You just had a graduate job interview. And you think it went well.
You showed off your knowledge of the company, your passion for the role, tackled some tough interview questions and asked the interviewer some carefully thought-out questions of your own. But there's still one thing left to do: send a follow-up email.
Following up after your interview could really improve your chances of landing the job - especially if it's between you and a candidate they liked just as much, who failed to follow-up after their own interview.
So, don't just leave the interview for a job you'd love and forget* all about it (*regularly refresh your email hoping you'll hear from them), take action to ensure they know you're interested in the next steps.
Plus, even if you aren't 100% keen on the role any more post-interview, it is always best to thank the interviewer for their time and leave an overall positive impression. Even if you don't get, or want, this job with them right now, you could find yourself crossing paths with them in future.
Sending a follow-up email has several purposes, so be sure to bear these in mind as you write your own, personalised one. Your email should:
- Be used as an opportunity to thank the interviewer for their time. We're sure you did this at the interview itself, but it doesn't hurt to put it in writing.
- Express that you're still interested in progressing your application further, having heard more about the role (if this is the case).
- Include specifics - referencing topics you covered in your interview. As with job applications themselves, keep away from the generic and use the opportunity to further connect with the employer or hiring manager you met with.
- A follow-up email can also be your chance to briefly reinforce why you'd be great for the role, or to cover something you think you missed out in the interview.
- It should be sent within 24 hours of your interview finishing, during normal working hours.
- Be concise and formal.
Interview follow-up email template:
Subject line examples:
"Thank you!"
"It was a pleasure to meet you"
"Thanks for your time - interview for [job title]"
Email body text:
"Dear [first name of the person you met with],
"I wanted to thank you very much again for taking the time to meet with me today to discuss the [job title] position at [company name].
"It was a pleasure to learn more about [specific project] and [specific aspect of the role]. Hearing about all the incredible things [company name] is doing in [industry] has made me even more excited for the opportunity to join you.
"With my experience in [area relevant to role] and passion for [aspect of the role], I firmly believe this is not only a role I would enjoy, but that my skills and interests align with what the team is looking for.
"Please let me know if there's any additional information I can provide you with. I look forward to hearing from you regarding the next steps and hope my application can be progressed further.
"Best wishes,
"[Your name]"
Good luck making it your own! If you want to learn more about honing your approach to job interviews, check out GradTouch's conversation with an interviewer at Amazon for his advice on how graduates can stand out.