4 Interview Follow-Up Tips

By Ian Acosta on November 15, 2016

Firstly, congratulations! As you are searching for an internship or full-time job, interviewing is a daunting process to say the least. Not enough is said about how much preparation and effort goes into the interview process, especially for college students. In that regard, kudos to you, college student.

Now what comes next? Well, an offer hopefully! However, let’s focus on what you, the interviewee, can control in terms of next best steps to follow up after an interview. Here are some tips and strategies to practice when following up after your interview.

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1. Inquire about the next steps.

This is a vital responsibility of anyone interviewing for a position and a practice to always keep in mind. As your interview wraps up and the interviewer asks you if you have any last-minute questions, do not let this question go unanswered.

Ask what the next steps in the hiring process are so that the interviewer knows you are interested and that you know how to best prepare and what to look out for next. If anything, just ask a question to wrap up the conversation.

On your way out of the room, be assumptive. Say something along the lines of, “Thank you for the time. Look forward to the upcoming opportunity.” This creates an impression of confidence and interest that you are the perfect fit for the job and are excited about the chance to show it.

2. Send a timely thank-you note.

As soon as the interview is over and you get back to your dorm, house, apartment or whatever, take 15 minutes and send a thank-you email as soon as you can! Not only is it polite to thank the company for considering you for a position, but it shows the recruiter that you are keeping this position top of mind and eager to find out what comes next.

How you add a personalized touch to your memory of the interview comes into play. If you explained a certain work experience, a favorite memory of yours, or connected in any other way such as conversing about sports, be sure to include that in your email recap. Interviewers not only take note of that, but it also helps them remember unique qualities and aspects of who you are.

As a general rule, try and send this email within 24 hours of your interview but remember, the sooner the better. A timely, well-detailed follow-up email could be the difference between that extra consideration and not being remembered at all.

3. Research past experiences.

Websites like glassdoor.com are a great way to gain an insight into the interview process. Not only does it give some insight on company benefits, position salaries, and info on the company and important people, but it also has reviews from others in the same position as you.

Try to find the exact position you applied for or a similar one and read up on what others have said. You can usually find one or two helpful hints on how the interview process went for others such as what questions were asked, how long it took for them to hear back, and what comes next. It only helps your due diligence to know all about the process and how to best prepare.

Ask friends and classmates if any of them or anyone they know has applied for the same position as you. Inquire into how their interview went and what they took away from their interview process and apply it to yours.

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4. Perform periodic check-ins.

This might sound like a vague piece of advice but the point is to remain engaged with the company. If a couple weeks drag on and you are not given a response, send an email just to check in and see how the process is coming along. Peace of mind and definite resolution is better than constant questioning and worrying about if you got an offer.

However, do not overdo it. Do not be that prospect that sends an email every day or every other day and comes off like a pest. Recruiters understand the uncertainty prospects go through and with the volume of candidates out there it is not unlikely that they might have forgotten to follow-up with you.

Send a polite email inquiring about where you stand and a brief recap of what was talked about and how excited you are about the next steps. However, be sure to not get caught up on this one position. You are sure to have more than one job the rest of your life.

Communication is key in any job interview process. With thorough detail and diligent follow-up, you can help yourself stand out from the crowd and put yourself one step closer to landing that position you worked so hard to get.

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