7 brilliant tips for writing a Follow-up Email for an internship

A follow-up email for an internship is vital to the internship application process. Internship applicants often need to remember that the work transcends submitting their applications and successfully getting interviewed. For what it’s worth, follow-up emails add extra wheels and speed to your already-rolling internship application and make you very visible to your interviewers. It does not take a lot to craft a brilliant follow-up email with the necessary information included.

So, if you’re looking to land that dream job, you need to know that the smart work continues after having a successful interview until you receive your offer letter. Truth be told, a follow-up email may not get you the job, unfortunately. Yet, we advise you to use all the weapons in your arsenal when hunting for an internship program in a reputable company. Studies have shown that this method has landed users more internships and job offers than those who ignore and wait out the process.

What is a follow-up email?

A follow-up email is an online message you send to the hiring manager after an interview to thank them for their time, repeat your interest in the position, and provide updates or additional materials. This kind of email does not require too many wordings or familiarity, and it would be best to make it readable and professionally short to gain the interviewers’ attention.

Reasons you should send a follow-up email for the internship

The fact that there’s an option of adding more value to yourself to back up what you already did in the interview should be motivation enough to send that email. However, we need to break it down so that it gets clearer.

Firstly, Sending a follow-up email is among the best ways to demonstrate your enthusiasm for the position and your interest in the company. It shows that you are eager and can not wait to join the company and learn more about the role, company, and culture. A follow-up email allows you to clear up any uncertainty or confusion about something during the interview. It is an excellent avenue to clarify any points that need further discussion. To be more intentional about your internship interview, you can take a cue from us and learn how to prepare expertly for your interview.

Furthermore, If you feel you could have done better during the interview, you can use the follow-up email to address any weaknesses and explain why you think you are still well-suited for the internship role. It is also another opportunity to politely and expressively thank the interviewer for taking the time to talk to you. But remember, it’s always a good idea to express your gratitude professionally without throwing unnecessary and inappropriate compliments around.

Another very vital reason you should send that follow-up email is to use that medium to check in with the interviewer and see if they have made any decisions and to inquire about the next steps in the process.

Factors that may affect your follow-up email

Since a follow-up email has the facility to land you that internship or job offer, there are factors that can outrightly limit success. So, while we all agree it is the right move, ensure you do not stamp down your efforts without knowing it.

Your content matters most

Your follow-up email’s content should be tailored to the internship and include any points you missed during the interview. Ensure you only include specific details about how your qualifications make you the best person for the role. More so, let your message have a friendly tone throughout. Avoid using a casual or overly casual tone, as it may appear unprofessional. Overblown niceties and out of proportion chitty chat can spoil your game.

Timing factor

Timing is a crucial factor that will affect your follow-up email. If you wait too long to send an email, the hiring manager may have already filled the position. Also, it is essential to consider the time you send your follow-up email. Depending on the company, it may be best to wait a few days before sending a follow-up email, or it may be better to send a follow-up email the same day. This may come off as dicey, but you have to do your findings.

Typo and error-filled email

A well-meaning message may come off as incoherent and trash if filled with errors. Interviewers or hiring managers are always neck high in emails and often lack the patience to sit and figure out your email intentions. So, never send off that mail without rereading it to yourself loudly. You can use editing apps like Grammarly to proofread your mail. This will show that you are detail-oriented and professional.

Suggested: Sample Email for Internship: 7 Tips for Crafting Perfect Cold Emails

Tips for writing a compelling follow-up email

Since we’ve talked about what a follow-up email is and factors that can affect the goal of your mail. Here are some tips on writing a follow-up email that can drive home the purpose and land you your internship spot.

1. Start with a professional greeting. Address the recipient using their title, such as “Dear Mr./Ms. (last name)”. Then, go on to provide a brief introduction of yourself and why you are writing.
2. Express your gratitude by thanking the hiring manager for reviewing your application and considering you for the internship opportunity.
3. Reiterate your interest by reminding the hiring manager why you are the best intern candidate. Express your enthusiasm for the internship opportunity and why you are interested.
4. If you have any new information or materials to share, include them in the email. This could consist of a recommendation letter from a professor, a link to a recent project you worked on, an updated resume, or a portfolio. Here’s how to list your experience on your resume and submit your updated version.
5. As we mentioned, the hiring manager likely receives many emails daily, so make sure to keep your message brief and on-topic.
6. Set a timeline for a response so that the company will know that you would like to hear back and offer to follow up if you don’t hear back by that date.
7. Sign off professionally by ending your email with a polite sign-off, such as “Sincerely” or “Best regards.”

Conclusion

Finally, landing a great internship program is not a whole ball of activities from the onset. It is fragments of intelligent moves on your part from choosing a company to application to scaling your interview and down to following up with the company—these different activities, when done well, form the whole movement that will make your internship dream come true.