Communicating with Recruiters; 5 strategies for Post Interview Follow-Up That'll get You Noticed

Happy Saturday morning and welcome to week 5.

As a reminder, if you’ve found this newsletter helpful please share it with your friends and colleagues who would benefit. I'd also love to hear from you - reply to this email and tell me where you are in your career search and what questions you have.

This week is all about communication, specifically with recruiters. Now I know we talked about communicating with recruiters, but today is all about follow-up. This is arguably the most challenging part of the interviewing process. You’ve had the screen interview, it went well, and now you need to think about the next steps.

But what’re the next steps? And how can you communicate and prepare in such a way that the recruiter and hiring teams will notice you, in a good way?

Before I dive into some helpful strategies, I want to make something very clear: Though these strategies are helpful, not much can substitute the importance of ensuring your skills and experiences match (as much as possible) the role as well as having a strong referral and “insider” who could share more about the culture and processes. An insider can also be an advocate for you to leaders, recruiting staff, and hiring teams. But enough about that, let’s talk about strategy.

Here’s what you should do:

1. Ask About Next Steps and Timeline: A great recruiter will at the very least give you a perspective of what to expect in the application process. If they don't give you that information, make sure you ask during the interview. But don’t worry if you forget to ask, it’s a nice addition to the next step :)

2. Send a Thank-You Email or Note: A quick thank-you note or email is an awesome way to show your appreciation for the recruiter's time and interest in your candidacy. In your message, express your gratitude for the opportunity to interview and reiterate your interest in the position. Make sure you reiterate how you’ll be able to bring value to the role.

3. Follow Up Quickly: If the recruiter mentioned a timeline for the next steps, make sure to follow up. Seriously, don’t miss it. If you haven't heard back after a week or two, send a brief email inquiring about the status of your application.

4. Share any other information/documents the Recruiter might need: If there's anything you forgot to mention during the interview, or if you want to provide additional information to support your candidacy, send a follow-up email to the recruiter. This can help you stand out from other candidates and demonstrate your enthusiasm for the role.

5. Be Patient: Seriously, this is so important. Recruiters are often busy, and it may take time for them to respond to your messages. Don't follow up too frequently or come across as impatient. Instead, be patient and respectful, and trust that the recruiter will get back to you when they know something.

Just remember, this process can be challenging and it’s understandable to feel frustrated by it. Hang in there, stay focused, and most importantly, never give up.

You got this.

Until next week,

Mark