After completing an interview, you may wonder, “What’s next? Do I just wait on a call or email?”
The answer is, “No!”
This is when you close the deal and make yourself the obvious choice by sending a well-worded thank you note via email or text. Here are some tips and examples to help you stand out.
Email Your Thanks within 24 Hours of Interviewing
Keep your message brief and customize it for each person you met or spoke with. Thank the interviewer for their time, re-emphasize your interest in the role, and express excitement for the next steps. You can also use your thank you note to highlight your skills and why you’re a great match for the position, or bring up anything you may have forgotten to mention during the interview. If you weren’t given a date to expect feedback, this is a great place to ask when you will receive an update.
Example 1
Hi Santiago,
Thank you so much for your time today. It was great to learn more about the marketing manager role, and I’m excited for the opportunity to bring my skills and experience to the team! If you have any additional questions for me, please feel free to reach out.
Please let me know when I can expect to hear back on next steps. I look forward to hearing from you.
Best regards,
Sable Arrowood
Example 2
Hi Elise,
Thank you for taking the time to speak with me this morning. I enjoyed learning more about Wyndham Destinations’ strategic pillars and how the sales department plays a role in these initiatives. My experience in hospitality and sales has instilled a strong belief in outstanding customer service, and the opportunity to work in an environment focused on customer obsession excites me!
Please let me know if there is anything you need from me. I look forward to hearing from you soon!
Best wishes,
Sable Arrowood
Example 3
Hi Jamal,
Thank you so much for taking the time to meet with me today regarding the guest services position. It was a pleasure to learn about your career path with Wyndham Destinations and where you see the company going in the future. I am even more excited about the opportunity after learning about the growth potential and areas I can make an impact based on my previous leadership experience.
Wyndham Destinations seems to be a great place to work, and I would love to be a part of this team. I look forward to hearing from you soon!
Best Regards,
Sable Arrowood
Send a Same-day Thank You Text
If the interviewer has communicated with you via text message before the interview, it’s absolutely okay to follow up with a thank you text. If you choose this route, make sure to send it the same day as your interview, ideally within a few hours afterward. Include the same key points from the example emails above. You can also use text as a way to follow up if you haven’t heard back after sending a thank you email or the timeframe you were given for receiving feedback has passed.
When to Check in Again
If you haven’t heard back about a position within the timeframe the interviewer said you would, wait one additional day and the send another email checking in. If you were not given a timeframe to expect feedback, send your first follow up email five days after the interview.
You can either respond to the last message you received from the employer or start a new message with a subject line that includes the job title and date you interviewed. Keep the message brief and to the point. Let them know you’re excited to hear back and wanted to check to see if there’s an update on the position or if a decision has been made yet.
Example 1
Hi Megan,
I hope all is well! I wanted to make sure you received my last email following the interview for the maintenance technician on March 12, 2020, and see if you have any updates. I am very interested in this role and am looking forward to next steps. Please feel free to reach out if you have any additional questions for me.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Best regards,
Sable Arrowood
What If…
What if the employer responds and says they don’t have an update yet?
Reply back thanking them for the update and ask when would be an appropriate time to check back again. Reinstate your excitement, but let them know you don’t want to follow up too often.
What if the employer hasn’t responded to any emails?
Make sure you’ve waited at least one or two business days (not including weekends) and then send another email verifying they received your last messaging regarding updates on the position. If you were emailing the hiring manager, try reaching out to the recruiter or HR team member who scheduled the interview and vice versa.
What if you know you’re not getting the job or moving forward in the process?
Still follow up! You never know when the position might open again, when you may interact with the interviewer in the future, or when the company will have another opportunity you are interested in. Send a message to let them know you would like to revisit the conversation if another opportunity arises.