What to Say When Calling Back After an Interview
This article has been approved by an Indeed Career Coach
After you've completed a job interview, it is natural to wonder when you'll receive a follow-up call regarding future employment with the company. It's common for several days (or even weeks) to pass without hearing back from the interviewer. At what point do you take the initiative to pick up the phone and inquire about your interview? In this article, you will learn how to best approach a follow-up phone call after you've completed an interview.
When should you call after an interview?
The best practice for calling after an interview is typically between one and two weeks. Unless given specific instruction by the interviewer for when to call back, it's best to wait and give the potential employer at least a week to evaluate the interviews of other job applicants.
How to make a follow-up phone call after an interview
You've decided to call the interviewer to get a better understanding of where the company is in the hiring process. Before you start to dial the interviewer's phone number, you may want to consider these points:
- Know when you should call after an interview
- Prepare for the conversation with a planned script
- If you get a voicemail, leave a message
- Consider emailing instead
- Maintain a professional tone of voice
To ensure a successful follow-up call, it's important to prepare for each step of the post-interview process. The more thought you put into the planning, the better your outcome will be. Employers appreciate courteous and professional communication.
1. Know when you should call after an interview
You may be excited about your new job prospect, but it's important to allow an appropriate amount of time to pass before dialing the interviewer's number. Calling back too soon after an interview could be taken as a sign of impatience. Remember that you are likely one of many who interviewed for the job and that the interviewer still has a job to do outside of hiring new employees.
2. Prepare for the conversation with a planned script
Before calling your interviewer, you'll want to mentally prepare for a positive experience. Rehearsing what you want to say makes it easier to speak naturally during the conversation. You may want to compose a quick checklist as a reference to have in-hand before making the follow-up call. Here is the basic information you will want to give during your call:
- State your full name
- Reference the job you interviewed for
- Mention the day you interviewed
- Offer a thank you
- Invite the person to call you back for further questions
- Leave your phone number
Provide the interviewer with the key information needed to remember you within 10 seconds. Lengthy monologues are likely to discourage the conversation and distract from the focus of the conversation, which is you.
3. If you get a voicemail, leave a message
You may get the hiring manager's voicemail. This is another reason why you'll want to be prepared with a rehearsed or written script, as it keeps your message clear and concise. A friendly message that is short and to the point leaves a good impression and helps remind your interviewer about your previous communication. There is no need to keep calling if you don't hear back after leaving a message. Keep applying for other job opportunities to maintain the momentum of your job search.
Here's an example message you may want to leave: "Hello, Mr. Scott! My name is Wendy Jones and I interviewed last week for the Marketing Manager position. I wanted to thank you for meeting with me and invite you to give me a call if you have any additional questions about my application. You can reach me at 555-555-5555. Thanks again, and I hope to hear from you soon!"
You may also want to mention some of the achievements that you brought up during your meeting with the manager to help the interviewer remember your accomplishments and why you'd be the best person for the job. You are likely one of several applicants, and adding these details will make your interview much more memorable.
4. Consider emailing instead
Did the interviewer hand you a business card following the interview? Many potential employers will include their email address on their card. You may prefer to send an email instead of leaving a voicemail. With written communication, you're likely to get a faster response that you can easily reference in the future. Plus, employers may prefer email over unexpected phone calls because it allows them to respond at their own convenience.
Related: Follow-Up Email Examples for After the Interview
5. Maintain a professional tone of voice
Talking to your potential employer differs from talking to a friend or family member. Be conscious of your overall tone of voice. Ensure that it is friendly, yet professional. Remember that you are calling someone in a business setting who may consider you over another candidate based on your communication skills. Employees who are easy to get along with create a harmonious work environment for all.
Related: 21 Job Interview Tips: How to Make a Great Impression
Why a follow-up phone call works
There are many advantages to calling after an interview, and when you've made the time to prepare for a successful phone call, you're increasing your chances of getting hired. When you take the time to put forth extra effort, planning and rehearsing truly becomes beneficial with the right mindset. For example, here are some reasons why making a phone call works:
- It invites a personal connection.
- It's a quick and easy way to follow up.
- Your initiative may get you the job or a second interview.
Related: How to Succeed at Your Second Job Interview
It invites a personal connection
Speaking one-on-one with your interviewer invites further dialogue and creates another opportunity to connect. Making that follow-up call may be just what the interviewer needs to make the final decision about who to hire. You never know what workload this person may have, and your initiative could help facilitate the hiring process.
It's a quick and easy way to follow up
Assuming that the interviewer picks up the phone when you call, this is the quickest way to follow up after an interview. You can quickly state your reason for the call while inviting the interviewer to revisit your application.
Your initiative may get you the job or a second interview
Taking the initiative to call often assists the interviewer in the hiring process, especially if they are struggling with a decision. Showing that you're still interested in the job when other applicants haven't made contact can instantly make you a more appealing candidate.
What to Say When Calling Back After an Interview
Source: https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/interviewing/calling-after-an-interview