As a job candidate, you’ll need to cope with a fair amount of uncertainty during the typical job search process. From the second that you submit your first job application to the moment that you’re finally hired, there will be times when your job search feels frustratingly unpredictable and out of your control.
The period immediately following a job interview can be particularly nerve-wracking. You’ve put in a lot of work just to reach the interview stage, and that can make the waiting period that comes after it especially painful.
Of course, it’s important to always remember that interviewing job candidates is also a strenuous and time-consuming process for hiring managers. In light of that, job candidates should make every effort to be patient when waiting for a reply. At the same time, it’s also crucial to know how and when it’s appropriate for a candidate to follow-up with a hiring manager after a job interview.
Here’s How to Follow-Up with a Hiring Manager After a Job Interview
Sending a follow-up email to a hiring manager after a job interview is a delicate dance.
On the one hand, you’ll want to be careful that you’re not being overly demanding in your messaging. On the other hand, it’s important to make it clear in your message that you’re eager to hear back from them and that you’re still as interested in the role as you were at the time of your interview.
To help break things down a bit further, here are three tips that can help you to optimize your post-interview follow-up email to a hiring manager:
Address the hiring manager by their first name.
Opening your email with “Hi, [insert hiring manager’s first name],” rather than with “To whom it may concern,” will ultimately help you to establish a deeper personal connection with the recipient of your letter.
Refresh their memory.
Keep in mind that you’re unlikely to be the sole person interviewing for a particular role, which means that the hiring manager is probably communicating with several candidates at once. Therefore, it will be helpful for you to clarify the specific job title that you’re writing in reference to, as well as the date and time you met with them for an interview.
Be courteous when you ask for an update.
Remember, it never helps to be pushy. Even if you’ve been feeling frustrated by the slow pace of communication, you should make sure that you don’t let your irritation show. Instead, when you’re requesting an update about your job application, be sure to do so with courtesy, understanding, and respect. This, more than anything else, will increase your chances of receiving a quick and helpful reply.
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