"Make a follow up call after an interview"

[changeruset2748]

I have been anxiously (and pointlessly) googling the means and timing of post interview notification and keep coming across advice from job search sites suggesting you should call the business within 2 days of the interview:

"As a guideline, it's best to follow up with an email or phone call within at least two business days of the date the interview took place. Be personal. If there was something that particularly excited you about the company, let them know. This is one more chance to convince them that you're the best person for the job."

I have never heard this and as a hiring manager myself I wouldn't appreciate that call, I'm public sector so a call like this couldn't have any bearing on the interview outcome. Have you come across this? It can't be common place surely, certain sectors??

No, and if I were considering the applicant it would put me off. Interviewees should be told when they'll hear the outcome. And that date should be respected. It's the employer's role to make contact.
If an interviewee rang me to say they had found something exciting I'd think a) they were desperate b) they were lying.

Nooooo no no no. God there is so much bad "be proactive, have chutzpah!" career advice out there.

Follow-up thank you email yes, phone call no.

Hiring manager here too. It would really put me off - I'd imagine they would be a massive pain to work with

"The most common mistake I see people making after the interview is not following up," said Melissa McClung, professional career advisor and owner of LBD Careers. "Following up by email and card or letter is essential."

Zohar Pinhasi, CEO of MonsterCloud, said that an applicant following up after the interview does more than express gratitude – it shows him that they still want the position.

"A post-interview email reassuring me of their interest in the position shows ambition, and also tells me that the candidate enjoyed the interview and is indeed still interested in working for me," he said. "Plus, it's the courteous thing to do."

Found this on one website, so odd, I have never contacted a recruiter after an interview (or been approached as a recruiter), not even to say thank you. Why isn't saying thank you at the end of the interview enough?!

@changeruset2748

"The most common mistake I see people making after the interview is not following up," said Melissa McClung, professional career advisor and owner of LBD Careers. "Following up by email and card or letter is essential."

Zohar Pinhasi, CEO of MonsterCloud, said that an applicant following up after the interview does more than express gratitude – it shows him that they still want the position.

"A post-interview email reassuring me of their interest in the position shows ambition, and also tells me that the candidate enjoyed the interview and is indeed still interested in working for me," he said. "Plus, it's the courteous thing to do."

Are those not US companies?

Not in the UK. Any calls should IMO be before application / interview, to ask Qs about the role/work area and express interest.

@Fullofthejoysofspring yes I suppose so although some UK careers sites are advocating it too.

Sometimes I get the impression certain UK sites just parrot the advice on US sites without really bothering to consider whether it will play the same way here.

I’d never do this, it would feel so desperate and attention-seeking. And I’m sure it would be interpreted as insincere.

I had an interview and the hirer said to me 'you wouldn't believe the amount of people who don't follow up with a phone call!' I had to pretend to be shocked while thinking why on earth would anyone...

I took this on board and rang a couple of days later. It was the most awkward and pointless conversation ever on both ends. And I didn't get the job...

I've got about 50 people to interview over the next few weeks. If they all want to ring me I'll cry! I just don't have time for that after loosing a week to interviewing them!

I'd be too embarrassed to do that, seems like pestering.

I assume these are American sites. It's common there, not in the UK.

No. We score as a panel based on competency based interview questions.

It wouldn't be possible to influence the outcome that way.

@Palavah www.monster.co.uk/career-advice/article/what-should-i-do-after-my-job-interview#:~:text=As%20a%20guideline%2C%20it's%20best,the%20company%2C%20let%20them%20know. it is on some UK sites too although like a PP says they're probably getting it from American sites, I believe Monster is available in both countries, I saw it on Indeed too.

A decent interviewer should tell you a date you'll hear back or if they don't ask for the next steps at interview..

Alot of my interviews leave with the interviewer saying I can contact if I have any further questions that I think of, if not they'll be in touch..

I like to connect on Linkedin 2-3 days following the interview to keep myself fresh in their mind

I actually got a job by following it up approx 2 weeks after the interview. The person I spoke to liked that I'ld followed it up.

The 3 interviewers were still deciding having knocked down the candidates to a handful. I guess it was just good timing tbh. and I was fortuitous in that respect.

@girlonamission to be fair I would follow up after that length of time, if the time they stated an update would be made has lapsed I think a follow up makes sense. This advice is stating you should do it within 2 days.

Maybe a phone call is different than an email.I have just been offered a job and I am almost certain that the follow-up email was an important factor in them deciding to stop looking for other candidates, I’m in Norway. I added some points that I had forgotten to talk about in the interview, that were relevant to convince them that I could do the job, and that I really wanted it.

@barnet I so wish I could do that, I've spent the last 24 hours thinking of all the things I forgot to say, it's torture but I'm civil service and recruitment practices are quite rigid, scoring is done at interview, I'm certain they couldn't and wouldn't factor in anything said after the interview.

I wouldn't appreciate a phone call after an interview unless there was something substantive and urgent they needed to tell or ask me. A 'thank you' email is fine but pretty transparent in that it's trying to make a good impression, I don't believe that they are specifically excited about the job or organisation.

The etiquette may be different in the US but if it's a big field then who wants multiple phone calls all saying the same thing? Plus if you catch the hiring manager at a bad time or come across wrongly then there is a risk you may negatively affect the outcome, say if it was a close run between you and another candidate.

@Strawberrysaxifrage that's the thing isn't, it just isn't very British, the intention is too obvious and as someone else said insincere so I would feel very uncomfortable doing it without specific reason (such as chasing if it's been a while).

Currently having interviews most have said will let you know by a certain date
Although one said within a week and 3 weeks later I still have not heard.
Through an agency and they have not heard either , so this is annoying as the interview went well I thought and its not a no , just silence

@worriedatthemoment that's very frustrating, I'd absolutely send an email politely chasing when they will be making a decision (and just Chuck a "thank you for seeing me" in there!)

If you've got the job they will call you.

If you haven't they might call or they might not.

Following up won't get you the job. That decision will have been made.

Just wait.