How To Write A Follow Up Email After An Interview

Did you just finish an important job interview but feel like you could give it the extra push? Many job seekers feel the same way, but they are not sure what to do and how to react. But there is one thing considered natural in modern HR that might as well save your day.

It's called a follow-up email after interview.

An interview follow-up email is a message you send to the recruiter after your job interview, thanking them for their time and emphasizing your interest in the position. You can also use this opportunity to answer any questions the interviewer may have had about your qualifications or to provide additional information about your experience that wasn't covered during the interview.

In this post, we will walk you through the basics of follow-up emails and explain how to craft one after a major job interview. Let's take a look!

7 Tips On How To Write A Follow-Up Email After An Interview

A typical job opening attracts dozens of potential employees, so it's necessary to create a standout follow-up message. Being one of the best CV writing services in UK, we have a lot of experience in the field. That helps us compile a full list of tips on how to follow up after an interview. Let's start with the very basics:

1.     Don't be afraid to send it

The follow-up message is not old-fashioned business etiquette. It shows you are a modern job seeker who is not afraid of new technologies and willing to go the extra mile. According to the report, more than 90% of HR managers think getting a thank-you note after the interview is at least somewhat helpful when picking the best candidate. 

In such circumstances, not sending a follow-up letter would be a big mistake. After all, rest assured some of your competitors will do it, so you don't want to lag behind.

2.     Do it quickly

The sooner you send your message, the better. Try to drop a follow-up letter within 24 hours after the interview. This way, you'll stay fresh in the interviewer's mind, and they will have enough time to consider you for the job.

However, our advice is to send a message as early as possible. For instance, if you had an early morning interview, write and send your email on the same day later in the afternoon. Don't think that it looks too pushy - it's perfectly normal to show your enthusiasm about the job opportunity.

Moreover, if you had an interview over lunch or coffee, it would be a nice gesture to drop a thank-you note within an hour or two afterward. You don't want the interviewer to think you've forgotten about them!

3.     Use a strong subject line

Your email subject line should be straightforward and concise. The goal is to make the interviewer open your message and read it immediately. Try to use a key phrase from the conversation you had during the interview or mention the job title. Here are a few suggestions:

• Thank you for your time, John!
• It was great to meet you, Jane!
• Thank you for the opportunity, Mr. Smith!

If you do it like that, the interviewer is most likely to open your email right away.

4.     Keep it short and sweet

Have you ever used the KISS principle? Here's what it means:

• Keep it short and sweet
• Keep it simple, stupid

What does it all tell you? Of course, it means that the shorter and simpler your message, the better. Your follow-up email after the interview should not be longer than a few paragraphs. Ideally, it should be around five sentences.

Start with a greeting (e.g., "Dear Mr./Mrs. Smith"), thank the interviewer for their time, briefly recap what you talked about, emphasize your eagerness to work with the company, and end with a call-to-action. That's it - nothing too complicated or fancy.

If you feel overwhelmed by all this, don't hesitate to get in touch with the UK Careers Booster. Our agency has a team of dedicated authors who all have massive experience in the HR niche. That way, UK CareersBooster will help you craft a follow-up email in no time while following the KISS principle. What's best, you will probably get a discount in the process!

5.     Mention relevant details you might have forgotten earlier

When you're in the interview office, you want to make sure all your attention is focused on the interviewer and the questions they are asking you. In such a situation, it's quite easy to forget about some important details of your professional experience.

Fortunately, a follow-up email gives you a chance to correct this mistake. Just make sure you don't go too overboard with it. For instance, if you forgot to mention that you have a working knowledge of a certain software program, there's no need to write an essay about it in your message. A simple sentence will suffice.

6.     Make sure it sounds sincere

Your follow-up email should not only be well-written and informative. It should also sound sincere. After all, the interviewer will be able to tell whether you're being genuine in your letter or not. The surefire way to achieve that is by using a personal touch.

For instance, you can mention something you talked about during the interview (e.g., the interviewer's weekend plans). You can also ask about something you forgot to mention earlier (e.g., the company's upcoming projects).

7.     Don't forget to proofread your email

No matter how well you know English, there's always a chance you might make a typo or two in your email. That's why it's crucial to proofread your message before you hit the "Send" button. If you're not confident in your proofreading skills (or just don't have time to do it alone), CV editing services will help you with that as well.

Our agency will make sure your email is free of any grammar or spelling errors. We will also check if the language sounds natural and easy to read. That way, you are guaranteed to get a well-written and error-free message.

Content Styling Tips To Avoid A No-Response Interview

The steps we mentioned above will lead to a nice email after interview, but why stop there? There are all sorts of style-related recommendations that you can follow in order to make a more solid piece of content. Let's breeze through the fundamentals here:

Avoid buzzwords and niche jargon

When it comes to business writing, using jargon and buzzwords is a huge no-no. Instead of using such expressions, try to be as specific as possible. For instance, instead of saying that you are a great team player, you can write something like this:

• I have substantial experience working with teams of all sizes, and I'm comfortable taking on different roles

That will make your email sound more sincere and professional. Besides that, it shows you're not sticking to the worn-out phrases that really don't say a lot.

Use simple language

You might be tempted to use complicated language in your email in order to impress the interviewer. However, this is not a good idea. Not only will it make your text sound pretentious, but it might also lead to misunderstandings.

After all, the simpler the language you use, the easier it is to convey your message clearly. Stick to short and simple alternatives instead of using big words. This will make your email more readable and understandable.

Use active voice

When writing business emails, you want to make sure they sound as natural as possible. That's why it's best to use active voice in your messages. This way, the text will be not only easy to read but also more persuasive. Here are a couple of examples:

• Don't: The report was completed by me
• Do: I completed the report

Perhaps it sounds the same, but the second sentence is more direct and, as a result, more persuasive.

The bottom line

A job interview follow-up email is a superior option if you want to thank the interviewer for their time and confirm your interest in a given position. Just make sure you keep it short, relevant, and sincere. Everything else will fall into place naturally!