things that can get you such a chance is a follow-up email after the interview. In most cases, we call this “a golden opportunity to make your case.” Therefore do your best to impress them a little bit more so that you can get the job.

Examples

For better comprehension, let us look at some examples of great follow-up emails.

1. Sales Manager Position

Subject Line: Great Speaking to You Today

Dear Christina,

Thank you for inviting me today (Thank You/Appreciation). I am writing this email to follow up on the interview I did yesterday for the managerial position. (Reason). The details you provided about the job description are in line with what I have always wanted to do. Hence, it would be my honor to do this in your firm. I strongly believe it will make significant contributions to my skills and expertise. (Reinforce Your Interest)

I have worked with a wide range of companies in the industry and handled hundreds of sales tasks. Through this, I have managed to accumulate years of experience. If I am selected, I will employ these talents to help your company grow. (Set Yourself Apart)

Please feel free to contact me if you need any information. I look forward to your call within the week, as we had discussed (Ask them to Contact You).

Thank You Once again, Christina.

Best regards.

(Sign-Off)

2. Secretarial Position

Subject Line: I Appreciate Your Time

Dear Ben,

I wanted to take time to thank you for your time today in the morning (Thank You/Appreciation)

I would just like to follow-up on the interview as I applied for the secretarial job at XDR Company. I enjoyed our conversation about managing and handling people as a secretary (Reason).

In regards to our in-depth conversation, there is no doubt being a secretary in your offices is all that I want to do. (Reinforce Your Interest). My expertise in relating to people well will improve your firm greatly. (Set yourself apart).

I am looking forward to hearing any updates you can share. Do not hesitate to contact me if you have any concerns or questions (Ask them to Contact You).

Regards.

(Sign-Off)

Additional Tips

1. Send the follow-up email within 24 hours

With a follow-up email after an interview speed (swiftness) is important. This is the case, especially if you forgot something or want to add on a strong point. Therefore try as much as possible to send it within 24 hours from the time you left the interview. It will also help the interviewers get the message quickly and hear you out before they make a decision.

2. Follow Up Even Sooner if You Get Another Offer

In the event that you get another offer from another company, it is important to send a follow-up email. It does not matter whether or not you accepted the other offer. Just communicate to the interviewers of the firm you just left.

3. Send Separate, Personalized Emails For Everyone Who Interviewed You

For you to increase your chances, send separate emails to every interviewer. While you are at it, make sure you personalize each one of them. You can do this by writing their individual names on each follow-up email.

4. Keep it positive

It is good to always be positive in any situation you are in as nobody wants to deal with a pessimist. A pessimist in this case can be described as someone who just sees the bad in everything. Therefore just tune your language that it depicts positivity from beginning to end.

5. Maintain the Formal Arrangements

Remember, a follow-up email is a formal document. Hence make sure that you use formal language. A good example of this would be to use words like “Dear John” instead of “Hi John.”

6. Make sure you Proofread it Before Sending

You do not want to send an email with grammatical errors. Neither do you want to send one with poorly constructed sentences. That is why you need to proofread your follow-up email multiple times. Proofreading will go a long way in helping you notice/see any mistakes, and you can then correct them. You can also ask a friend to help you go through it before sending it.

Conclusion

Interviews are somehow tricky as every interviewee there is different in his//her own way, and you are all in competition. In that line, why not tilt the odds in your favor by writing a follow-up email after the interview. Doing so will help you make your candidacy case very well. You can even add some points you may have forgotten during the interview.

Meta Description

Increase your chances of securing your dream job by writing is a great follow-up email.