Job hunting is often a long and stressful endeavour. Often times, just one little slip or mistake can make the difference between getting an offer or a prolonged search. Even after the hours of prepping for your interview, perfecting your resume, and getting the right references in order, do not forget the simple act of writing the reminder email. Whether it be after applying for the job or the interview has ended. Follow these simple dos and don’ts for crafting the perfect follow-up email.
DON’T forget to send a follow up email. Perhaps this piece of advice seems a bit obvious, but so many applicants either forget or forgo writing a reminder email altogether after they’ve gone in for an interview. Some hiring managers will actually share follow-ups with others. In a sea of applicants, making the effort to reach out will be sure to get you noticed and remembered.
DO set up an email reminder. Once you have submitted your job application, set a reminder on your calendar to notify you when to craft a follow-up email, perhaps a week down the line-to give HR a gentle reminder of your interest. There is no shame in sending multiple introductions. In fact, your persistence may pay off in landing you an interview. A good rule of thumb is to contact HR no more than three times. Any more than that and your persistence will border on annoying.
DO remind them of a connection specific to you. When applying for a new job, you are interviewing the company as much as they are interviewing you. If you can find a common interest, bring it up again in your follow-up email to remind the recruiter of the exchange and help them recall who you were, and what makes you unique and sets you apart from the other candidates.
DON’T leave anyone out. If you interviewed with three different people, be sure to write to each one - and try to make it personal. Individuals might not get this kind of attention during the interviewing process and the reminder email may be your way to connect with the individual in a more personal way. Your attempt to personally talk with each person may affect how you are viewed by the group as a whole.
DO address the challenges you can help the company face. Your follow-up email should reflect the knowledge you have learned about a company - whether at the interview or through your own research. By demonstrating that you have a method for affecting change and a desire to do so, you will inspire hiring managers to think about you within the role.
DON’T keep your distance. The most common mistake is to think that by not reaching out after a great interview or after submitting an application, you are allowing the hiring manager's time to really mull over the idea of hiring you. Wrong. Within a competitive job market, you can be sure that there are many individuals with your qualifications, charisma, and charm. To stand out from the crowd, open a channel of communication with the hiring team. This gives your resume more character and allows interviewers one more reminder of your great personality. Don’t be shy, write a reminder email within 24 hours after an interview, and send it during business hours. If you haven’t received a response from a position for which you applied, try reaching out at least two more times before calling it quits.
Our best advice for any reminder email is to be direct and professional. Spell out what you want and why you would be best for the role. Try to stand above the rest of the applicant pool by including a direct reference to something discussed during your interview or discovered during your preliminary research. Your effort to write a simple, yet highly effective follow-up email can be the main difference between getting a chance to meet with hiring managers or landing the job.
