How To Follow Up After An Interview

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One of the most common question that job seekers ask is "Why didn't they call me back after the interview?". Everyone has been there at one point or another and it has to be one of the more frustrating parts of looking for a job. Once the interview is over and the thank you note is sent, it becomes a waiting game. Just waiting for the phone to ring and compulsively checking your email can drive you crazy.

The way to combat this is by following up with a company after the interview. A follow up phone call is one of the most useful but under-used pieces of interview etiquette. When I think back to the times when I haven't made the phone call, the reason was that I was afraid to call, worried that I would be seen as pushy or overly eager. The problem with this type of thinking is that it won't help you get the job. Here's why:

You've already met a representative of the company and discussed how you could be an asset to their company. This means that you have a business relationship with that person. Calling them back isn't even close to being in the same category as cold calling someone. It's perfectly acceptable, and in fact, expected that you will give them a call to follow up. Here are a few tips to help you get through the call:

Think about why you're qualified for the job. If you are still feeling anxious about making the call, remind yourself of why you are a good fit for the job. Review the interview in your mind and think about all the things that went right. This should give you a needed confidence boost and make it less likely that the anxiety will bleed through in your voice.

Follow up at the appropriate time. At the end of the interview, it's important to ask what when the company is planning to make a hiring decision. If they say three days or a week or whatever, use that as a timeline for when you should call them. Don't call before the timeframe they gave is up. If they said that they will make a decision in three days, call on day four. If the employer wasn't able to give a specific time, then you should follow up in a week.

Don't call on Monday. Mondays are always the busiest days at most jobs, so don't call then. Even if they said they would make a decision on Friday, wait until Tuesday to follow up.

Be careful leaving messages. Before you call, it's a good idea to write out a brief script in case your call is forwarded to voice mail. This makes it less likely that you will leave out important information or ramble because of nerves. Also, if the message is being taken by an actual person, be careful about how much information you give. Simply give your name and number and say that you are following up on a meeting you had last week. Don't mention the details of the job because you can't know how much information the person has.

Don't burn bridges. You shouldn't attempt to leave more than two messages. If you don't get a call back, you can assume that you didn't get the job. Even if the employer never calls you back or if they tell you that they have decided to hire someone else, be as professional as possible. The worst thing you can do is to lose your cool and get mad. You never know when you might need them again, so don't burn those bridges.

Following up only takes a few minutes, but it can really make you stand out. So many people don't bother to call back. Those who do show that they are serious about the job.

Do you follow up after every interview? Why or why not? Please share your thoughts in the comments.
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  • Barbara J
    Barbara J •
    I,ve emailed thank you notes, when possible, called back, and handed out a thank you card. I wasn't chosen for the position. Now I ask what I can do to improve on my efforts. I think later maybe I try to hard. Thanks for the after interview tips
  • oyedepo o
    oyedepo o •
    I do follow up after an interview, this may be via text messages, e-mail and even phone calls.This makes me to create friendship with the person in charge.
  • Odwee S
    Odwee S •
    Weaknesses and strengths are common questions you can expect from an interview panel .Give them an overview about the tasks you have accomplished unsupervised and your time management skills,set goals and targets you have achieved within a given time frame,your tempers and dislikes all contribute to weaknesses as opposed to company policies.
  • Roseanne K
    Roseanne K •
    I usually send a thank you card the day of the interview so that they have you fresh in mind when MAKING   the decision.
  • Joanne B
    Joanne B •
    Yes, I send a thank you note and follow up to inquire about the selection of the position. I never call more than once.
  • Catherine E
    Catherine E •
    I always send a thank you note to the person for taking the time to interview me, within a day of the interview.I used to snail-mail or drop off a card, but that does not really work well in this age of the internet. It is difficult to follow-up when the person specifically states that they will call you, when you ask when you can call them back.Also seems to depend on the industry.
  • ODWEE S
    ODWEE S •
    Follow it up again with an email and if there is no reply try to make a phone call to avoid the waiting game,if you were not hired you will know and embark on other things.
  • Moh.Y
    Moh.Y •
    I faced with the questions : tell me your negative point(weakness)? and second question : tell me your positive point? It very was and is very critical for me. let me have you command.
  • Kenneth W
    Kenneth W •
    I never thought it really mattered but maybe i was wrong.  i will start doing it after every interview thanks
  • Rick A
    Rick A •
       Very helpful thank you.
  • oluwatayo o
    oluwatayo o •
    thank you for the useful info
  • Douglas F
    Douglas F •
    It was nice to hear that advice from you. I always waited to hear back but thought calling was a desperate move but i guess it's really not. There really should be no reason that you cannot call back as i think i deserve an answer which is hard to get these days. I just had 2 interviews this week and am going to call back when it's time. Thanks
  • Carolyn S
    Carolyn S •
    I am a job applicant. I applied and was interviewed 2 weeks ago and have nothing. I did call and leave a voice mail message simply stating when I was interviewed and asking if a decision had been made. I received no call back. This has happened twice in the fairly recent future. I'm wondering if they checked my references and something was off, but I don't know how to find that out. Any suggestion?
  • Jolene y
    Jolene y •
    I am at one of the situation, i feel nervous that waiting a call after a week interviewed from now, I thought i should make a follow up call on next week if i don't get any news. However, a week seems to long for me to wait, i am afraid of making a call if they have decided to hire someone else. Is it meaningful for my call?
  • James B
    James B •
    I like it and I think it is very reasonable. I work with a lot of job seekers and one of the questions they always have is, "should I follow up with the interviewer." My answer is of course, "yes follow up." Your perspective is the most straight forward one that I have read.Thanks for sharing.
  • Rolanda B
    Rolanda B •
    I have often used thank you cards to follow up and express my appreciation of their time.  A thank you card can be sent the day after the interview without having to wait.  It can give you that extra advantage in helping you to stand out from other interviewees.  It also should be short, professional, hand written, and indicate your interest in the position.
  • Mike R
    Mike R •
    I think this is a very professional manner to use. I also think that since you kinda of built a repore with the interviewer (and you'll know if you did) that it might kinda of flatter the person,you know make them feel important and nothing the matter with a little brown-nosing when needed.There are so many unprofessional job seekers out there,you will definitely stand out.Good Luck!
  • Larry F
    Larry F •
    Thanks for the good advice.  Letting a potential employer know that you are serious about the job is a good point that is often overlooked.  
  • Thomas A
    Thomas A •
    It was very helpful. I will use this information after my next interview.
  • Randy B
    Randy B •
    This was very helpful information,thank you very much.I got the job I wanted.
  • Kellinda R
    Kellinda R •
    I just followed up with an email to a prospective employer; however I decided not to call due to the fact that our communication method from the start has been by email. I prefer phone calls; however in this age of technology I decided to look at the overall circumstance and send a follow up email.But I feel, definitely,  following up is essential!
  • Gevinn B
    Gevinn B •
    I consider your advice on "How to Follow up on an Interview" not only helpful, but comforting, as well.   After attending a series of job interviews, I found my attempts merely a waste of my precious job search time and bus fare. I spent more money preparing for the interview than the company was willing to pay me for my time and skills.From my unsuccessful attempts to secure employment, I understand that having the qualifications, looking and conducting yourself professionals may be intimidating to the interviewer seeking a "particular" job culture fit.  Unfortunately, as the job candidate,  this becomes clear only during the face to face interview. At this point, interviewing with the leaders of these culture clubs can be disappointing upon one's arrival to the worksite and actually seeing representatives of the work culture. It only takes a bit of retrospective comparison and contrast after the initial physical contact  to understand why one such as I failed to get the job, particularly after interviewer ignored follow ups.Naturally, I refuse to burn bridges with the company after being ignored. Angry? Why should I get upset, when I know I  conducted myself gracefully throughout the process,  like the professional I am? Thanks, for the advice!
  • MARY E
    MARY E •
    Thx for simple, easy and effective follow up tactics. Leaving a lasting professional impression will only serve to help, Even if I don't get this job, I may be able to contact same company in future & perhaps be remembered in a positive light.
  • Elizabeth B
    Elizabeth B •
    This is really good advice.  Even though you are calling someone you have met, it still feels like you are calling a stranger.  Also, you feel like you are begging for the job.  It's all very intimidating. Thanks for the encouragement
  • Barb M
    Barb M •
    This is great advice which I follow ... if I make it passed the HR person, which lately, does not seem to be the case. Can you offer a tutorial in dealing with HR people? Some of the last interviews I've had, I came away shaking my head and wondering if the HR person had any clue as to what the posted job was all about. Beyond the standard six to 10 questions, I felt I could have been  interviewed for any job, from a the front desk to the CEO. It's really quite frustrating.

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