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Job seekers are often hesitant to call to follow up after a job interview. It's natural to wonder if you are bugging the interviewer and whether a phone call will help or hinder your chances of getting a second interview or even a job offer. Should you - or shouldn't you - take the time to call after a job interview?
Following up with an email is always an option, of course, but calling may get you directly in touch with the hiring manager.
It shows you've taken a little extra initiative. It will also give you an opportunity to pitch your case for getting hired one more time. Here's information on when and how to follow with a phone call after a job interview.
How to Follow Up After an Interview with a Phone Call
A survey from Accountemps should put your mind at ease since it found that human resources managers list a phone call as one of their preferred means of communications from candidates.
Here's how HR Managers like to be contacted (respondents could select multiple options):
- Email - 87%
- Phone Call - 81%
- Handwritten Note - 38%
- Social media - 27%
- Text message - 10%
The first three options are the best ones - interviewers and human resources managers prefer a handwritten or emailed thank you note or a phone call. Texting obviously doesn't cut it. It's also best to avoid sending messages through social media since HR managers or potential bosses are not Facebook friends.
If you were already communicating through LinkedIn, however, sending a message there is appropriate. Whatever form your follow-up takes, it needs to be as professional as you were during your job interview.
If you reach the interviewer, first of all, good for you — many people screen all their calls these days. Be brief and to the point, thank the hiring manager for their time, recap your qualifications, then ask if there is anything else the interviewer would like to know or if there is any further information on your background or experience you can provide.
If there was anything you wish you had mentioned during the interview, but didn't, take this opportunity to share it with the person who interviewed.
Follow Up Calls Do's and Don'ts
Be prepared. Have a copy of your resume in front of you when you call. That way, you'll be prepared to answer questions if the interviewer has any. This will also help you avoid feeling flustered on the phone call or rambling.
Have a list of references ready in case you are asked for them.
Make a list. Create a short list of what you're going to say, including your key qualifications for the job.
Practice. If you're nervous about calling, and that's entirely understandable, practice. Ask a friend or family member to pretend they are the hiring manager and make a couple of calls. The more you say it, the easier the conversation will be when it's for real.
Call in private. You obviously don't want to call from a cubicle at work, but it's also important not to have a lot of background noise if you call from home or somewhere in public. You need to be able to hear, think, and speak clearly, and a quiet spot to call from will make all the difference in the world.
Smile. If you project confidence when you call, it will get through to the other end of the phone line. Confident and assured candidates have a better chance at getting a job offer than someone who is nervous and hesitant.
Call the decision maker. Be sure to get the interviewer's business card at the end of the interview if you don't already have a phone number. It's important to talk to the person who has hiring authority or can at least recommend you as the top candidate for the job.
Make a match. Mention how you are a perfect fit for the position, highlighting - specifically - why you're a match. Briefly mention the qualifications you have and tie them to what the employer is seeking.
Offer information. Use your follow up call as a way to both thank your interviewer and to ask if you can provide them with any further information to help make a decision.
Take it a step further. If the conversation goes well, you can even ask when you might expect the company to make a decision.
Don't overdo it. Don't call the interviewer multiple times. The employers surveyed by Accountemps definitely didn't want multiple phone calls. This is your one shot at making another good impression, so use it wisely, but don't overuse it
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