So you’ve had the interview and now all you have to do is sweat out the wait, right? Not so fast! You must write a follow-up letter. Some companies won’t even consider you if you don’t.
A follow-up letter can also be considered a thank you note. It’s always polite to thank your interviewer for their time and consideration in your candidacy. Think of this as a formal letter. Begin the email with ‘dear’ and end it with ‘sincerely’ or something else that you believe is professional.
Mostly, this is your opportunity to go the extra mile. The follow-up reiterates your enthusiasm about the job, the skills you have to offer, and allows you to add anything that you might have missed.
The subject line.
Career SideKick recommends specificity i.e., “Re: (Your Name) Interview on Thursday at 10am.” This is the best option because it automatically will place you in their minds.
A follow-up letter should be written as soon as possible after the interview and preferably written on a computer, not a phone, so edits can be made on a larger screen. Sending the letter the day of not only shows them that you are very interested, but also that you are the type of person who would take initiative and finish tasks quickly.
Begin the letter by saying, “thank you for meeting with me about x position at XYZ Company.” It’s important to reiterate the position because the interviewer might be in the HR department so they are meeting with a lot of people.
The Body.
Next, include the skills you have to offer. Be confident here. You want to convince them that you have what it takes and these are the reasons why. You can even reiterate some the qualifications you mentioned in your cover letter.
After that, come up with a few unique sentences. It’s important to emphasize something from the interview that you really enjoyed to make it personal. For example: did they talk about a project you might be spearheading or an opportunity to attend a great networking event? Whatever it might be, put it in there!
Say why you’re excited to start working there. You can also include what you’re going to gain while working there, which shows them that you are looking to grow in your field. You want to emphasize that YOU are the perfect fit for this job. End the email thanking them again and say that you are happy to elaborate on anything.
Consider This
Here are a few extra tips to make it easier for the next time around: Have a basic outline for your follow up that you always use. Then fill in a unique sentence or two to make it personal.
- The second you get out of the interview, take out a notepad and write down some key moments. That way, you won't forget to include them in your letter.
- Your follow-up should only be two short paragraphs about two to three sentences each.
- If you want to REALLY impress them, you can even write a handwritten letter. Then, go back to the office and place it on their desk or give it to the receptionist. This is a much more formal option, but it doesn’t elicit a response. In addition, you might not want to opt for this if your handwriting is not your biggest strength.
- At the very end of your well-crafted note, be sure to add in your excitement. This could be something along the lines of, “I look forward to the next steps in the process and to the opportunity to join the team at XYZ company.” You’re telling them you want to work there one more time, which is always a good thing. They want you to be as excited about the opportunity as they are about hiring you.
If you remember to be polite, bold and ask for the job one last time, your follow-up letter is bound to impress!