Interview Follow-Ups

We recently interviewed a candidate who truly stood out following their final interview. After meeting with a panel of four interviewers, they took the time to send personalized thank you notes to each panel member. In every note, the candidate referenced a specific question or insight shared during the interview - it was a 5 star demonstration of attention to detail. Thank you note or not, she would have received an offer, so the level of thoughtfulness was the cherry on top for an incredibly qualified candidate. It wasn’t just about ticking boxes—it showed engagement, professionalism, and the kind of soft skills we look for in a great hire. When it comes to thank you notes, here's a rundown of best practices: Do: - Send your thank-you note within 24 hours. - If you had a panel interview, personalize each message—mention something unique from each conversation. - If you have the hiring manager’s (HM) email, feel free to send the note directly. If you don't, email the recruiter to ask AND include your note to forward in the case they can't provide it. - Use the thank you note as an opportunity to reinforce an area in which you felt wasn't your strongest, or to answer a question you may have not been able to nail in the moment. Don't: - Send a copy-paste thank you note [the two line, generic message that's sent about 90 seconds after an interview doesn't hold a whole lot of weight]. Recruiters and hiring managers, what qualities make a thank you note stand out to you? #recruitmentrevealed

Your follow-up communication after a job interview offers a valuable opportunity to reinforce your candidacy and demonstrate your professional communication skills.   Many candidates miss this opportunity with generic "checking in" messages or overly enthusiastic emails filled with exclamation points, which can come across as unprofessional.   Instead, consider these more effective approaches:   1. The Appreciation + Value Reminder:   Thank the interviewer for their time, reference specific conversation points, and concisely reinforce why you're the right fit:   "Thank you for discussing the Senior Project Manager role yesterday. Our conversation about the challenges with your international expansion reinforced my enthusiasm for contributing my experience leading cross-border teams at ABC Company."   2. The Thoughtful Solution Provider:   Address a challenge mentioned during the interview and offer brief, relevant insights:   "Following our discussion about the data integration issues your team is facing, I've outlined three approaches that worked in similar situations I managed at XYZ Corp. I'd be happy to elaborate on these in our next conversation."   3. The Relationship Builder: Share a relevant resource that adds value based on your conversation:   "I appreciated our discussion about your company's focus on sustainable supply chains. I recently came across this research on emerging practices in the industry that aligns with the direction you mentioned your team is heading."   These approaches demonstrate your attentiveness, problem-solving mindset, and genuine interest in the role beyond simply securing a job offer.   What follow-up approach have you found most effective after job interviews?   Check out my newsletter for more insights here: https://lnkd.in/ei_uQjju   #executiverecruiter #eliterecruiter #jobmarket2025 #profoliosai #resume #jobstrategy #professionalcommunication #interviewfollowup #hiringprocess

Post-Interview Spiral? Read This. You walked out of the interview… And now your brain is like: 🌀 “Did I talk too much?” 🌀 “Should I follow up?” 🌀 “They said they’d get back to me — is it too soon?” 🌀 “What if they ghost me?” Let me stop you right there. Post-interview anxiety is real. But spiraling won’t get you the job. Strategy might. Here’s what to do instead: ✅ Within 24 hours: Send a real thank-you note. - Not the robotic “Thanks for your time.” - Mention something specific from your convo. - Remind them why you're excited. Leave them with a lasting impression. ✅ Haven’t heard back in 5–7 business days? Follow up. - Not to beg. Not to chase. - Just to check in like the thoughtful, professional human you are. Try something like: “Hi [Name], hope you’re doing well. I’ve been reflecting on our conversation and wanted to check in. I’m still excited about the opportunity and happy to share anything else the team might need. Any updates on next steps?” Clean. Calm. Confident. That’s the energy. ✅ And if they ghost you? That’s not failure. That’s data. It says more about them than it does about you. You didn’t miss out on a job. They missed out on someone who actually gave a damn. You did your part. Now protect your peace, prep for what’s next, and keep moving forward! The next company will be LUCKY to have someone like you on their team. — Follow me, Erica Rivera, CPCC, CPRW, for real-world career strategy, job search sanity, and bold advice that gets you hired—without the burnout.

The silent treatment from recruiters is crushing careers—here's how to fight back 👇🏼 Three weeks ago, a talented marketing director shared something that made my stomach drop: "I've had 4 final-round interviews this quarter. Zero responses. I'm starting to think I'm invisible." She's not alone. Interview ghosting has become the norm, not the exception. But here's what most people don't realize: The best candidates aren't just waiting around hoping for callbacks. They're using these 3 counterattack strategies: ✅ Strategy 1: Flip the script during interviews Instead of asking "When will I hear back?" try this: "I'm excited about this role—what would need to happen for us to move forward together?" This positions you as someone solving their problem, not waiting for their verdict. ✅ Strategy 2: Build your own intel network Before your interview, identify 3 people who work there (not in HR). Send thoughtful messages about their work. When you have advocates inside, ghosting becomes much harder. ✅ Strategy 3: The value-bomb follow-up Skip the generic "thank you" email. Instead, send something that makes them think: "We need this person." One client researched their biggest competitor and sent a 2-minute market analysis. Got the offer that same week. We can't fix broken hiring processes overnight. But we can stop playing by their rules. Question: Have you ever been ghosted after an interview? How did you recover? — 📌 If you’re needing more help, this is why I created Remote Dream Job Masterclass. It’s the exact strategy I teach all my 1on1 coaching clients to land interviews without applying online. If you’d like to join, just scroll up and click “View My Newsletter” or check the Featured Section on my profile.

I have a lot of candidates email me months after we’ve spoken about roles and say, “Has anything new opened up that would match my skillset?” Oof. I don’t know off hand. Here’s what to include when following up with a recruiter: - Re-attach your resume - Put in the email a quick summary of your experience, and if possible, reference anything memorable from the interaction. It’s been a few months. A recruiter probably remembers your name but it is very difficult to recall your exact experience with no additional information included. - Since you’ve spoken, include anything new (I just got a promotion, I’m leading an additional group, I completed XYZ certification). It's OK to brag - we know you are awesome! - Do the leg work and look at the company's careers page. Did you see anything you’re interested in? Include a link to that and say why you think you’re qualified or why you want to learn more You don’t need to email a novel, but when you send a “You Up?” email, you are basically asking a recruiter to go back through their notes, find your resume and notes from the conversation, scour the company’s careers page and try to guess what might fit. That’s a lot of work for them. It might seem manageable, but recruiters speak to often thousands of candidates a year. Hope that helps! I know it’s frustrating when people don’t respond to your emails, so make it as easy as possible for them! Good luck with the search - I am rooting for you! #applyingforjobs #jobinterviewtips #recruiting

True story: A candidate followed up with me 4 times in less than 24 hours. Their burning question? "Did you receive my message?" As a recruiter, I appreciate persistence, but... Here's what actually happens: 1. I sort emails by urgency (offers, interview cancellations, etc.) 2. Then work through oldest to newest 3. Excessive follow-ups push you to the back of the line Result? The candidate who thought they were being proactive actually delayed their own process. And solicited a heavy sigh from yours truly.. 😉 The counterproductive approach: → Send multiple "checking in" emails → Follow up within hours → Assume no response means no interest Reasons NOT to follow up: • "Just checking in" on your application status • You're feeling anxious and want reassurance • Making sure they got your message The effective approach: → Wait at least 4 business days before following up → Have a compelling reason to reach out → Use tools like email trackers for peace of mind Reasons TO follow up: • You have a competing offer with a deadline • You're advancing quickly with a competitor, but X company is your first choice • There's new information relevant to your application • You've achieved a significant milestone since applying Remember: Following up is an art, not a hammer. It's about adding value, not creating noise. The key is to be persistent but respectful, proactive but patient, and memorable for the right reasons. Your next role isn't just about how often you reach out, but how effectively you communicate when you do.

After reviewing hundreds of post-interview emails, I spotted a pattern: The most successful candidates never sent just a 'thank you' note. They sent strategic follow-ups that got them hired. Let's analyze why most follow-up emails fail: - 'Thank you for your time' → Generic opener that blends into the inbox - 'I enjoyed our conversation' → Vague sentiment that fails to demonstrate engagement - 'I look forward to hearing from you' → Passive closing that surrenders momentum But the candidates who consistently landed offers? They turned this touchpoint into a strategic advantage: - Referenced specific discussion points ('Regarding our conversation about scaling the marketing team...') - Added value naturally ('Found this relevant article about the automation challenge we discussed...') - Connected their experience to the company's needs ('Your point about needing SQL expertise reminded me of when I...')" The difference between a courtesy email and a strategic follow-up isn't length - it's intention. Every interaction is a chance to reinforce your value. What's one small change that made a big difference in your interview process? P.S. DM me 'Career Closer' to learn more about my group program, where I teach my complete system for turning interview touchpoints into offer letters.

Think interview "thank you" emails don’t matter? Let me tell you why they're so important... Last week, I interviewed seven candidates for an executive role. Only ONE followed up with an email. And guess what? That person was also our most qualified candidate. But their "thank you" email sealed my vote. Here’s why: 1️⃣ It showed professionalism. They thanked me for my time and highlighted how much they valued our conversation. That’s not just polite, it’s essentially required. 2️⃣ It was personal. They mentioned (and expanded upon) something specific that we discussed during the interview. Shows they're an active listener with attention to detail. 3️⃣ It reinforced their interest. They didn’t just say they wanted this job; they explained why they were excited about joining our team. Genuine enthusiasm stands out. 4️⃣ It demonstrated confidence. They closed with, “I am confident I can bring value and would love another opportunity.” Bold, yet classy. During our exec meeting, we discussed all candidates. When asked who impressed me most, I said, “Only one sent me an email.” That email wasn’t just words—it was strategy. Here’s my advice: → Send that "thank you" email within hours. → Keep your tone professional but warm. → Resurface a specific part of the interview. → Reiterate your excitement and unique value. It’s not about being overly formal or writing an essay. It’s about leaving one last impression. Small actions like this can make a BIG difference. What’s your take? Would you send that email? #interviewtips #jobsearch #opentowork

As a recruiter, I've received and written many thank-you notes The difference between the good and bad ones comes down to one word: Intent If you think the intent of a thank you note is to thank the team You're doing them wrong Many thank you notes I see follow the same format -Greeting -Thanks -Closing It's generic, boring, and doesn't come across as genuine And it tells me your intent isn't where it should be It tells me you're doing it to check a box And then complain that you didn't get selected And bash interview notes as a waste of time If you interviewed with someone or a team and you're finding it hard to write a thank you note Don't bother sending it That should be a sign that the role/company isn't the right fit for you A good thank you note is easy to write because it's genuine and authentic It shows that you are truly thankful for the opportunity It shows that you value the connection you just made and want to build on it And it shows you want the opportunity The anatomy of a good cover thank you email is simple: -Greeting -Expressing gratitude/thanks for the interview -Mentioning 1-2 specifics from the conversation that stood out to you -Reinforcing your interest in the role and company -A personal touch over established commonality in the interview -Closing statement Bonus: sending it within 24-hours of your interview Example: "Dear Dave, I wanted to thank you again for taking the time to interview me for the project manager role at Exelon. I appreciated having a candid conversation with you and learning more about what you are looking for in a candidate; particularly how the person in this role will have a major role in managing the new renewable assets and solar projects. I've looked forward to the possibility of working at Exelon for quite some time, and our conversation today only reinforced that further. By the way, I know you mentioned you are an avid Bulls fan. If you've got some time, I'd recommend "The Old Man and the Three" podcast by 343 Productions. They just had Joakim Noah on the show, and I have a feeling his discussion on his time with Derrick Rose and where the team is heading now would be right up your alley. Take care, Jordan" That thank you note is sincere and memorable, and adds some personal touches from the conversation Don't write a thank you note just as a formality Do it because you are legitimately thankful And if you struggle to write one Maybe that's your sign of saying this isn't the right fit for you And that's okay too

I get this question frequently: "How can I stand out from other candidates?" My answer: send a thoughtful follow-up after your interview. 🎯 After you interview, take the time to send a thank you email or letter to the interviewer. It's a small gesture that can leave a lasting impact on the hiring manager. Here's what to include in your message: 1. Thank the interviewer(s) for their time 2. Express enthusiasm about the job and joining the organization 3. *Bonus points: pick out 1 or 2 elements of the job that you discussed in the interview and relate it back to your skillset/experience, reiterating your qualifications for the job. (Example: "I especially enjoyed hearing about some of the frequent requests from customers that the Customer Service team gets. In my current role, I solve the same types of issues on a daily basis, and I am excited about the possibility of leveraging that experience in this role.") Every time a candidate sends me a thoughtful follow-up after their interview, I immediately forward it to the hiring manager. They always appreciate the kind words, and it helps keep you top of mind as the hiring manager is evaluating a pool of candidates. I'm curious to hear what other suggestions people have to help candidates stand out! #jobsearch #interviewtips #advice