Seal the Deal: How a Well-Crafted Follow-Up Email Can Influence Hiring Decisions
Congratulations on completing your interview!
But hold on—your work isn’t over yet. While it’s tempting to kick back and relax, don’t make the mistake of assuming your job is done. Your follow-up email is crucial, and here’s how to get it right.
Why Following Up Matters
After you leave the interview room, the hiring team gathers to discuss each candidate and compare their views on how well each one fits. While individual interviewers may have already formed their opinions, the final decision is often a collective one.
This is where your interview follow-up email comes in. A well-crafted message can:
Help smooth over any uncertainties
Demonstrate that you’re not only a strong candidate but also a great potential teammate
Leave a positive impression that might help overcome any lingering doubts about your fit.
Increase your chances of securing a job offer.
Conversely, skipping the follow-up or sending a poorly written one could work against you, giving any hesitant interviewers more reason to doubt your fit.
Think of the follow-up email as an opportunity to round out the picture they’re forming of your candidacy and fill in gaps that could help you stand out from other candidates.
Crafting the Perfect Follow-Up Email
Now that you understand why following up is important, let’s discuss how to do it effectively. The key ingredients of a successful follow-up email are:
A sincere thank-you
A brief recap of key points
Concise and impactful content
1. Offer Thanks
Open your email with a warm, genuine thank you that acknowledges the interviewer’s effort.
For example:
"Hi [their first name],
I sincerely appreciated the opportunity to talk with you today. Thanks for sharing your time and insights with me."
2. Recap Key Points
Refer to one or two specific items from the conversation that you can use to reinforce your fit with the role and express your enthusiasm to join their team. Be sure to express yourself in a way that’s sincere and authentic.
Consider something like this:
“As someone with [X years of experience] in the [industry name] industry, I know what it takes to deliver [deliverables based on job description, e.g., flawlessly executed e-mail campaigns from start to finish]. As we discussed, in my current role at [Your Current Company], I [brief recap of relevant experience and tangible results based on job description, i.e., guide the production and execution of 25 unique monthly email campaigns and have grown new lead generation by 50% in just six months].”
This part of the thank-you note is also a chance for you to remind them of something you mentioned that may differentiate you from the competition.
3. Keep It Brief
Remember, your interviewers don’t have time to read long emails. Respect their time by keeping your follow-up concise—aim for no more than 150 words.
You might conclude with:
“I’m truly excited about the opportunity to join your team and the contributions I can make to your success. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if there’s anything else I can provide to help you with your decision. I’m looking forward to hearing from you in the coming days!”
Best regards,
[Your Name]”
Timing Is Everything
Finally, let’s talk timing. Interviewers are usually asked to log their impressions promptly after the interview ends so they capture them while they’re still fresh. If you’ve been interviewed by multiple people, they’ll assume they’ll be meeting soon thereafter to compare candidates.
Send your thank-you note as soon as possible after the interview—ideally within an hour or two. This not only demonstrates a strong interest in the role, but also ensures your message is considered during the team’s deliberations, not after they’ve made their decision.
In Summary
Remember, a well-crafted follow-up email isn’t just polite formality—it’s a strategic move that can tip the scales in your favor. A little effort can make a big difference and could bring you one step closer to landing that new role.
Ready to take the next step in your career journey? Click here to schedule your free consultation today and let’s start planning your next move!