6 follow up interview techniques to impress future employers

You’ve aced the interview and are feeling confident. Although you’ve done the hard part, waiting to hear back from the interviewer can be just as nerve-wracking as the interview itself.

And sometimes, what you do afterwards can also have an impact on the hiring manager’s perception of you.

How you follow up after your interview may increase your chances of getting to the next stage of the interview process. At the very least, it may lead to the company considering you for a different role.

Read on to get six excellent tips for following up after your interview. We hope this advice helps you during your job search journey. 

Ask about next steps in the interview process

This is one of our favourite job interview tips.The last question you have for your interviewer before you leave should be to find out about the next steps.

By asking about a company’s process and timeline, you know how and when to be proactive in your follow-up. It also means you won’t be going home and agonising over whether or not you’ll hear from them.

Don’t worry about putting the interviewer on the spot. Asking about next steps is a perfectly reasonable question to ask, and shows that you’re truly interested in the role. 

Collect the interviewer's contact information

In order to follow up properly, make sure that you get all of your interviewer’s relevant details. If you interviewed with four people, you want to follow up with all four of them.

That’s why it’s important to get the email addresses and job titles of all the people you meet. You should also make sure you spell their names correctly.

If they don’t give business cards during the interview, you can ask the receptionist for their details on your way out. You can also check the company website and job description, or look for them on LinkedIn.

Request to connect on LinkedIn

Before you leave the interview, ask the interviewer(s) if you can connect on LinkedIn.

Make sure that your request is logical and adds value. Is there a conversation or topic that came up in your interview that you have additional information on?

This is the type of information you want to include in your LinkedIn request. It shows you are already engaging in collaborative thinking and the contributions you could make to their company.

For example, you could say something like:

"I read a great article on LinkedIn/Forbes/News Weekly. It talked about how Gen X and Millennials make up 50% of the workforce and are really driving the economy.

I would love to send it to you as your company seems to be embracing that change. Can I connect with you and send it through LinkedIn?”

That is your ‘in’. You never know how a long-term relationship may develop, regardless of whether or not you land this position. It is also a great form of networking.

Wondering what the most common interview questions are, and how to answer them? This blog has you covered!

Send a personalised thank you email

Within the first couple of hours of your interview, consider sending a thank you email.

This isn’t a sneaky way of asking for the job. A thank you letter shows your appreciation for the chance to work with the company. It also acknowledges the time they spent with you. 

Don’t go overboard with flowery words, but show sincerity. Always make sure to check your spelling before hitting send. 

Here’s an example of a thank you letter. Feel free to tweak it for your own follow up! 

Subject: Follow up on XYZ position

To: [Recruiter],

Thank you so much for meeting with me about the [XYZ] role. I really enjoyed our conversation and appreciated the chance to learn more about the team and what you’re looking for. The discussion made me even more excited about the opportunity.

I know month‑end is a hectic time, so I truly appreciate you making the time to connect. If there’s anything else you need from me or anything I can provide to support the process, I’m happy to help.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]

Send a handwritten note

When was the last time you received anything in the post that wasn’t a bill?

A handwritten note in the mail creates double the impact and shows you care enough about the position to take that extra time. 

Don't copy your thank you email exactly. Instead, let your letter show the recruiter that you enjoyed meeting them. Also, express how much you appreciated their time.

Remember to use your best handwriting!

Be proactive if you don't hear anything

If the interviewer says they want to hire in a week, follow up if two weeks go by.

If you’ve been proactive, you might already know the next steps in their hiring process. Use this information politely in any emails or phone calls you make to get an update on their progress.

Often, you won’t hear back right away. Most people don’t like to share bad news, which is sometimes a reason for not hearing back. That said, it is just as likely that they are very busy and slightly behind with the process. Always err on the side of positivity.

For example, you could follow up like this: 

“Hi Jane,

During our interview for the operations manager job, you mentioned the team usually takes a week to decide on new hires after an interview.

As it has been 9 business days, I was looking to get an update on the progress for this hire. I had a great interview with the team.

I am hopeful that you have chosen me to fill the role. But if you have gone with another highly qualified candidate I would love to know so that I can continue my job search.

Thank you for your time, looking forward to hearing back soon.”

Even if you are very interested in the job, remember that the interviewer may have many positions to fill. It might take them some time to respond to you.

Though you need to be patient and understanding, you can still be proactive. It is very important to stay in the interviewer's mind. This is especially true if they met many candidates for the job.

Finding out one way or the other also opens up more time to prepare for future interviews, so it’s worth getting in touch even if it feels uncomfortable. 

Even if you are not the right candidate for this role, adding a wow factor can be very valuable later. Following up is one way to stand out from the crowd.

Stand out and get hired

We always recommend following up after an interview, regardless of how it went. If you’re currently looking for a new job and would like a bit of help with getting the ball rolling, get in touch with us. At Airswift, we’re experts in matching the right candidates with the right roles. 

Check out our jobs board here. You never know, you might even be following up with us after your next interview!

Good luck with your job search!