Waiting is the worst part of a selection process, especially if you have already attended the interview, but the employer has not contacted you again to say yes or no.
It is normal that you want to know what happened with your candidacy, especially if you consider that your interview was a success and the recruiter let you know so, making you excited.
Don’t be alarmed or think that your application was rejected, there are many valid reasons that could justify the fact that the recruiter has not contacted you yet.
However, staying present is a good way to remind them of your profile and, in turn, why you are the right professional for the position.
So in this practical guide we teach you how to write a good selection process follow-up email to increase the chances of getting a response. ✔
What to include in a job follow-up email
Each company has its own selection processes, so there is no universal response time in which the recruiter must contact the candidates after the interview, since companies define their own times and it is valid.
Just as you are also fully entitled to contact the recruiter to find out the current status of your job application, always seeking a good tone.
So what to include in a job interview follow-up email? Look 👇:
Short and direct subject
Do not go around too much, the subject line is the best way to get the recruiter’s attention, so be direct to let them know what the email is about before opening it.
You could even opt for an original subject line, without being informal, that maintains respect and kindnessas well as you could also resort to the traditional.
Here are a couple of examples 👇:
Has the vacancy been filled?
Once again, thanks for the opportunity.
Valentín Maldonado, candidate for the position of administrative assistant.
In the event that you have exchanged other emails with the recruiter, you can also reply to one of them to maintain the same line and make it easier for him to identify you.
professional greeting
The follow-up email is like a letter, therefore, you must respect standards of professionalism among which the greeting is essential to make a good impression.
Of course, this does not mean that you should be flattering, the correct greeting is brief, friendly and professional, just like a cover letter. Here are a couple of examples 👇:
Dear attorney towers (with the recruiter’s real last name).
Dear Mr. Torres (with the recruiter’s real last name).
Dear recruiting officer.
You can choose any of these options.
Introduction and courteous thanks
A recruiter is used to receiving many follow-up emails, unfortunately, not all candidates are usually cordial, which detracts from points.
In addition to the fact that some assume that the recruiter will identify them with the email, forgetting to include their first and last name, as well as extra data for faster identification.
This is your chance to keep making a difference by properly introducing yourself and including a polite thank you from the first paragraph of your email.
Once again, let’s see it with an example 👇:
CORRECT
This is written by Valentín Maldonado, a candidate for the position of administrative assistant, interviewed on March 14, 2022 at 04:00 pm, at the Madrid headquarters of Mercadona. First of all, I reiterate my gratitude for his time and for having considered me as a candidate to fill this vacancy.
This is enough to break the ice in a positive way, the hook to grab your attention.
Reason for the letter
It is likely that the recruiter already knows what your email is about before opening it, it is a type of email that, perhaps, he receives very often when he is in the selection process.
However, no room for assumptionsit is best that you directly ask about the status of your candidacy, maintaining respect and formality.
Once again, let’s see it with an example 👇:
CORRECT
I take this opportunity to ask you about the current status of my candidacy and to make myself available to continue with the next steps corresponding to the selection process.
Again, short and directBluntly.
Interest in the position
Of course, you should not miss the moment to remind them of your interest in joining the company, placing special emphasis on what you will contribute to the team. Look at it in this example 👇:
CORRECT
Likewise, as I also told you in the interview, I emphasize my interest in joining this company whose trajectory I have followed closely since I began my university career. I will be happy to add my knowledge and administrative skills to the team.
kind farewell
Finally, close your follow-up email with a short paragraph in which you show willingness to collaborate in the next steps of the recruitment process, for example 👇:
CORRECT
Once again, thank you and best regards,
Valentin Maldonado.
+34 000 00 00 00
It is not necessary to extend yourself too much, a follow-up email of the selection process is brief and direct, always maintaining professionalism and formality correspondent; you can still include additional contact information, such as your phone number.
Errors in a follow-up email of the selection process
When writing a job follow-up email, you must take care of the form so as not to cause the wrong impression on the recruiter. There are several points to avoid, mainly 👇:
Don’t pressure the recruiter for an immediate response. Do not send the mail after the corresponding deadlines. Avoid showing desperation to fill the position. Avoid mentioning that you have other offers on the door.
Although the reasons can be many, the most common are the following 👇:
The interview period has not yet ended. The selection process has been postponed. The selection process has been cancelled. The choice decision has not been finalized. The recruiter has only contacted the most qualified candidates. The recruiter has selected another candidate.
Although it is most ideal for the recruiter to contact all the candidates who participated in the selection process, regardless of their decision, this is not always the case; For this reason, it is always appropriate to send follow-up emails.
When to send email after an interview?
Your emotion is understandable, we have all felt it after an interview; but don’t rush don’t act on impulsewait a couple of weeks to send the mail.
In fact, some recruiters usually give estimated times to respond to the job application, while they interview other candidates, it is normal. Now, if that time has passed and they haven’t contacted you, is the best time to send the follow-up email.
Final Tips on Follow-Up Emails
And to make sure you write a good follow-up email, here are some additional summary recommendations 👇:
Follow up from the same email as your job application. Maintain a professional, friendly, respectful, and positive tone. Be very specific in the purpose of your message, while still being polite. Avoid going on unnecessarily, a follow-up email is short. Send the email to the correct recipient, personalize it with their data (name, surname…). Reiterate your interest in the job, but without showing despair. Mention both the name of the position you are applying for and the date of the interview. Read the body of the email very well to make sure you do not make spelling mistakes.
Sending a follow-up email, rather than helping you learn the current status of your candidacy, is a reminder to the recruiter, who reading you might re-look through your job application and reconsider; Of course, always maintain a respectful tone of voice. ✔
Frequently asked questions about follow-up emails
Finally, we answer some frequently asked questions on this topic 👇:
What happens when in an interview they tell you that we are calling you?
This is one of the phrases most used by recruiters in a selection process; but they don’t always call all the candidates by different reasonsperhaps because they have received too many applications, because they have run out of time or because you have not been selected.
The reason does not have to be that you are not qualified for the vacancy, therefore, sending a follow-up email of the selection process could facilitate the task of the recruiter; so write the email at the right time, without exerting pressure.
How do I know if a company is interested in me?
There are some signs that could tell you if the company is interested in your profile, like 👇
The interview lasted longer than usual, being positive at all times. You received good feedback. The interviewer maintained positive body language. The recruiter went deeper into your responsibilities. They introduced you to potential co-workers. You received positive feedback about the next steps in the selection process.