Whatever form the interview, whether it was a Skype interview, informational or in-person, it is important to follow up effectively. Failure to do so will inevitably lead to you not getting the job. Many hiring managers intentionally watch out for thank-you notes and if one doesn’t appear, they will cross your name off the list regardless of how qualified.
Why?
If someone is unable to follow up after someone as personally important as a job interview, imagine how careless they would be in the workplace. Hiring managers are always looking out for clues about what your future behavior will be. Sending a note to thank your interviewer for their time within 24 hours of the interview is a easy way to stay in the running.
Spread The Love
Don’t just send a thank you note or email to your interviewer, send a note to everyone you encountered during the process, from the receptionist to the office manager, even if it is just a “hello”. The more people on your side the better, plus it is never a bad thing to expand your professional network.
Unique
Don’t be lazy and send a copy and paste email to everyone. People can tell if something is genuine or not and nobody appreciates a generic, spam email. Send an individual thank you with reference to something in the conversation you had. Remind them who you are and why you are valuable and should be hired. Be enthusiastic.
Follow-Up Again
Two business weeks is a perfect window of opportunity to follow up again after the interview. Any earlier and it will seem too eager and any later and they would have forgotten about you. Follow up with some interesting comment, perhaps mentioning an article you read that is relevant to the position or some information that could be helpful to the business. Show you are a team player – always thinking about the bigger picture!
Social Media
Add the new contacts you have met during this process on LinkedIn. Even if this job is not the one for you, there may be more down the line that could be relevant to you. If all the goes well during the interview and you follow up effectively, you will make a great impact on the hiring manager, whether or not you are the perfect match for this role.