What You Should Do After a Job Interview

Once the interview is over, there is still work to be done if you're seriously interested in getting that job. Following up with the employer after the interview is important for two reasons: to set you apart from other candidates and to show your interest in the role. Follow-up typically takes two forms: thank-you notes and any other follow-up you may need to do to land the job. Here's how to ace both.

How to write thank-you notes

While some may think thank-you notes are obsolete, new research finds that they actually matter more since the pandemic began. An October 2020 survey by TopResume found that more than two-thirds (68 percent) of hiring managers agree that it's more important for candidates to send thank-you notes or emails now.

While it's best to send a hand-written note to each interviewer promptly, remote work may make that challenging. Alternatively, send a personalized email to each individual, says career coach Maria Reitan, founder of Jump Team Coaching. Be sure to send a separate note to each individual who participated in the interview either the same day or the next day, she advises. And make sure to make the most of the opportunity.

"Pluck something out about the conversation that really struck you and just thank them for an observation, or the question that they posed that you felt was really helpful to you,” she says. “And ask them if there's anything else that you could provide or if there's any outstanding questions.” Use this as an opportunity to further engage the interviewers and show your continued interest.

Other important ways you should follow up

Ideally, at the end of the interview, you had a conversation with someone from the interview about when you might expect to hear about the next steps and from whom. “At least you have some sense of the timeline,” says Jennifer Yeko, founder of recruitment firm Ninja Recruiting. If the team expects to fill the job in a week, you may want to follow up sooner than if they expect to take two months.