Write an article based on this "Send a thank you note within 24 hours. Restate your qualifications. Close the email with a formal sign-off. Follow up once if a reply takes longer than expected."
If you're lucky enough to have scored an interview, be sure to follow up the same day or early the next morning. Send an email within 24 hours of your interview to each person with whom you met that day. Send a thank you note to everyone who interviewed you. If you were interviewed by a committee, this means that each person should receive an individual thank you. Don't just copy and paste the body of your email. Send a thank you for each round of interviews. If you do a second interview, send a second thank you. The body of your email should be brief. Thank the hiring manager for taking the time to meet with you. Then, use a sentence or two to express your interest and show how your skills qualify you for the job. You could say something like, "After meeting with you, I am especially excited for this position, and I believe my seven years of volunteer management experience would allow me to set up a new and exciting volunteer program for this company." Just like with an application inquiry, your interview follow-up should end with a formal closing. Sign off with something like "Sincerely," "Thank you," or "Best regards," before closing your email with your first and last name. If the hiring manager tells you that you'll hear from them in a week and it's been ten days, that deserves a follow-up. Send a quick email reaffirming your interest in the position and asking where they are in the hiring process. Try not to follow up more than once. This can come across as eager or desperate. Do not follow up the day they said there would be a decision. Delays are inevitable, and you don't want to seem like you're rushing the process. Allow two or three days past the original deadline before you send your note.