It’s rare to get a call immediately after your thank-you email requesting that you begin work

right away. So how do you get to that call?

Interview follow up that resonates can get you the rest of the way there, but it requires a bit of
emotional intelligence. Knowing whom to contact is key. Generally, after an in-person
interview, it’s wise to thank anyone who interviewed you and focus your more in-depth
follow up on the hiring manager. But the follow up that draws one hiring manager in could
distance another. Your goal should be pleasant persistence, or steadily demonstrating your
interest without annoying the hiring manager.

To help you consistently resonate in your follow up, consider some of the
following best practices:

Ask about following up in your interview.

The best time to determine how and when a hiring manager would like you to follow up is in
your interview. Ask two questions: 1) What are the next steps?, and 2) How should I follow
up? Once you have this key information, you can ensure that your outreach suits individual
hiring managers’ needs, preferences, and schedules.

Follow up regularly.

Stay in touch weekly or biweekly until a decision has been made. Be careful not to reach out
just to reach out; always have something to offer. For example, you could thank the hiring
manager for advice, congratulate them on a professional achievement, or include an article or
anecdote about something you discussed in your interview. Keep in mind that if you reach
out too frequently, hiring managers may perceive you as annoying or desperate. The goal is
to keep in touch with hiring managers while they are in the process of making a decision. If
you reach out a few times and do not receive a response, you might want to directly ask if
you should stop following up. 

Remain personable and polite.

While it may be frustrating if a hiring process is slow or doesn’t end with a job offer, always
present your best self to the hiring manager. This means being not only polite but also
personable; the more pleasant you are, the more likely you are to land an opportunity.

Keep pursuing other opportunities.

While an interview marks huge progress in your job search, it isn’t the end of your search.
Don’t stop looking for other opportunities until you receive a written offer that excites you.
Making progress on a diverse set of opportunities will help you avoid overinvesting in just
one.

Ultimately, keep in mind that balancing pleasantness and persistence is the key to your next
opportunity. If in doubt, err on the side of pleasant, not persistent. You should always be
trying to grow your network. Even if an opportunity doesn’t work out, you’re gaining
connections that can potentially help you later on.