What to Say When You Call to Say Thank You for an Interview

[Reyed Mia (Apprentice, DIU)]

What to Say When You Call to Say Thank You for an Interview

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.

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.

Why a Follow-Up Phone Calls Work
A phone call is a quick and easy way to follow up. In addition, it's more personal than a thank you email message or a thank you note. Even though those work well, too. You're connecting personally with the person who may be  making the decision to hire you or who will, at least, have some influence on that decision.

What to Say When You Call
Call your interviewer directly, ideally within 24 hours of your interview. If you get voicemail the first time you try, you don't need to leave a message. Try again and see if you can catch your contact in an available moment by the phone. Early or late in the day works best because people are less likely to be in meetings or interviews then.

However, don't call too many times without leaving a message. (Many offices have some form of caller ID and people will see a record of missed calls.) If you don't reach your interviewer on the second try, leave a message with the following information:

Your name
The job title you interviewed for
When you interviewed
A thank you
Request for the person to call you back if you can provide additional information
Your phone number

Here's an example message: Hi Mr. Jones! This is Mary Burns calling. I interviewed yesterday for the Associate Marketing Coordinator position, and wanted to thank you for taking the time to meet with me. I so enjoyed our conversation — please don't hesitate to get in touch if there's any additional information I can provide. You can reach me at 555-555-5555. Thanks again, and hope to hear from you soon.

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.

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.

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.

Other Options for Saying Thank You for an Interview
Not comfortable making a phone call? Or, does calling simply not feel like the best option to follow up with the hiring manager? Other options work just as well, and, in some cases, may even be a better option. Here's how to follow up via email and in writing, including advice on what to include in your message, subject lines, and signatures, who to write to, and when to follow-up.

Source: https://goo.gl/KxbNPw