Career Advice for Job Seekers

Following Up After an Interview has Value

William Frierson

June 19, 2012

A thank you after an interview is not just appreciated, but helpful to your job search.

Job seekers may want to trade in their monogrammed letterhead for smartphones to thank potential employers for meeting with them. Eighty-seven percent of managers interviewed for an Accountemps survey said email is an appropriate way to express thanks after meeting with a hiring manager, and 81 percent cited phone calls as OK. But, say employers, save the texting for your friends. Only 10 percent of survey respondents take a positive view of text messages as a way to follow up.

No matter which communication method you choose, showing a little gratitude could give you an edge in your employment search, the survey suggests. Most respondents (91 percent) like being thanked by promising job candidates.

HR managers were asked, “How helpful is it for a promising job candidate to send a thank-you following an interview?” Their responses:*

Very helpful	59%
Somewhat helpful	32%
Not at all helpful	10%
	101%*

HR managers also were asked, “Which of the following are appropriate methods for job applicants to thank an employer following an interview?” Their responses:*

Email	87%
Phone call	81%
Handwritten note	38%
Social media	27%
Text message	10%
Other/don’t know	2%

In addition, HR managers were asked, “Which one of the following is the most common way you receive a thank-you from job applicants following an interview?” Their responses:

Email	62%
Phone call	23%
Handwritten note	13%
Don’t know/no answer	2%
	100%

One surprising finding was the high percentage of employers who view a phone call as an appropriate way to say thanks, as many job seekers stick to written messages. Employers may welcome a thank-you call from someone who has just interviewed, provided the caller doesn’t overstep by placing multiple calls to check on his or her status as a job candidate. Social media, a channel that didn’t exist a decade ago, also has emerged as a way to touch base with employers.

“When it comes to delivering a thank-you, the message is typically more important than the medium,” said Max Messmer, chairman of Accountemps and author of Job Hunting For Dummies®, 2nd Edition. “Following up with hiring managers after the interview shows your enthusiasm for the position and allows you to reiterate the case for why you are the best person for the job.”

Here are five tips for crafting a professional post-interview thank-you:

Don’t delay. Follow up with a thank-you within 24 hours of the interview so you are still top of mind for the hiring manager.
Restate your value. Recap the qualities that make you a strong fit for the role and convey your enthusiasm for the opportunity. Clarify any unanswered questions and address concerns expressed by the interviewer.
Be specific. Reference particular points from the conversation. For example, if the employer mentioned the position calls for strong knowledge of Excel, highlight the advanced training you took on the program.
Don’t ramble. Keep your message to a paragraph or two, or a few minutes on the phone. Anything longer could make you seem unfocused.
Ask for a second opinion. A trusted friend or colleague should read over your written thank-you note to help spot any typos or unclear language before you hit send or mail it.

New Job Postings

Advanced Search