Good job on a successful job interview! It’s finally over—you can now breathe a sigh of relief after what felt like years of preparing for it. But what happens next? It’s been over a week and you haven’t heard from the company, even after sending your thank-you letter and first follow-up email. Should you just keep waiting for the company’s phone call? Generally, what you do after the interview is as important as what you do during it. You might either earn or lose the job offer. In this case, you should send a second follow-up email.

When Should You Send a Second Follow-Up Email after an Interview?

You can send your first follow-up email after five business days from the date you were interviewed. However, if they gave you an expected date for feedback yet you haven’t received any, you could follow up after one business day from the expected date. This is to give them ample time to go with their hiring process and for you to avoid sounding frantic. Remember, you’re sending a follow-up email to hear an update and not to pressure them to hire you.

However, if you still haven’t received a response after a week from the date you sent your first email, you can proceed with sending your second follow-up email. Still, make sure not to sound pushy. Employers are after passionate and committed applicants, not desperate ones. So sending it too early is most likely a bad idea. Instead of writing a follow-up email right after the interview, it’s better to send a thank-you email.

Tips in Writing an Effective Second Follow-Up Email

When you compose an email, you need to include parts of a formal email however short and direct, and use the follow-up email format. Plus, make sure that your subject line is striking enough to interest recruiters. Another thing—don’t forget to write the job title you’re applying for and the date you were interviewed to avoid confusion.

Aside from that, here are some more tips on how to write a follow-up email that is guaranteed a response.

Reiterate your interest for the job. After patiently waiting for more than a week, be sure to tell them that you’ve been thinking about the position. Let them know that you’re still excited and enthusiastic about getting the job. However, make sure that you don’t sound arrogant. Write your follow-up in a very polite manner.

Tell them why you’re a good fit for the post. In your second follow-up email, it’s a given that you explain why you would be an asset to the company and a perfect fit for the job. After all, there’s no harm in reminding your interviewer the types of skills you can bring to the table and how you can bring a positive impact. It won’t be a new information, but it’s worth emphasizing.

Show off an accomplishment (if applicable) This isn’t always possible, but in certain situations such as when you forgot to mention qualifications related to the job during the interview or you may have a recent accomplishment happened in between the interview and the waiting period. For example, if you’ve worked in PR and made significant impact to your company’s success, you can tell the story behind it and how you did it. Similarly, you can mention a time such as when you organized an event that went off without a hitch. These stories will add to your credibility and will increase your chances of getting hired.

Ask about the next steps. The most important part of a second follow-up email is to find out the next thing you should do. While reaching out, you cannot speed up the process. The goal is to get information so you are in the loop. Great recruiters will be transparent with you about the process and timeline. They will also let you know if they need additional information from you.

Know when it’s time to quit and not “stalk.” Things get busy and this doesn’t always happen. But if you’ve made follow-ups a few times over the course of a month or two and have since heard nothing, it’s time to back off. Try not to get disheartened–it is part of the reality with job searches. Take your energy and experience and bring them to the next company you’re excited about. Don’t let it stop your job search. #wordsofadvice #application #followup #tips