You just nailed the interview. They said they’d get back to you this week. They didn’t.
What’s next?
The follow up.
(Not to be confused with the one-sentence “thanks for your time” note that you might send immediately following the interview, the follow up is about spurring the conversation forward.)
Being recruiters, my team and I encounter many, many follow up emails. We see good ones and bad ones. Mostly bad ones.
It’s normal to be frustrated at a hiring manager’s delayed or poor communication, but the fact is that almost everyone is a poor communicator. That’s the world we live in.
You can be mad, or you can learn to flawlessly execute a profoundly elegant follow up email, and land the job of your dreams.
Here’s how:
TIME IT CORRECTLY
At the end of the interview, if you sense positive vibes, let them know that based on what you just learned, you’re excited about the position and open to next steps.
Then ask them when they anticipate getting back to you.
Don’t send a follow up email before that date.
Wait for them to break their promise, then follow up.
BE DIFFERENT
You can be 110% certain that everyone else who interviewed for this role sent a follow up email that said this:
“After our conversation, I am even more confident that I possess all of the experience and attributes necessary to perform in this role and contribute to your company.”
Hack: don’t say that.
Decisions are made emotionally, even hiring decisions.
Assuming you’re not lacking some key skill, the company (whether they realize it or not) is going to hire the person they like the most. The person they can envision coming into the company, inspiring people and getting shit done.
Instead of vomiting out a smorgasbord of expected key phrases hoping to check every box, mix up a potent, 3-ingredient cocktail of charm, professionalism, and awareness that reflects some of the realness that they’re going to get if they hire you.
TERMINOLOGY MATTERS
Don’t say “following up”.
Don’t say “checking in”.
This is what needy people say, and when needy people say this, they relinquish the upper hand, by reducing their status to “pursuer”.
Sure, if you need the job, they already have the upper hand, but treating them as such will actually be off-putting to them. (See “Desperation Stinks” below).
Also, don’t say “I’d love to”.
This is not about you, it’s about them. Send an article relating to what you discussed. Offer to introduce a VIP contact that came up in your conversation. Add value. Give them a reason to respond.
TONE MATTERS MORE
You’re nonchalant but not aloof.
You’re switched-on and sharp, but not overwhelming.
You’re personally interested, not professionally needy.
You’ve been through this process before, you take nothing personally, you’re confident.
(And one way to convey confidence is to never use the word “confident” in your follow up.)
DESPERATION STINKS
If they didn’t respond to your initial thank you, and didn’t respond to your follow up… now you’re just talking to yourself.
Think very carefully about what you say next.
If you send a third email, there should be a sense of finality to it. “I’ll assume this is a ‘no’ for now. Had fun meeting you. Maybe we’ll connect in the future.”
This approach has two outcomes: it either jogs the company back into action, or it is met with further ghosting and you move on. Either outcome is the right outcome.
SHORTEN IT, THEN SHORTEN IT AGAIN
The most difficult and crucial aspect of a follow up email is the length.
There are 8 billion people in this world. Not a single one of them enjoys long emails. And if you send one now, you’re giving the employer a preview of what they’ll get if they hire you (more long emails).
If you spend 15 minutes drafting it, spend the rest of the hour editing it. I know, you have so much that you want them to know about how great you are… but resist the urge.
Long-windedness comes across as trying too hard, and in too many ways, to “convince” or “make a case” for yourself. This is not the power dynamic you want, and besides:
Busy people gravitate to the easiest tasks first. Make your email easy to read and respond to.
An email should fit on an iPhone screen with no scrolling necessary. Break this rule, suffer the consequences.
Editing is hard, but it’s a skill worth learning.
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Photo: Samuel Ross via Hublot
