Following up is an important part of communication, whether you’re connecting with a potential employer, checking in with a coworker, or trying to grow your network. However, it can be tricky to get right.
Many fear being too pushy, or annoying, which leads them to not following up at all. But according to career expert Eliana Goldstein, this hesitation can cause you to miss opportunities.
In fact, not following up is often a bigger mistake than following up too soon. Goldstein emphasizes the importance of staying proactive while ensuring your message is thoughtful and respectful, no matter who you’re reaching out to.
Here is how to do it the right way no matter the scenario:
Following up after a job interview
After a job interview, many candidates wonder whether they should follow up—and if so, how. They often fear being too pushy or eager, while also not wanting the interviewer to forget about their conversation.
However, according to Goldstein, forgetting to follow up is a significant mistake, as is assuming recruiters don’t want to hear from you.
“I would say the biggest mistake after a job interview is not following up,” Goldstein says. “A lot of people either forget to send a thank-you note, or they’ve heard that some recruiters don’t read thank-you notes, so they decide not to send one.”
Recruiters do pay attention to these details, and following up won’t hurt your chances, she says.
When crafting a thank-you note, it’s crucial to personalize it for each person who interviewed you. Goldstein emphasizes that customization is particularly important when interviewing with multiple people.
There are “a lot of situations where you might interview with multiple people, whether it’s on different days or in a panel interview, and then you just send the same generic email to all of them. People compare and notice those things,” Goldstein says.
Instead, personalize the note by referencing something specific that you discussed with the interviewer. From there, reiterate your interest in the role and highlight your relevant skills.
Following up too soon after an interview
When it comes to following up after a job interview, you can’t really follow up too soon with a thank-you note—well, almost.
According to Goldstein, sending a thank-you note five minutes after you hang up might signal that you didn’t take enough time to reflect on the conversation.
Otherwise, “if you send something six hours later versus 12 hours later, it has no impact on if you’re getting hired.” The key is to make sure you send it—and do so in a timely manner.
This rule, however, mainly applies to thank-you notes. There’s a distinction between sending a thank-you note within a day or so and following up to ask whether a hiring decision has been made.
To navigate this, Goldstein advises asking about next steps at the end of your interview. Ask when you can expect to hear back, then they’ll give you a timeline, she says.
“I usually give it a couple of extra days, but if it’s been a little over a week and you haven’t heard anything, then it’s completely appropriate to follow up,” Goldstein adds.
Following up with coworkers
Outside of job interviews, you might also need to follow up with coworkers from time to time. Whether you’re checking on a deliverable or following up on a task discussed in a meeting, your tone—especially over email—is crucial to consider.
“When it comes to touching base, it’s important to be aware of how pushy and demanding you sound, especially given this is somebody who you work with daily and you don’t want to ruffle any feathers,” Goldstein says.
To avoid frequent follow-ups, it’s helpful to set expectations upfront. At the start of a project or during a meeting, asking questions like, “What is your timeline for completing this?” or “What would be a good time to check in?” can be incredibly useful.
By establishing clear expectations from the beginning, you’ll know the appropriate time to follow up. If you still find yourself having to follow up often, it might be better to switch from email to a phone call, Goldstein suggests.
You might say something like: “‘Hey, you know what? Why don’t we hop back on the phone rather than go back and forth over email?’” she says.
As coworkers, it’s easy to “get caught in a back-and-forth game over email, which is really inefficient,” Goldstein notes. In these situations, scheduling a quick phone call can help you check in and see the progress being made on whatever you need to discuss.
Following up with a network connection
When you’re on LinkedIn or attending a conference and want to add someone to your network, there are a few mistakes to avoid when reaching out and following up. Just like after a job interview, it’s important to send a follow-up message when you don’t hear back.
“It’s a mistake I see all the time,” Goldstein says. “People will reach out to someone they have a light connection with for networking purposes, and when they don’t hear back, they just assume, ‘Oh well, I tried, and they didn’t respond. I guess that’s not a person I can talk to.’”
But, Goldstein explains, it could simply be that the person has a lot going on and forgot. “When you are networking, if you don’t hear back, that doesn’t mean it’s a lost cause and they don’t want to talk to you. It just means you need to follow up and check in.”
Once you have their attention, it’s important to not make the conversation solely about you. It shouldn’t be, “Hey, here’s what you can do to help me.” That’s not very enticing.
Instead, try, “What can I do to help you?” This approach makes the person more likely to respond to your message, Goldstein says.
What to keep in mind
Whether you’re following up on a job interview, with a coworker, or with a budding network connection, it’s important to consider how you’re coming across.
Before reaching out via email or direct message, ask yourself: “Could someone interpret this differently than I intend?” Goldstein advises. If your message might come across as harsh, take a moment to adjust the language and rephrase it.
But the most important thing to do is just send the message. “While you think you’re being annoying, that person may have completely missed your email and will never get back to you,” Goldstein says.
They might even be “thinking to themselves, why isn’t this person reaching out to me?,” not realizing they missed your message. In the end, don’t skip the follow-up, and when you do, make sure it’s personalized.
No comments