Making a follow-up call after an interview is something that many people are apprehensive about. Not only can the call itself be stressful, but there’s often some doubt about whether you should call after an interview at all!
This article will help you decide when to call after an interview and what to say when you do.
Table of contents
- Should You Call After an Interview?
- How to Make the Call & What to Say
- Sample Scripts
Should You Call After an Interview?
It is always a good idea to follow up after an interview. It reaffirms your interest in the position and opens the lines of communication with the key decision-makers.
Should you call after an interview, though?
Hiring managers and interviewers, in general, prefer to receive follow-up emails. It’s a more efficient method of communication that also shows your appreciation for their time. After your interview, send a quick thank you email to leave a good impression.
Having said that, calling can be a good move in certain situations. In general, one to two weeks after an interview is the best time to call. Emails are excellent for expressing gratitude for the opportunity immediately following the interview. However, phone calls can be useful.
You may believe that phone calls are intrusive or out of date. These are your thoughts, not necessarily those of the person you are following up with. For many people, phone calls are a quick and easy way to communicate.
A follow-up call after an interview is most effective when you’ve given the hiring manager enough time to make a decision. You don’t want to call too frequently or too soon.
One of the best ways to determine WHEN you should follow up is to ask the question during the interview:
“When is the best time for me to follow up? And would you prefer email or a phone call?”
Follow instructions and wait the stated amount of time. Once the deadline has come and gone, you can reach out.
If you didn’t ask the question during the interview, a week later is usually a good time to follow up and inquire about the position and hiring process. Hiring managers occasionally encounter issues that cause the process to stall. Because they don’t always contact applicants, a quick follow-up call can shed light on why you haven’t heard back since the interview.
While emails are typically the preferred method of communication, phone calls are an excellent way to reach out if you believe the interview went well but have yet to receive word on a decision. It is also appropriate if you have received other job offers and are weighing your options.
How to Make the Call & What to Say
Waiting to hear back after a successful interview can be nerve-racking! To make matters worse, it can take a long time to hear back about a job.
Following up with a phone call after the interview can help to calm your nerves and even increase your chances of getting a job offer. They will, however, only benefit you if you use this call strategically.
Here are some best practices for making sure your follow-up call has an impact.
- Practice the Conversation
It’s natural to be apprehensive about making a follow-up call after an interview. The interview itself is difficult enough. Reaching out to inquire about the results can make anyone nervous.
Assuming you’ve decided to call after the interview, spend some time practicing what you’ll say. You want to project confidence. Stumbling over your words and enduring long awkward silences will have the opposite effect you desire.
Consider writing a brief script for the phone call. It doesn’t have to be a complete word-for-word script that you recite verbatim, but having the most important parts of the conversation in front of you is beneficial.
Have all the basic elements memorized! That includes position title, names of the people you’re talking to, and anything else you want to ask or mention. It’s also a good idea to have your resume before you just in case they have follow-up questions.
Make a list of any questions or comments you want to make. A list of topics to cover can help you stay on track and avoid forgetting important questions or points to make.
Once you’ve completed your script, practice the follow-up call several times! There’s no shame in calling a friend and asking for their opinion. Before dialing the contact’s phone number, roleplay for a few minutes and become acquainted with the conversation.
- Introduce Yourself
Remember that the person you’re calling has most likely met many people during the interview process. They could have met another 100 people in the last week! Don’t assume they’ll recognize your voice or caller ID.
When following up after an interview, begin by introducing yourself and explaining why you’re calling. Mention your full name and when and for what position you interviewed. Hopefully, those minor details will jog their memory and help them associate your voice with a face.
Speak confidently and enthusiastically. While they can’t see you over the phone, try smiling while you speak to sound more upbeat!
- Be Professional
This may seem obvious, but you’d be surprised how easy it is to overlook basic professional etiquette when speaking on the phone. Professionalism is required. Because the hiring managers haven’t made a decision yet, there’s still time to impress them.
Consider this call a continuation of your interview. Maintain a professional demeanor while remaining upbeat and friendly. It’s always a good idea to practice your communication skills and exude a positive attitude.
People enjoy being around people who are easy to get along with and bring a smile to their faces. A follow-up call after the interview is an excellent opportunity to impress and demonstrate your professionalism.
Avoid using slang and keep things formal.
- Let Them Know You Enjoyed the Interview
Remember to mention how much you enjoyed the interview. Use this conversation to express your enthusiasm for the opportunity. Even if you’ve already expressed gratitude in a follow-up email, mentioning how much you enjoyed the meeting can make a big difference.
Hiring a new employee is a difficult process for everyone involved. Hiring managers must meet with a large number of applicants and frequently deliver bad news. Demonstrate empathy for their stress and additional workload during the hiring process. During your follow-up call, expressing that you understand their situation can make decision-makers feel good about you and your candidacy.
If you want to stick out in their minds, bring up something you discussed during the interview. That could be a parallel you shared or something positive in your resume you spoke about during your meeting. Whatever the case may be, bringing that shared experience up shows many things.
It shows that you’re genuine and truly cares about getting this job. Both of those details can improve your chances of getting a job offer.
- Ask for an Update
One of the most important reasons to call after an interview is to inquire about the status of the hiring decision (assuming enough time has gone by). So don’t forget to mention it!
Of course, you don’t want to come across as pushy or impatient. Making critical hiring decisions takes time. While the general timeline is one to two weeks, some companies may take longer. That’s just the way the job market works!
Don’t be afraid to ask when you can expect to hear back during this follow-up call. That’s a simple way to inquire about the process without appearing irritated or attempting to rush the hiring manager.
Limit this to a single question. Don’t call for a quote every day.
- Don’t Be Afraid to Leave a Voicemail Message
Finally, if no one answers, don’t be afraid to leave a voicemail. Don’t worry, hiring managers are extremely busy people. A missed phone call does not imply that they are ignoring you.
Instead of repeatedly calling back, simply leave a voicemail. You can cover all of your bases in a single message.
This is where having a script for your follow-up call can help! Introduce yourself, thank them for the opportunity, and leave a phone number where they can reach you if necessary.
Voicemails have the same impact as a full-fledged conversation. Just keep it short and keep that friendly, professional tone. Keep your message brief and to the point.
Remember that you are most likely not the only one attempting to contact the hiring manager. Other applicants may be doing the same thing as you.
Avoid repeat calls and multiple messages.
Sample Scripts
When making a follow-up call after an interview, it is important to plan ahead of time. Make a brief script and bullet points for the topics you want to cover.
These calls are generally straightforward, but they can be formed in a variety of ways.
In this first example, we’ll provide a basic script that you can leave as a voicemail message. It also serves as an opener if you can contact someone.
The follow-up call script below is to the point and covers all your bases.
| “Good day, Sarah Smith.” [YOUR NAME] here. We met on Monday, April 11th, when I interviewed for the position of social media manager at [COMPANY]. I wanted to thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to meet with me. I appreciated our conversation and admire your vision for the company’s social media campaigns. I’m very excited to be a part of it. I’m reaching out to inquire about when you plan to contact candidates about the next stage of the hiring process. Please contact me as soon as possible. I’m happy to answer any further questions you may have. On weekdays, I’m available before 5:00 p.m. I can be reached at (555) 555-5555. Thank you again, and I hope to hear back from you soon.”
|
This script is concise and to the point. You immediately introduce yourself, remind the interviewer of your identity, express gratitude, and inquire about the status update. That’s all there is to it.
Here’s another good sample script that will help you when calling after an interview.
| “Good day, Bob Johnson.” This is [YOUR NAME] calling to follow up on my interview for the project manager position at [COMPANY] on April 11th. I appreciated the chance to talk with you about your company’s plans. It only served to pique my interest in this position. I appreciate your time and interest in learning more about your hiring process. You can reach me at (555)555-555 before 5:00 p.m. every day. I eagerly await your response. Have a wonderful rest of your day!” |
Once again, this script for a follow-up call after an interview is straightforward. It’s short and effective as a voicemail message.
Conclusion
As you can see, follow-up calls after an interview doesn’t have to be scary. As long as you’ve allowed for an appropriate amount of time to pass after the interview, it can be a great way to get an update on the process.
