EXPERT ANSWER
Jul 17, 2019 - 11:41 PM
The best way to follow up after an interview is with a thank-you note or email within 48 hours of your interview, expressing appreciation for the people who took the time to meet you and conveying enthusiasm about next steps in the process.
It is best to wait about a week before you follow up after an interview unless the company has given you a specific timetable. If you contact the hiring manager too soon, it can be annoying. "I've had candidates who check in every day or couple days and that’s too much. The hiring manager can begin to form a negative impression, and reaching out too frequently can backfire. There’s a fine line between being needy and desperate and engaged and interested," explains Helen Oloroso, assistant dean and director of the McCormick Office of Career Development at Northwestern University.
When you do send an email, refresh the person's memory about the job and when you interviewed, along with a confirmation that you're still interested in the position. Then, you can request an update: "You mentioned your team would be finalizing a hiring decision this week. Would you be able to provide me with an update, please?"
It is best to wait about a week before you follow up after an interview unless the company has given you a specific timetable. If you contact the hiring manager too soon, it can be annoying. "I've had candidates who check in every day or couple days and that’s too much. The hiring manager can begin to form a negative impression, and reaching out too frequently can backfire. There’s a fine line between being needy and desperate and engaged and interested," explains Helen Oloroso, assistant dean and director of the McCormick Office of Career Development at Northwestern University.
When you do send an email, refresh the person's memory about the job and when you interviewed, along with a confirmation that you're still interested in the position. Then, you can request an update: "You mentioned your team would be finalizing a hiring decision this week. Would you be able to provide me with an update, please?"
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