Well, hello lovely readers! As you know, I help people market themselves to find and land their next job, which of course usually involves an interview or two. I’ve coached them to make a fabulous impression, off they go to interview and then…nothing. Nada. Crickets followed by ‘ I thought it went so well and it’s killing me all this waiting, waiting, waiting to hear if I’ve been successful!
When it’s for a job you really, really want, the ants in your pants while awaiting outcomes can drive you crazy. Should I call? Should I drop them an email? Should I eat that second piece of cake, pour that second glass of wine? (Oops sorry, that’s my personal angst savior!). Well yes to the former, you can follow up by calling or emailing to ask if they are any closer to a decision yet because naturally, you’ll want an update and ideally, the one you want to hear. But let’s be a little more strategic here.
I recently read about a follow-up that was written in a way that caught the prospective employer’s attention. Richard (Moy) How to Follow Up After an Interview (The Muse) said ‘The beauty of it was that not only did it reinforce the fact that she was smart and interested in our company, but it was also incredibly straightforward’.
Hi Rich,
I really enjoyed meeting you last week and wanted to emphasise just how excited I am about this opportunity. Is there anything else I can forward along to make your hiring decision easier?
Best,
Caitlin
Richard states that this candidate had already completed an interview assignment and simply hadn’t heard from him as they were trying to figure out how much they could pay her.
What Richard appreciated was that the candidate had taken the initiative to make sure that they had all the necessary information needed to make a decision, without making any assumptions about whether or not they should hire her. I love this!
Now, this may not always win you the job for, after all, you are competing with several other interviewees; however, it can’t hurt to try. Reaching out can show that you’re confident and in control of your career while also giving you one last chance to make a case for yourself should the decision-makers be on the fence. After all, it’s perfectly ok to show the employer that you have a sincere interest in joining their particular organisation—and not just someone looking to find any old new job.
Good luck! and if you have a successful strategy of your own, do please share.
