Making it easier: finding a good subject line for a follow-up email, after a job interview.
What’s the one thing you want, most of all, after a job interview? A job, right? But first things first - before you get the job offer, you’ve got to have a little more dialogue - even if you crushed the interview and you are an ideal candidate. After you’ve met with your prospective employer, either in person or via video call, there’s one thing that every candidate desires. Of course, the easy answer is “a job offer”. But the job search process is a process. And in that process, the one thing you want after a job interview is simple. Every candidate wants and needs another point of connection. Another conversation. A conversation is what leads to a job offer! To be sure, that conversation begins when you send your follow-up email, after the interview. Here’s how to rely on your own resourcefulness and craft an email message that can get you the dialogue you need.
The suggestions below are offered as tools, not rules, for your email message. Consider that the intention is to choose the words that will help you most - and of course, those words will always come from inside of you. Even if you turn to a chatbot for solutions, you still have to craft the right prompts. Consider also that a follow-up email should be no more than 250 words, as a rule of thumb, with no attachments. These prompts and suggestions below will give guidance for your email, after a job interview - feel free to modify and personalize as you see fit.
What’s A Good Subject Line?
After a job interview, the best email subject is the one that clearly represents what it is that you want. And what you want in a follow-up email after a job interview is (always) another conversation. So, the subject line should reflect that intention. While there’s no exact recipe for an email - because what works for you needs to come from you - here’s a possible subject line that might be useful: “Time to Talk?” Before you hate on that line, remember: it’s a tool, not a rule, to point you in the direction of a follow-up email subject that gets you closer to your next gig. When you look at the subject of “Time to Talk?” it’s a bit provocative. Does it mean, “do you have time to talk?”, or “I need a time to talk!”, or ...well, what exactly? Didn’t you just talk to the hiring manager, the person in HR, the folks at the company? Yes, of course. But the funny thing about conversation is that it can always continue - especially for the candidate that deserves the job. The communication principle here is: the subject must reflect what you need, and what can be of service to your potential employer. A time to talk - to continue the conversation from the job interview - is the next logical step. Would you like a time to talk? If so, it might be a good start in the subject line. You can also send a follow-up email after a job interview that has a more boring subject line, such as “Thanks for Your Time”, if you want to be basic. Why not write, “I’m Not Creative” or “Busy Joining the Herd” or “Don’t Read this One” instead? (that last sentence was written in sarcastic font). Look, if you’re reading this post, you want to stand out from other candidates when you send an email after your job interview. Come straight at the thing that you want, and offer the thing that will help your next employer most. That’s a conversation! So, some other possibilities that can elevate your game include “Positive Reflections on Our Conversation, from [Your Name]
”, “Our Next Conversation”, “Looking Forward to Our Next Conversation”. Your subject needs to be clear on the conversation you want - and point towards your next one!Show an Attitude of Gratitude
Appreciation is where the conversation begins. Remember, general statements get general responses. Of course you appreciate the opportunity to share your skills and abilities, but what specifically stood out for you, and sparked your appreciation? What did you see, observe or learn in the interview that you really appreciated? Was there anything that stood out - something that you might call extraordinary, special or compelling about the company? If those words feel too grand or too fancy or too whatever, adjust accordingly - but be specific and remind yourself and your potential employer of the alignment you felt towards the organization. If you can’t be specific about what you liked - in one sentence - then you won’t stand out from the other candidates.
Remind and Reinforce
A follow-up email, after a job interview, is a reminder. A reminder to the hiring manager of your point(s) of connection. A reminder of the service you can provide. A reminder of why you are a beautiful and compelling fit for the role. It’s not necessary to rehash your resumé or recreate the entire conversation - but hitting the highlights can be really useful. Words and phrases - followed with simple, specific reminders - can be wise reminders for the hiring manager. Which of these words and phrases would help you most, when writing an email after your job interview? “alignment with your organization”, “my values”, “my contribution”, “connection to your team”, “your insights into ______”, “my previous X years experience as a _____”. And don’t forget phrases like “an ideal fit”, “a deep understanding of _____” and “commitment”, “dedication” and “sincere interest”. Write about your values. Write about what matters most to you, and how you can help solve problems for the organization. It might seem really simple, but it can be very useful to let the employer know that you are very interested in coming on board - and that’s why you are seeking a time to talk!
Solutions and Service - How to Close Your Email Message After a Job Interview
After sharing some reminders of your qualifications and your interest, is there something you’d like to know more about? Steer clear of specifics around compensation, or start date, as these issues might be a bridge too far. Like asking someone to marry you on your first date, the intention might be OK but the execution is suspicious. The secret of success is all in the timing, so consider topics that could get you another time to talk. Don’t be presumptuous. Be curious. What would you like to know more about? What is it that you’d like to explore further in a conversation? Perhaps that conversation would allow you to put together a plan for the first 100 days in the role. Or a strategy for helping the team in some way. Whatever the case may be, and you will have to evaluate your own case, consider how curiosity drives conversation. That curiosity always looks in the direction of the service (and solutions) that you can provide. Because every employer, from the machine shop to Meta, hires one thing and one thing only: solutions providers. There’s more to explore, regarding the solution you can provide. So explore ways to find a time to talk, and discover ways to be of service - because that’s the solution you want, after your job interview.
Every person has their own style, and however you choose to express yourself in an email, remember: the worst thing you could do would be nothing. The candidate who doesn’t send an email is actually sending a crystal-clear message: namely, that you don’t want the job. Every conversation is a point of connection, and after a job interview it’s best to always send an email message. Be grateful, be specific, be curious, and be clear. Consider how you can set up the conversation that leads to the offer you want. Maybe all you need for your next gig - or your next email, after your job interview - is really simple. Maybe you just need a time to talk.
