4 tips to respond to an interview request

If you're looking for a job, you know how much work it takes to get an employer's attention, from writing a compelling resume to researching employers and tailoring your cover letter. Your diligence paid off when the employer sent an invitation for an interview. But the job is not yours yet. We don’t want you to make any interview mistakes before you even get a chance to meet them. Here’s how you can respond to interview requests like a pro.

1. Respond immediately

When you receive an interview request, respond by email the same day or the next business day. This means you need to be on top of your email game. Check your email regularly, set push notifications, and make it a habit to check your spam folder. A quick response shows that you are responsive and genuinely interested; reply after a week and you may have missed your chance. Do a bit of research on the company before you respond, so you know to whom to address your email.

2. Follow the right guidelines

You can’t just send an email to an employer and expect them to be impressed. Just like any other professional writing, you have done before, this will require some forethought. Check these rules of thumb to help you understand how to respond to interview requests:

• Be polite – Say “Thank you” to the employer before anything else and express your enthusiasm about the opportunity you received.
• Talk straight to the point - You don't need to mention your qualifications in this email - save it for your interview.
• Be professional - Avoid emoticons, emojis, and text/chat abbreviations. Feeling tempted to use all caps or multiple exclamation points? Ditch that thought.
• Be formal - Use the recruiter’s title and name for the salutation. If you have a close personal relationship with the recruiter, you can use their first name.
• Proofread – Never send any professional email without proofreading. Check all parts of the email to make sure there are no errors.
• Reply to everyone in the thread - Click "Reply All" so you don't exclude anyone from the email thread.

3. Confirm interview logistics

If the employer offers a meeting time that you can agree to, please confirm the date, place, and time in your reply. If you can’t make it on the date they offer, provide a few options, and ask the employer if any of those suit them. For Skype, Zoom, FaceTime, or other video interviews, check details such as who will be on the call and any software or apps you'll need to install before the meeting. This way, you will have a hassle-free interview performance on the big day! Knowing who attends the interview will help you prepare for interview questions better.

4. Include contact information

Don’t make the employer search everywhere for your name and email. The norm is to mention your email below your name at the end of the email. Don’t use your work email to respond to an interview request either. It will give the impression that you are using employer resources for job searching.