You survived the interview; in fact because of all your preparation and research you actually enjoyed it. You liked the people and really want the job. 
Or, you know that it’s not the right role for you. What now? It’s time to draft your post interview email – ‘Yes Please” or “No Thanks” emails.
Yes Please, Employ Me!
If you want the job, it’s time to draft a follow up email. Keep it short and to the point. Use your interviewer’s first names (make sure they are spelt right) and the appropriate level of formality. No matter how much you love using them, do not use emoticons or exclamation marks in the message. Yes, that’s right!!!!, the creative use of modern punctuation makes you look cheesy.
A three paragraph email format is ideal:
1st Paragraph: Thank them for their time and confirm your interest in the role.
2nd Paragraph: Write about the strengths that you would bring to the role and why you would add value to the organisation. In a perfect world you will write about an upcoming project that you would like to work on.
3rd Paragraph: If the decision date for the process was given, finish with: “Thank you for your consideration and I look forward to talking to you about the outcome of the process on x date“. If no specific date was given try “Thank you for your consideration and I look forward to hearing the outcome of the interviewing process within the next two weeks”.
Save the email in your draft folder for a few hours, then give it a final proof read. Look out for repetition, negativity, grammar and spelling errors. Most importantly, send it that day.
Thanks for your time, it’s not right for me:
If you decide that the role is not right for you, draft a thank you email and send it the next morning. Explain that you appreciate the time they spent with you; however, you thought carefully about the job overnight and you don’t think the role would be the right career choice at this time.
Be careful to keep your reasons for not continuing the process vague and avoid bridge burning statements. I’ve always liked the saying “be careful of the toes you tread on today, because they may be attached to the backside that you need to kiss tomorrow”, and it definitely rings true during an interview process.
Stalker Alert:
No matter how much you want the job, if you call the interviewer any time before the agreed date of confirmation for the next part of the process you will look desperate. After you have sent your follow up email, step away from your inbox and your mobile phone.
If you have any tips to add about post interview emails please send them through to: sarah@employmenow.co.nz.