Career Q & A
By Alan Kearns
November 1, 2004
How should I follow up with an organization after the interview if I'm interested in the position?
Great question. You should follow-up with every hiring manager after leaving an interview. For that matter, you should follow up with anyone you dealt with at the organization throughout the interview process. Don't think that the hiring manager is the only one involved in making the decision...the HR administrator, secretary, other interviewers, etc. all play a big role in this process. I strongly recommend the use of a thank-you letter. Trust me when I say that this letter can have a tremendous impact on the decision making process, and your ultimate success. If you aren't already sending them out, you should start doing so after your next interview.
Then the big question becomes "should I send a handwritten or an e-mail message?" This depends on a few things. How did the organization get in touch with you? If they used e-mail to set everything up, then an e-mail to say thank-you will probably be acceptable. If they are a very formal organization, mail a typed letter the old fashioned way. This will demonstrate to them that you too are a professional. My personal favourite (and a very effective approach) is a handwritten thank-you note. It shows that you've taken the time and effort to address them specifically, and it's very personal. It's a warm letter to receive, and helps to solidify a positive relationship with the hiring manager and other people involved. Use your discretion after you get a feel for the organization and the environment.
Choosing the right message is crucial to writing a successful thank-you letter. You should start off by thanking the person for their time and for giving you the opportunity to meet with them. Highlight some of the things that you discussed in the interview, and provide them with any additional information that they were looking for in your discussion that you may have had to check on. Your last paragraph is key. Reiterate your interest and the reasons that you're a good fit for the organization and position. Hiring managers are very busy people; above and beyond their other job duties they are meeting with many applicants. Make their job easy by being clear, concise, and direct. Demonstrate clearly why you are a good fit for them...how you can make their life easier by being a motivated and capable candidate. This shouldn't be a 2-page document...it's a short and directed note.
Timing really is everything. Your letter can go out as early as a few hours
after the interview. Don't wait a week before you 'get around to it'. Every
day that you hold off distances you further from the process. We're all
familiar with the old expression 'strike while the iron is hot', well there's
a lot of truth in those few simple words.
Even if you don't end up getting the job, you'll be leaving a great impression with the organization and with the people involved in the process. They may be able to help you connect with another opportunity, consider you for a position at a later date, or refer you to one of their friends or peers.
Alan Kearns is the Head Coach and the Brand Champion! of CareerJoy.
He is one of Canada's foremost experts on all things career. With more than
14 years of experience coaching people through successful career changes,
he brings an intimate knowledge of the entire transition process to all of
his clients. To contact Alan about paid professional services, e-mail alan@careerjoy.com
or visit his web site www.careerjoy.com.
To submit a question for a future column, please e-mail it to careercoach@charityvillage.com. No identifying information will appear in this column.
