Follow Up After Interviews
4.10 Follow Up After Interviews
What to Know
Every interview is an opportunity to improve your interviewing skills. You can also maximize your potential for success in every interview. To help you learn from your experience and to increase your chances for success, do two things at the end of each interview:
- Send a thank you note or letter to the interviewer.
- Take a few notes about how you did.
What to Do
Do these two things right after each interview. Your notes will be most useful if you make them while the interview is still fresh in your mind. Use the Post Interview Checklist on the following page. The notes will help you in two ways:
- If you are called for a second interview, you can easily review what went on in the first. If you note what you wore you can dress appropriately for the second interview as well.
- If you do not get the job, you can review your interview performance and improve it for the next time.
Only about 5% of those looking for jobs actually send thank you letters. Write a thank you letter soon after the interview, the same day is best. Be sure to check spelling, grammar, and punctuation. You can type or hand write this letter. You should tailor your letter to the culture of the company and the relationship you established with the interviewer. Send a formal business letter if you feel the interviewer and the company call for that. If you established a good rapport with the interviewer, send a handwritten note. As for e-mailing thank you notes, career experts and employers are not in total agreement, but the company's culture should guide you. If people in the company rely heavily on e-mail, your e-mailed thank you will seem appropriate. It is also a fast solution if you know the company will be making its hiring decision quickly. It is still a good idea to follow up your e-mailed thank you with a hard-copy version. The thank you letter is a good way to add anything you forgot, or wish you had said in the interview. You can reinforce important information that you provided in the interview. You can state your interest in the job, or you can let the employer know that you appreciate their time. If you were interviewed by a panel, it is best to send a thank you letter to each of the interviewers. Be sure to vary the letters by a few sentences in case they compare them.
Post Interview Checklist
Post Interview Checklist [PDF]
Thank You Letter
The reasons for sending a thank you letter are to remind the interviewer of your interest, to say thank you for the interview, and to add anything you forgot to mention. Two sample thank you letters that you can use as models follow.
Sample Thank You Letter
February 2, 20XX
Mr. William Thomas, President
Washington National Bank
1111 Washington Street
Los Angeles, CA 12345
Dear Mr. Thomas:
Thank you for the opportunity to interview yesterday. The information you shared with me about the Washington National Bank was most interesting, and I am excited about the possibility of applying my education and experience in the position of loan officer for your bank. The expansion and public lending plans are especially intriguing, and I look forward to helping the bank enter the new market.
If I can provide you with any additional information, please let me know. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Sincerely,
Charles Henderson
Charles Henderson
1111 E. Hollywood Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 12345
(123) 456-7890
Sample Thank You Card
Thank You
Front of Card
February 2, 20XX
Dear Ms. Anderson:
Thank you for the interview this afternoon. I appreciated the time and consideration you gave me.
The Cable Installer position we discussed definitely sounds interesting to me. I feel that I could make a valuable contribution to WCC.
I look forward to hearing from you next Thursday.
Sincerely,
Judy R. Smith
Inside of Card
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