Sample Interview Follow-up Letter, 2023 Edition, PDF download (2024)

To send, or not to send? To not send a follow-up letter is actually an opportunity missed. True, a letter (doesn’t matter how great) will not win you a job contract. But it can help you to get a job, or at least it can open you some doors that lead to other working opportunities in the company, opportunities you may take in the future. In this article we will have a look at a sample letter, explaining things that you should include on your letter, and why you should include them. Let’s start!

Qualify yourself on the first lines

On the first lines of your letter, you should mention exactly the place, the time, the position and the person who led an interview with you (the only exception is when you have an email contact on the person who interviewed you, and when you send the letter less than twelve hours after the interview).

Some recruiters interview more than fifty applicants each week, for different positions and jobs. It would be a fallacy to believe that they remember the details of the interview with you, or with any other applicant. You have to remind them what happened, when the two of you met, and what job you applied for.

Try to make a final push

The letter is your opportunity to give them, once more, a good reason why to hire you. For example, you can say that you felt well in the company, that you are as motivated as ever after the interview with them. Or you can simply repeat your strengths and characteristics that make from you a great candidate for the job.

Small details can often make a big difference, especially when the interviews were close, and they are not sure whether they’d choose you, or candidate B, or candidate C, for the job. In my experience this happens quite often, especially if we talk about interviews for managerial or customer service positions. The follow-up letter is your chance to make a final push towards a new job contract.

Be genuine and try to stand out

Avoid general formulations in your letter. Mention real and authentic reasons why you are a good match for the job, and why they should give you a chance to prove your abilities.

Employers are fed up with general formulations that appear on every follow-up letter they receive. Say things in your own way. Try to stand out with your letter. Try to be different…

Honest compliment can only help

Everyone loves when people compliment them for their work. We desire for recognition, and we feel good when we eventually get it. Try to compliment your interviewers in the letter, for something they did well, for their interviewing skills, for anything. For example:

Thank you for your professional approach in the interview.
From all interviews I went to during the last three weeks, the one with you was the one conducted in the most professional manner.

Do not forget to ask about the final decision

You have probably heard about the call to action theory. According to the theory, you should ask your customers to do something, and unless you ask them to do it, they will do something else (they will leave your website, they will forget, or they will simply do nothing, not knowing what to do).

The same principle applies to the interviews, and to the follow up letter. Ask the employer to tell you their decision, and instruct them on how they should do it. You can even give them a deadline (a generous one, of course :))

Ending an email with a “looking forward to your quick response” is also a call to action statement. Quick is quick and response is response…. No way they won’t understand the action you ask them to do.

Sample follow up email (letter) after the interview

Dear Mr. Jenkins, (Always include the name of the person, you should know their name after the interview. Formulations like “Dear HR Manager” are acceptable only if you are sending the follow-up letter to another person from the company.)

I want to thank you for a chance to interview for sales manager position in your company, and for your professional approach in an interview. (Small honest compliment is never bad, use another formulation if you want.)

After the interview with you, I am really motivated to work for your company. I like the vision, the goals and ideas, as well as the working environment in your place. I also believe that I fit well into the team of people who work in your sales department right now. (Show motivation, point out specific things so your words sound authentic.)

Please, let me know your decision as soon as possible. I am open to any options of co-operation with your company, now, or anytime in the future. (Keep the doors open, just for a case they’d choose someone else for this particular job; maybe they will offer you another one.)

Best Regards
Jenni Retkinson
0002398348388434
[emailprotected] (include both phone number and email, make it easy for them to contact you)

Special Tip: Download the sample in a one-page long .PDF, and use it as your reference anytime you need to write a good follow-up letter or email:

Follow up call

Are you courageous? Why not trying a follow-up call to find out their decision straight away?A phone call offers much more flexibility than an email. Even if their answer is negative, you can ask them for some feedback, which can help you to prepare better for your next job interview. Read our article to learn how to make the call in a best possible way.

May also interest you:

• Salary counter offer – We live in a world of demand and supply. If they really want to hire you, you can convince them that your price is higher than what they initially thought it was. It is a matter of a good counter offer. Learn how to make one.
• How to ace an interview – An article describing a simple guide on how to ace your interview (guest post).
• Fifteen most common interview questions – Test the waters, learn what matters for the interviewers and how to answer the most common questions. The most popular article on our website.