Candidate Follow-Up Emails — Make It or Break It?

October 20, 2011

Often, after conducting a phone interview with a candidate, I promptly receive a “thank you” email from them as a means to display their interest in the opportunity that was discussed.  Sometimes, after an in-person interview, I’ll even receive a hand-written note (which is completely unnecessary, but appreciated).  But on occasion, I will conduct an interview and will not hear from the candidate afterward at all.

 

A lack of follow-up makes me question how strong the candidate’s interest in the opportunity truly is, but for positions where closing a deal is essential — sales at an expansion stage company, sourcing for a venture capital firm, etc. — it can be a deal breaker.

If a candidate is truly interested in continuing conversations and potentially joining OpenView or one of the portfolio companies we support, why wouldn’t they continue to try to “close the deal” and follow up after an interview? Sales candidates, and candidates in any field for that matter, need to remember their ABCs when interviewing… Always Be Closing.

I have worked with hiring managers who have said to take any candidate out of the interview process who does not follow up with me after an interview, no matter how strong they were in their actual interview. Candidate follow-up is not only good manners, but may be essential to actually landing the job!

Do you consider a candidate’s follow-up, or lack of follow-up, during your interview process?

VP, Human Capital

<strong>Diana Martz</strong> is Vice President, Human Capital at<a href="http://www.ta.com/">TA Associates</a>. She was previously the Director of Talent at OpenView.