HR advice: Tips on sending a follow-up email after an interview
It's not only about how you write your CV and cover letter, it's also about a crucial piece of communication you should send after the interview process—the follow-up email.
Let's say, after all your preparation, you finally completed your job interview. Maybe you were confident and articulate, saying all the right things. On the other hand, maybe you were anxious and wished you could have answered some questions differently.
Regardless of how you did, a follow-up email is not only a courtesy, but good professional practice. It can help shore up an already strong interview performance or possibly repair a less-than-stellar initial meeting.
Why write a follow-up email?
I understand that the selection process takes a lot out of you. After all, you've already given so much of yourself and your time.
There may be many reasons why people don't invest much time in follow-up communications. They may feel overwhelmed or scared. Perhaps they're juggling a full-time job or dealing with other personal responsibilities. They might even be demotivated from the start of the job hunting process since they often never hear back from companies after an interview.
But following up after an interview is a wonderful way to showcase more of who you are, your communication skills, your manner, your level of interest in the position, or simply to enhance or rectify the first impression you made.
The best way to do this isn't with a template email that just goes through the motions of politeness and formality. That would be a wasted opportunity. Instead, let's talk about helping you express yourself genuinely, and how you can stand out from all the other candidates who send the exact same email.
Tips on writing a follow-up email
If you're truly interested in a job opportunity and are motivated to see the process through to resolution, here are some things to think about when writing your follow-up email:
Address the person you spoke with directly
Avoid greeting the entire “hiring team" or “company name" when you've already met someone. Make it personal by addressing them by name.
(Learn more about the best ways to start a professional email.)
Express genuine appreciation
Of course, you should thank them for their time, but be specific about what you appreciated about the interaction. Don't over generalize.
Did the interview feel natural and conversational? Did you value the experience of being heard? Did a particular task or project strike a chord with you? Was it something else? Whatever it was, mention it.
Ask questions
No matter how much we prepare, sometimes we can't think of everything we want to say on the spot. In retrospect, we might have questions about the role, the company, or something the interviewer said.
Following up with questions shows your interest and indicates you've given the role more thought. For instance, questions about working conditions, organizational climate, or your specific role. These are appropriate at this stage. And yes, you can even ask about the salary budget if it wasn't already mentioned (which it should have been).
Add any extra information
If there's anything else you want to say to complement your profile, say it.
Some candidates humorously mention their nerves during the interview or add answers to questions they forgot to address. It shows the capacity for introspection and self-awareness. Remember, if your role doesn't require you to provide solutions on the spot, it's alright to follow up later (it wouldn't be logical or fair for anyone to assess you on something that doesn't represent your role).
Sign off naturally
Wish them a great day and sign off in a way that feels natural to you. And make sure to check for grammar mistakes, and write a subject heading that doesn't sound too generic or ChatGPT-y.
Most importantly, don't be afraid to be yourself. If you try to impress the company now, you'll feel pressured to keep it up all the time. You deserve to be comfortable being you.
(Learn more about the best ways to end a professional email.)
Always be genuine
To ensure the job market is fair and truly a two-way street, we need to let go of rigid advice about who we need to be and what you must say to get noticed.
When writing your follow-up email, be yourself. Ask what you need to ask and be comfortable doing so. Maintain professionalism and respect, but stay true to yourself.
Compromising now will only make it harder for you to keep feeling good in that environment later. From the start, set yourself up for success and aim to impress only yourself!
