In-House Counsel

Mastering The Art Of The Follow-Up In Your Job Search

The thank-you email following the interview is a best practice that has often sealed the deal.

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In last week’s column, I emphasized the importance of sending a cover letter when applying to a new role. This week, I want to dive into strategies regarding the follow-up process of the job search — specifically what to do after applying for a role and then after attending an interview.

With the digital age job search in play, the follow-up process is even more important today than it was a decade ago. If you’re applying online to an advertised position, the response rate is dramatically lower (averaging about a 4% to 8% chance of landing an interview). The key to “upping” your chances is to follow-up after you apply to the position in order to get noticed. The reason for this is that it may take weeks for your resume to land on the seat of the hiring partner or executive team member. In fact, it may never hit their desk if the HR manager or other talent acquisition gatekeeper rejects your application first. The follow-up process is key because you’re now putting your “application” right in front of a live person at the company.

Here’s an example of how I recommend handling the follow-up process.

Let’s say you’re interested in working in-house for Starbucks (FYI: I selected Starbucks because it’s a well-known brand). You apply to an advertised position there as a corporate counsel. You hit send on the application. Rather than waiting to hear back, I recommend following-up via LinkedIn with a message expressing your interest to the key person in the legal department. As soon as your message hits their inbox, they will venture over to your profile where they will scan your experience, learn your career story (provided you have completed the about/summary portion of your LinkedIn profile, which is a must), and get a flavor for who you are and what you bring to the table.

When it comes to selecting the person for the follow-up message, I typically advise to follow up with someone who is in the decision-making or hiring seat; however, you may wish to first do a search on LinkedIn in the search bar for “counsel” at Starbucks, and then look to see if you’re connected to anyone in the legal department by way of first- or second-degree connections. If you know someone who is already in-house there, I recommend reaching out, stating your deep interest in the role, and asking if there is someone that you should follow up with directly in the department. I would also consider paring down the list of in-house counsel in the legal department and seeing who you may have a connection to — such as a college or law school alumni, or even a prior legal connection to (same prior company or law firm, for example).

Once you have decided on a person to message, be sure to personalize the note to the connection — it’s fine to have a “master” outreach template; however, make sure you read the person’s profile closely before reaching out and make appropriate personalization adjustments. Remember, networking for the opportunity is key. You should ask for an informational meeting to discuss the position and restate your deep interest in the role. Even if it’s a quick 15-minute chat, it’s the chance to leave an impression on a head decision-maker or a person who is connected to the decision-maker and can fast-track your resume to their desk.

Another key follow-up process I advocate for is sending a thank-you note following the interview within 24 hours (typically, I aim for 12 hours). If you can, jot down some notes as soon as you end the interview since it’s fresh in your mind and provides help when crafting the thank-you note. The note should reaffirm your interest in the position, it should list three things you confidently bring to the table in the role, and it should thank the interviewer for the time spent with you.  If an additional person is brought into the interview session, you can also send a quick e-note thanking that person directly for the time spent with you. If you attend a panel interview (multiple interviewers at once), you can elect to send a joint thank-you email if you do not have everyone’s separate email address, but I would recommend taking the time to send a separate thank-you e-mail and mention something specific to that particular interviewer’s insights during the interview.

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I can tell you from my experiences as both an interviewer and interviewee, the thank-you email following the interview is a best practice that has often sealed the deal. In essence, you’re showing respect for the interviewer’s time, exhibiting appreciation for their interest in you as well as your talents, and you’re reaffirming interest in the firm or company as a whole as well as in addition to the position. When in doubt, send a thank-you letter after an interview.

Have a question about the follow-up process in your job search strategy? Send me a message on LinkedIn or via Instagram. I’ll be sure to answer it. Don’t forget to read my past article about important tips to better optimize your LinkedIn profile.

Wendi Weiner is an attorney, career expert, and founder of The Writing Guru, an award-winning executive resume writing services company. Wendi creates powerful career and personal brands for attorneys, executives, and C-suite/Board leaders for their job search and digital footprint. She also writes for major publications about alternative careers for lawyers, personal branding, LinkedIn storytelling, career strategy, and the job search process. You can reach her by email at wendi@writingguru.net, connect with her on LinkedIn, and follow her on Twitter @thewritingguru.  

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