How To Follow Up After An Interview

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One of the most common question that job seekers ask is "Why didn't they call me back after the interview?". Everyone has been there at one point or another and it has to be one of the more frustrating parts of looking for a job. Once the interview is over and the thank you note is sent, it becomes a waiting game. Just waiting for the phone to ring and compulsively checking your email can drive you crazy.

The way to combat this is by following up with a company after the interview. A follow up phone call is one of the most useful but under-used pieces of interview etiquette. When I think back to the times when I haven't made the phone call, the reason was that I was afraid to call, worried that I would be seen as pushy or overly eager. The problem with this type of thinking is that it won't help you get the job. Here's why:

You've already met a representative of the company and discussed how you could be an asset to their company. This means that you have a business relationship with that person. Calling them back isn't even close to being in the same category as cold calling someone. It's perfectly acceptable, and in fact, expected that you will give them a call to follow up. Here are a few tips to help you get through the call:

Think about why you're qualified for the job. If you are still feeling anxious about making the call, remind yourself of why you are a good fit for the job. Review the interview in your mind and think about all the things that went right. This should give you a needed confidence boost and make it less likely that the anxiety will bleed through in your voice.

Follow up at the appropriate time. At the end of the interview, it's important to ask what when the company is planning to make a hiring decision. If they say three days or a week or whatever, use that as a timeline for when you should call them. Don't call before the timeframe they gave is up. If they said that they will make a decision in three days, call on day four. If the employer wasn't able to give a specific time, then you should follow up in a week.

Don't call on Monday. Mondays are always the busiest days at most jobs, so don't call then. Even if they said they would make a decision on Friday, wait until Tuesday to follow up.

Be careful leaving messages. Before you call, it's a good idea to write out a brief script in case your call is forwarded to voice mail. This makes it less likely that you will leave out important information or ramble because of nerves. Also, if the message is being taken by an actual person, be careful about how much information you give. Simply give your name and number and say that you are following up on a meeting you had last week. Don't mention the details of the job because you can't know how much information the person has.

Don't burn bridges. You shouldn't attempt to leave more than two messages. If you don't get a call back, you can assume that you didn't get the job. Even if the employer never calls you back or if they tell you that they have decided to hire someone else, be as professional as possible. The worst thing you can do is to lose your cool and get mad. You never know when you might need them again, so don't burn those bridges.

Following up only takes a few minutes, but it can really make you stand out. So many people don't bother to call back. Those who do show that they are serious about the job.

Do you follow up after every interview? Why or why not? Please share your thoughts in the comments.

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  • Mary R
    Mary R
    I always assumed it was inappropriate to make follow-up calls, so this was a pleasant surprise to learn that this is acceptable within reason.  Very helpful.
  • ODWEE S
    ODWEE S
    I think after making several attempts of follow ups without success you have to give up with the struggle and continue with your job search as usual,there may be other companies who are willing and ready to give you a job on merit based on your qualifications.A lot of nepotism is very common in the present day hiring processes.
  • Mark O
    Mark O
    A point the author should make is that there are two separate types of follow-ups. The one that Melissa is talking about is the after-the-fact results check. But, there's also an immediate follow-up of thanking the interviewer for his/her time and providing a sentence or two about how you'll fit in, or your qualifications, or how excited you are for the opportunity. This follow-up is done prior to the decision being made, but its a way of floating your name back to the interviewer and it lets them know you're a considerate, respectful person. In the event of a tie, that might make a difference!
  • Sharon L
    Sharon L
    It good to know a call back is ok, but I am not good with words.  I need sugestions on what to say, I have no clue, I need words for a Office Support position.
  • Krystal L
    Krystal L
    Is sending a note, or thank you card, appropriate?  When I was at a position, I received a number of thank you cards within a day or so after the interview.  I can't say they did or did not call as well, some did and some were pushy. I sent a few notes after interviews, but still didn't get the position. Was it too impersonal?  Being busy and not having a direct contact (through an agency interview), I chose to send the card since I had the address and the name of my interviewer.
  • gary r
    gary r
    I've always been hired by walk-in interviews ;before ,now everybody tell me to go home and apply over the internet. Applying over the internet makes live contact with the HR representative hard to track that person down for live feed-back of what they think of your suggestions.
  • Ruth B
    Ruth B
    Have followed all these and still did not get a job, but I have sure been lied to.  After placing the phone call was told they were making their selection that day and they would notify everyone.  That was weeks ago and still have not heard anything.  I always follow up with a letter after the interviews and then call just as you suggested and still nothing.  
  • Michael N
    Michael N
    was very interesting, especially since i was one of those people who was apprenhensive about calling the interviewer back.....thanks for the tips!
  • Nancy T
    Nancy T
    I followed up with emails to the people who interviewed me.  Was that the wrong decision?  Also, since I wasn't hired I was thinking of asking them what I did or didn't do in the interview that affected their decision.  Should I do that?
  • James N
    James N
    Great advice!  Follow up is the most important step to get hire.
  • Marlene M
    Marlene M
    Good advice.  
  • Danielle M
    Danielle M
    You can't be more right, about follow up calls. I give it a week if they say a week, i give it 3 days if they say 3 days . I used to do the hiring in my job and the most annoying thing is to have someone call you before ,you said you would get back to them. Don't forget the person who is doing the hiring is also working and very busy,assuming that is why they are hiring in the first place. A nice email saying it was a pleasure meeting you and hope to hear from you soon is perfect..... shows your interest but shows you're patient as well........
  • Trisha S
    Trisha S
    I really like this advice, comming from one that can be really shy, it gives me the motivation to go by the place I interviewed and check on the status of the position which I had applied and interviewed for. Thanks for giving me that extra push.
  • Brenda G
    Brenda G
    Very helpful. Will try to use the information.
  • Julia O
    Julia O
    You are so right about not following up my interviews with a phone call.  I have always felt that it was inappropriate and didn't want to come off as desperate or pushy. In the future, I will adhere to your advice and always follow up all interviews will a phone call.  After all, what can it possibly hurt? It may help remind the employer who you are and why you were called in for a second interview. This has certainly been the most frustrating time of my life. Thank you for the advice you send to me.  It's a big help.
  • ODWEE S
    ODWEE S
    Interview follow up can earn you a job, some time back i did an interview with a certain organization but  never got a phone call but on following it up i  got the job within three days.
  • ODWEE S
    ODWEE S
    Recently i did an interview with a company and managed to finish all the stages of the interview process,much as i think i was one of the best candidates for the job i never got a phone call back, i sent an email to follow up with the results and there was no reply and after a day i made a phone call and the answer they gave is that they have already released the results of the interview but  they never mentioned that if i don't hear from them it means that i have not be successful, i now fear making another phone call to them ,what do i do in this circumstance?
  •  Reno O. B
    Reno O. B
    Provdes a good balance betweeen proactivity and badgering.
  • Kathleen S
    Kathleen S
    This may not be a new approach in following up on interviews, although, calling may further display your ambition and interest in the job to some while others may not appreciate having to allot their time to the call, especially when they are in the midst of interviewing and receiving other resumes to review.I rarely call for the fact that I am usually sent over by a recruiting agency and they handle all of the correspondence and feedback from the company. If anyone can add to this particular issue, please share.
  • Rosa S
    Rosa S
    Some job offers, after the interview, are not worthy to be followed-up.One knows when an interview didn't go well.
  • Lonny L
    Lonny L
    Very informative. Brought out information and good idea's that everyone needs answers to.
  • Marsha B
    Marsha B
    I was on a job interview this past Tuesday and was told they would make a decision in a few days. I called the person today No decision has been made yet.  I agree with this article on when and how to call a company back that you interview with.  
  • Sandra M
    Sandra M
    I thank you for this information. I must agree with this advice.
  • Aderogba A
    Aderogba A
    Following up after an interview gives the opportunity to have an idea whether there would be more interviews or visits in respect of the previous meeting. In any case, it is the best thing to do to remove the anxiety that follows any interview process.This is a very nice post
  • Susan C
    Susan C
    Great points made. I believe another way to get noticed and thought about after an interview is to write a thank you note.

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