Follow Up After the Interview

Learning Objectives

After completing this unit, you’ll be able to:

Send an effective and timely thank-you email.
Negotiate compensation.
Request feedback in a professional manner.

Send a Thank-You

A thank-you email should be sent on the same day of the interview and personalized to the interviewer(s). This is your opportunity to reiterate your interest in the position and emphasize how your skills and experiences align. Make sure your email is professional, proofread, brief, and uses proper grammar and punctuation.

Here is an example of a template to use from the Leeds School of Business when crafting a thank you email.

Subject: Thank you - [POSITION] Interview Today

Dear [HIRING MANAGER NAME],

Thank you so much for your time today; I appreciated the opportunity to learn more about the [JOB] position and hopefully was able to show you how I can be an asset to your team. You made it clear that a person in this role will succeed if they demonstrate [SKILLS DISCUSSED IN THE INTERVIEW]. I'm confident in my ability as I did [RECAP SIMILAR EXPERIENCE] in my previous role. Please let me know if there is anything further you need from me at this time. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Thank you,

[YOUR NAME]

Note

In this digital era, a hand-written note might seem like a nice touch. However, your note may not reach the interviewer in time for them to take it into consideration. Therefore a thank-you email is likely your best bet.

You Have an Offer, Now What?

This is the point where you negotiate your compensation package. There can be a lot of nuances to this—enough for its own module. For now, the Leeds School of Business offers some starting tips:

Research salaries in your field and in your location. Check multiple sources to get a more accurate and acceptable salary range.
Consider the full benefits package. Benefits, like a retirement plan, vacation, and medical insurance, can provide value apart from the base salary being offered.
Take notes and take your time. It's OK to take your time to consider the job offer, especially after discussing a complex salary and benefits package. Politely tell the recruiter or hiring manager that you'd like to take a day or two to consider the offer. Make sure to give them a specific date when to expect your response.

You can find more resources focused on compensation negotiation in the Resources section at the end of this unit.

So, You Didn’t Get an Offer...

Solicit Feedback

Rejection is never easy. But this is a good opportunity to ask for honest feedback about your interview in order to improve in the future. Draft a professional response along these lines suggested by the Leeds School of Business.

Dear [HIRING MANAGER/RECRUITER NAME],

Thank you for letting me know. I appreciate you taking the time to talk with me about [COMPANY] and the role.

If you are willing, I would greatly appreciate any feedback you have to offer about my resume, related skills/experiences, and my interview performance. I view this as an opportunity to improve and I would value your insight.

Thank you for your time,

[YOUR NAME]

Time for the Next Application, the Next Opportunity

There may be a lot of conflicting thoughts and emotions that come up after learning that you weren’t accepted for the role. It may take some time of quiet reflection to process them. Here are some things to consider.

Don’t take it personally. Often, the reasons why you didn’t get the role are not clear. And while you’ve solicited feedback, the interviewer may or may not respond to clarify things. Perhaps the candidate who got the role had slightly more experience and skills, or more relevant experience and skills. These things are out of your control and do not reflect on how you performed in the actual interview. And they definitely do not reflect who you are as a person.
The next opportunity is just that, the next one. It pays to focus on the next opportunity as new…because it is. It’s a new chance to evaluate your experience and skills, a new chance to practice your elevator pitch and story, new people, and so on. It’s important to come to the next opportunity with a fresh perspective.

Parting Thoughts

Research, practicing your elevator pitch, showing up at the interview—it all takes much effort and time. But perseverance and grace, along with being as prepared as you can possibly be, can help set you up for success and increase your chances of landing that dream job.

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