HR question: Importance of the follow-up?

I think the follow-up is important by the applicant because it shows the employer that you are still interested in the applied position. Now, timing is very important so If they tell you that you should hear something in about 2 weeks and you blow up their e mail or phone every day after the 2 weeks that could be a problem. I have learned to wait 1 week after their “approximate date of contact” and follow up at that time.

I always call at least a few days later after the interview to ask if the position is still available and to tell them i am still interested. I also write a thank you email to the interviewer.

I think the follow-up is important. I was a manager many years. When you are interviewing people, they can all run together in your mind afterward. A follow-up thank-you note that reminds the interviewer of the individual and something that was said in the interview can make a difference. It also shows followthrough and thoroughness.

I would not contact the interviewer by telephone though.

I think a thank you note is worth while. It does show you are more interested. And, if you want, you can also add to stuff you said in the interview or address an issue you didn’t address in the interview. This can strengthen your candidacy. But even a simple thank you note shows interest. It won’t move you up the list, though. The only way to move up the list is to add new information that is very relevant and compelling.

A followup shows you are very interested in the job and many people applying for the job and are in a sense interviewing the company and could very well after the interview not had further interest in the job. You presenting a follow up helps the company thin the herd a bit.

Nowadays, you have to send a thank you note (it can be a thank you email) as soon as possible (within 24 or 48 hours if you can).
If the interviewer says you can call them, it´s ok but you have to be really careful to not be pushy—therefore if you´re not sure, avoid calling. Just pretend you were the person hiring and you had a lot of applicants and you had to get a lot of work done, but someone kept calling you. If you wouldn´t like it, chances are the interviewer wouldn´t like it either.