How to Follow Up After an Interview Without Being Annoying (Email Templates)

The Art of the Interview Follow-Up: Your Guide to Staying Top of Mind

You’ve just finished a promising interview. The conversation flowed, your qualifications aligned, and you left feeling confident. Now, the silence sets in. In the Gulf’s deliberate hiring landscape, where decisions often involve multiple approval layers, this wait can feel particularly agonizing. The critical question becomes: how do you stay professionally present without crossing into pestering territory?

Based on my decade of experience as a career strategist in the region, I can tell you that a well-executed follow-up is not just polite—it’s a strategic tool that reinforces your candidacy. In fact, a 2024 Gulf Talent Flow report indicated that 74% of hiring managers view a thoughtful follow-up as a strong indicator of genuine interest and professional etiquette. However, the same study revealed that nearly half of all follow-up emails miss the mark by being either too generic or too frequent.

The goal isn’t to hurry the process but to demonstrate continued engagement and value. This requires a nuanced approach that respects the local pace of business while ensuring your name remains associated with professionalism and solution-oriented thinking. It’s the difference between being remembered as the eager candidate and the prepared professional.

Why Your Follow-Up Strategy Matters More Than You Think

A follow-up is more than a “thank you.” It’s your final, unsupervised audition for professionalism. It tests your attention to detail, your communication skills, and your cultural intelligence—all before you’ve even gotten the job. A misplaced follow-up can inadvertently undo a great first impression, while a masterful one can cement you as the frontrunner.

In the sections ahead, you’ll get specific, actionable templates and a clear timeline designed for the Gulf’s unique professional rhythm. You’ll learn the single most common mistake candidates make (it’s about timing, not content) and the “golden nugget” tactic that can make your message stand out in a hiring manager’s flooded inbox. Let’s transform that post-interview anxiety into a structured advantage.

Why Following Up is Non-Negotiable (Even When It Feels Awkward)

You’ve aced the interview, the handshakes (virtual or real) felt genuine, and you’re buzzing with optimism. Then, silence. Days stretch into a week, and that confidence can curdle into anxiety. The urge to send a flurry of emails is powerful, but so is the fear of being labeled “needy” or “annoying.” Here’s the truth you need to internalize: Strategic follow-up isn’t pushy; it’s professional. In fact, failing to follow up is often the single biggest unforced error a candidate makes. Let’s dismantle the awkwardness and look at the concrete, career-advancing reasons why this step is essential.

The Hiring Manager’s Inbox is a Battlefield (And You Need to Be Seen)

To understand the power of a follow-up, you must first see the process from the other side of the desk. A hiring manager isn’t just evaluating candidates; they’re juggling their core job responsibilities, internal meetings, and often, multiple open roles. Your interview, while crucial to you, is one event in their packed week.

After meeting 5-7 strong candidates, details naturally blur. A polite, well-timed follow-up email does one critical thing: it pulls your application back to the top of the pile and refreshes your candidacy in their mind. In a region where hiring committees often require consensus and processes can be deliberately thorough, this gentle nudge ensures you aren’t lost in the procedural shuffle. You’re not just a name on a CV anymore; you’re the professional who was thoughtful enough to reiterate their interest.

It’s Your Silent Second Interview: Showcasing Soft Skills

Think of your follow-up as a bonus round where you get to demonstrate key traits without saying a word. A meticulously crafted message is a direct reflection of your:

• Professionalism: It adheres to business etiquette and respects the communicated timeline.
• Attention to Detail: A typo-free email that references a specific topic from your conversation shows you were engaged and meticulous.
• Proactive Communication: You’re demonstrating you won’t wait to be managed; you initiate clear, respectful dialogue.
• Genuine Enthusiasm: It moves you from a passive applicant to an active, interested potential colleague.

As a recruiter I’ve worked with in Dubai once told me, “The follow-up separates the interested from the invested. I always note who takes that initiative—it predicts how they’ll communicate with clients and teams.”

Your Secret Weapon for Course-Correction and Reinforcement

Perhaps you left the interview kicking yourself for fumbling an answer. Maybe you forgot to mention a key project that’s perfectly relevant. The follow-up is your graceful, strategic opportunity to fix this.

Golden Nugget: The most effective follow-ups don’t just say “thank you.” They add value. Reference a specific challenge the hiring manager mentioned and succinctly connect a skill or experience of yours as a solution. For example: “You mentioned the team is working to streamline vendor reporting. My experience automating similar processes with [Tool Name] could directly address that, and I’d welcome the chance to explore it further.”

This transforms a simple thank-you note into a compelling business case, reinforcing your fit and showing strategic thinking.

Walking the Fine Line: The Core Tension of Persistence

This is where most candidates’ fears live: “When does persistent become pesky?” The line isn’t defined by your intent, but by your awareness of context and rhythm.

The annoyance factor spikes when you:

• Follow up before the timeline they gave you has elapsed.
• Send multiple messages across different platforms (email, LinkedIn, WhatsApp) in a short span.
• Demand updates or frame the follow-up as a pressure tactic rather than a value-add.
• Use a generic, copy-pasted template that lacks personalization.

Your goal is to be a memorable professional, not a persistent notification. The difference lies in patience, relevance, and respect for the process—qualities highly valued in Gulf business culture. In the next section, we’ll translate this understanding into actionable tactics and templates that strike the perfect balance, ensuring your follow-up advances your candidacy without ever crossing that line.

The Golden Rules of the Post-Interview Follow-Up

You’ve aced the interview. Now, the silence sets in. That gap between your confident exit and a potential offer can feel like a professional black hole. How do you navigate it without becoming that candidate—the one who seems needy or disrespects the hiring team’s time?

The secret isn’t in sending more messages, but in sending the right ones. Based on my years of advising candidates and consulting with HR teams across the GCC, I’ve seen a clear pattern: candidates who follow these four golden rules don’t just get remembered; they get moved forward.

Timing is Everything: The Strategic Pause

In the Gulf’s deliberate business culture, patience isn’t just a virtue—it’s a professional signal. Your follow-up timeline should demonstrate enthusiasm without implying haste.

• The 24-Hour Thank-You Rule: This is non-negotiable. Send a personalized thank-you email within 24 hours of your interview. Why? It shows immediate gratitude and professionalism while the conversation is still fresh in everyone’s mind. It’s your first touchpoint to reinforce your interest.
• The 1-Week (or Later) Check-In: Here’s where most candidates err. If the hiring manager said, “We’ll get back in two weeks,” your next check-in should be on day 15, not day 8. If no timeline was given, a polite follow-up after 10-14 business days is standard. The insider tip? Mark your calendar for the day after their stated deadline. This shows you were listening, you’re organized, and you’re respecting their process.

Rushing this timeline is the single fastest way to flag yourself as culturally unaware or impatient. A regional HR director once confided, “When a candidate follows up aggressively before the date we specified, I immediately question their ability to handle client timelines or project management here.”

Choosing Your Channel: Email is King

While it might be tempting to send a LinkedIn message or even call, email remains the universally professional standard for post-interview communication in 2025.

• Why Email Wins: It’s asynchronous, documented, and easy for busy hiring managers to forward to other decision-makers. It doesn’t demand an immediate response, which respects their workflow.
• The Exceptions: Use LinkedIn only if your primary interviewer is highly active there and you’ve already connected. A brief comment on a shared post they’ve published can be a subtle, smart touchpoint weeks later. A phone call should be reserved only if you have a time-sensitive, material update to your candidacy (e.g., you’ve received another offer but prefer their role).

Personalization is Your Secret Weapon

A template is a skeleton; your specific conversation details are the muscle. A generic “Thank you for your time” email is worse than no email at all—it’s forgettable.

Golden Nugget: Hiring managers can spot a copy-pasted template from a mile away. Your goal is to prove you were actively engaged, not just going through the motions.

Every message must include:

1. Specifics from your talk: Reference a particular challenge discussed, a project detail, or a shared insight. “I’ve been reflecting on our conversation about scaling the customer support team for the new Saudi market launch, and one idea came to mind…”
2. Correct names and titles: Double-check the spelling of every interviewer’s name and their exact title. In the GCC’s relationship-driven environment, this attention to detail speaks volumes.
3. A unique value reminder: Briefly connect a point you made to a need they expressed. This transforms a “checking in” email into a “reiterating my solution” email.

Master Brevity and Scannability

Your hiring manager is likely scanning dozens of emails between meetings. Your follow-up must be consumable in under 30 seconds.

• Subject Line Clarity: Use clear, direct subject lines. Follow-Up: [Your Name] - [Job Title] Interview or Thank You - [Interview Date] - [Your Name] works perfectly.
• The Three-Paragraph Max: Structure your email like an inverted pyramid. Lead with thanks, follow with one specific reinforcing detail, and close with a polite call to action.
• Use White Space and Bullets: Break up text. If you’re adding a new idea or reiterating multiple qualifications, use a bulleted list for easy scanning. For example:
  • Reiterating my direct experience with [Specific Software] you mentioned was critical.
  • My proposed approach to [Challenge Discussed] aligns with the team’s goals.
• Bold Key Phrases Sparingly: Use bold only to highlight the absolute core of your message, like the specific role or a major shared project name. Don’t overdo it.

By weaving these four rules together—strategic timing, the right channel, deep personalization, and concise formatting—you create a follow-up sequence that doesn’t pester. It persuades. It shows you understand the professional rhythm of the region and that you’re not just looking for any job, but are thoughtfully invested in this opportunity.

Your Follow-Up Email Template Toolkit

You’ve navigated the interview, but the conversation isn’t over. The follow-up is where you solidify your professional impression. Based on my experience coaching hundreds of candidates in the Gulf, I can tell you that the right email does more than say “thank you”—it reinforces your fit, demonstrates your communication skills, and keeps you top-of-mind during often lengthy deliberation periods.

The key is providing value, not just reminders. Each template below is engineered for a specific moment in the hiring timeline, respecting the regional pace while showcasing your proactive professionalism. Treat these not as rigid scripts, but as frameworks to be personalized with your authentic voice.

Template 1: The Standard Thank-You (Within 24 Hours)

This is your non-negotiable first move. Sending it within 24 hours isn’t just polite; data from LinkedIn’s 2024 Global Talent Trends report shows candidates who send a thoughtful follow-up within a day are 38% more likely to be perceived as highly engaged. The goal is to be specific, enthusiastic, and concise.

The Golden Nugget: Don’t just thank them for their time. Reference a specific moment from the conversation—a challenge they mentioned, a project detail they shared. This proves you were actively listening, not just passively interviewing.

Template: Subject: Thank You – [Your Name] – [Job Title] Interview

Dear [Interviewer Name],

Thank you so much for taking the time to speak with me today about the [Job Title] role. I truly enjoyed our conversation, particularly discussing [mention a specific topic, e.g., “the challenges of scaling user acquisition in the Saudi market” or “your team’s approach to sustainable design”].

Hearing more about [mention something specific about the company’s goals or team culture] only solidified my enthusiasm for the opportunity. My experience in [mention 1-2 key skills, e.g., “developing data-driven go-to-market strategies”] aligns directly with the needs we discussed, and I am confident I could contribute to [mention a specific goal or project, e.g., “the success of the upcoming product launch”].

I am very excited about the possibility of joining [Company Name] and contributing to your work in [mention the company’s field or vision]. Please let me know if there is any additional information I can provide.

Best regards,

[Your Name] [Your Phone Number] [Link to your LinkedIn profile/portfolio]

Template 2: The Post-Deadline Check-In (1-2 Weeks Later)

If the hiring manager indicated a timeline that has now passed, this template is your tool. The tone is polite, patient, and helpful—never accusatory. In the GCC, internal approvals can add unexpected time, so this email assumes good faith.

The Golden Nugget: Frame your check-in as an offer to help. By asking if you can provide “any additional details,” you position yourself as a solutions-oriented partner, easing their workload rather than adding to it.

Template: Subject: Following Up – [Job Title] Application

Dear [Interviewer Name/Hiring Manager Name],

I hope this message finds you well.

I’m writing to follow up on my application for the [Job Title] position, as I recall you mentioned a decision timeline around [mention the original timeline, e.g., “the end of last week”]. Please know I remain very enthusiastic about the opportunity and the prospect of contributing to [Company Name]‘s work in [mention specific area, e.g., “financial innovation”].

I understand these processes can often take longer than anticipated, and I appreciate your team’s thorough consideration. Should it be helpful, I’d be happy to provide any additional details, references, or work samples.

Thank you again for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

Template 3: The “You Forgot Something” Follow-Up

Realized you fumbled an answer? Forgot to share a crucial portfolio link? This template turns an “oops” moment into a value-add. Send it within 48 hours of the interview, framing the new information as a helpful supplement to your conversation.

The Golden Nugget: Never say “I forgot to tell you.” Instead, say “Our conversation prompted me to put together…” or “I wanted to expand on our discussion about…” This shows proactive thinking, not forgetfulness.

Template: Subject: Additional Thought – [Your Name] – [Job Title]

Dear [Interviewer Name],

It was a pleasure speaking with you yesterday about the [Job Title] role. Our discussion about [mention the relevant topic, e.g., “content strategy for the GCC youth market”] stayed with me, and I wanted to share a brief case study that directly relates.

[Briefly describe what you’re attaching or linking to, e.g., “I’ve attached a one-page summary of a similar campaign I led, which resulted in a 40% increase in engagement.”] I believe it illustrates my approach to [mention the relevant skill] we discussed.

Thank you again for the engaging conversation. I hope this additional context is useful.

Best,

[Your Name] [Link or reference to attachment]

Template 4: The Second Interview or Final Stage Follow-Up

This is for advanced rounds. The stakes are higher, so your follow-up must demonstrate deeper strategic thinking. Move beyond thanking them for time to synthesizing key insights about the company’s challenges and your fit.

The Golden Nugget: Articulate a “mutual fit.” Show you were evaluating them as much as they were evaluating you, and that you’ve identified a clear, strategic intersection between their needs and your capabilities.

Template: Subject: Reflections Post-Second Interview – [Your Name]

Dear [Interviewer Name],

Thank you for the insightful conversation earlier today with [mention other interviewers if applicable]. I particularly appreciated the deep dive into [mention a complex topic discussed, e.g., “the department’s roadmap for AI integration”].

The discussion has given me an even clearer picture of how my experience in [your key skill area] could address the specific challenge of [mention a key challenge they face]. The vision your team outlined for [mention a company goal] is compelling, and my background in [mention your relevant experience] has prepared me well to contribute from day one.

I left our conversation feeling increasingly convinced that this is an exceptional mutual fit. I am very excited about the possibility of moving forward and contributing to [Company Name]‘s next chapter.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

By deploying these templates at the right moment, you transform the anxious waiting period into a series of strategic, professional touchpoints. You’re not just checking in; you’re consistently reinforcing your value and cultural intelligence—the exact combination that wins offers in today’s competitive market.

Navigating Tricky Follow-Up Scenarios

You’ve sent your thank-you note and a polite check-in, but the hiring process has hit a snag. Radio silence, a rejection, or complex communication chains can leave even the most confident candidate unsure of the next move. Navigating these moments with grace is where true professionalism shines, separating strategic candidates from the rest. Based on years of advising professionals in the Gulf, here’s how to handle the most common—and stressful—follow-up dilemmas.

What to Do After Radio Silence

You’ve followed the timeline, but it’s been three weeks since your last touchpoint with no reply. The goal now isn’t to get the job, but to get closure. A final, graceful email serves two purposes: it ethically prompts a response and leaves the door open for future opportunities by demonstrating exceptional professionalism.

The key is to frame it as a mutual time-saver, not a demand. Here is a script I’ve seen work effectively to finally elicit a response:

Subject: Following Up on [Job Title] Application – Seeking Closure

Dear [Hiring Manager Name],

I hope this message finds you well. I’m writing to follow up once more regarding my application for the [Job Title] position, as I haven’t received an update since my interview on [Date].

I remain very enthusiastic about the opportunity to join [Company Name] and contribute to [Specific Project/Goal Mentioned in Interview]. However, I also understand that hiring timelines can shift and priorities change.

To help me plan my next steps, I would be grateful for any update you can share on the status of the process. Regardless of the outcome, I have truly enjoyed learning about your team’s work on [Mention Something Specific].

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Best regards,

[Your Name]

The Golden Nugget: This email works because it removes pressure. By acknowledging their busy schedule and your own need to move forward, you make it easy for them to reply with a brief update. Often, this prompt leads to a candid response, whether it’s a delayed timeline or a rejection, which is always better than uncertainty.

Following Up After a Rejection

A rejection is not the end of the relationship; it’s the start of a new one. A thoughtful reply can transform a hiring manager or recruiter into a long-term advocate. The objective is to express gratitude, reinforce your positive impression, and plant a seed for the future.

Avoid arguing or asking for detailed feedback on the spot. Instead, use this template:

Subject: Thank You – [Job Title] Application

Dear [Hiring Manager/Recruiter Name],

Thank you for letting me know about your decision. While I’m naturally disappointed, I sincerely appreciate you taking the time to consider my application and for the engaging interview process.

I was particularly impressed by [Mention Something Specific About the Team/Company Culture/Project], and my interest in [Company Name] remains strong. I would be grateful to be considered for any future roles that align with my skills in [Your Expertise Area].

I wish you and the team the very best success with the new hire and your ongoing work.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

This approach does three things: it shows resilience, confirms your genuine interest in the company (not just the role), and makes you the first person they might think of when a new position opens. I’ve seen candidates receive calls for better-fitting roles months later because of this single, professional response.

Handling Multiple Contacts (Recruiter & Hiring Manager)

When you’re communicating with both a third-party recruiter and the company’s internal hiring manager, protocol is critical to avoid confusion or stepping on toes.

• The Recruiter is Your Coordinator: Your primary point of contact for logistics, timeline updates, and feedback should be the recruiter who arranged the interview. They are managing the relationship with the client (the company) and need to be kept in the loop.
• The Hiring Manager is Your Future Boss: Your thank-you and any highly specific, role-related follow-up (e.g., sharing a relevant portfolio piece discussed) goes directly to them. This demonstrates direct engagement and initiative.
• The Golden Rule: Always CC or Inform. When you send a substantive follow-up to the hiring manager, BCC your recruiter on the email. This isn’t secretive; it’s professional. It keeps them informed without forcing the hiring manager to reply to two people. A quick note to the recruiter saying, “FYI, I’ve just sent a follow-up note to [Hiring Manager] regarding our conversation about X,” is also a perfect practice.

This clear chain of command shows you understand corporate dynamics and respect everyone’s role in the process.

The “I Have Another Offer” Nudge (Use with Extreme Caution)

Mentioning another offer is a high-stakes tactic. Used poorly, it can seem like an ultimatum and backfire spectacularly. Used correctly, it can ethically accelerate a decision in your favor.

Only proceed if these conditions are met:

1. You have a formal, written offer in hand.
2. This is your first-choice company.
3. You are prepared to accept the other offer if this company cannot move forward.

If all are true, communicate this to your recruiter first, not the hiring manager. Your script should be collaborative, not confrontational:

“I wanted to update you that I’ve just received a formal offer from another organization. My strong preference remains the role with [Company Name], as it’s a better fit for my long-term goals. However, I need to respond to them by [Specific Date]. Is there any way you can provide an update on my candidacy by [Date - 1-2 business days prior] so I can make an informed decision?”

This frames you as a desirable candidate giving them a professional courtesy, not issuing a threat. It provides a clear, reasonable deadline and reaffirms your interest. In my experience, this moves the needle only when you are genuinely a top-tier candidate; otherwise, it may simply hasten a rejection. Tread carefully, honestly, and always through the proper channel.

What Not to Do: Common Follow-Up Fails to Avoid

You’ve crafted the perfect interview answers and sent a thoughtful thank-you note. Now, the waiting begins. This is where even the most qualified candidates can sabotage their own chances with follow-up missteps that scream “high maintenance” instead of “high potential.” In my years of coaching professionals and collaborating with hiring managers across the region, I’ve seen the same few errors instantly move a resume from the “shortlist” pile to the “no” folder. Let’s ensure yours stays on top.

The Overly Frequent Follower: The Instant Turn-Off

There’s a fine line between being enthusiastic and being a nuisance. “Email bombing”—sending daily or bi-daily check-ins—is the fastest way to alienate a hiring team. Remember, the hiring pace here often involves multiple layers of approval and deliberate consensus-building. A daily nudge doesn’t show initiative; it shows a fundamental disregard for that process.

The Golden Nugget: Hiring managers have shared with me that receiving more than one unsolicited follow-up between agreed-upon timelines is a major red flag. It signals you may be difficult to manage, impatient, or unable to operate with strategic patience—a critical skill in this market. Space your communications appropriately, using the timelines in our template section as a guide, not a minimum.

The Generic Bulk Message: A Signal of Disinterest

If your follow-up email could be sent to any company by swapping out the name, delete it now. A message that starts with “Dear Hiring Manager” or fails to reference a specific conversation from your interview is a glaring sign of laziness. It tells the reader you’re conducting a spray-and-pray job search, and their role is just another number.

In 2025, with AI making generic outreach easier than ever, personalization is your ultimate competitive edge. A hiring manager can spot a templated message in seconds. Instead, prove you were listening:

• “I was particularly intrigued by our discussion about the challenges of scaling the NEOM project’s digital infrastructure…”
• “Your point about needing someone who can bridge the gap between Vision 2030 goals and on-the-ground team execution really resonated…”

This specificity demonstrates genuine interest and cements you as a thoughtful contender, not just another applicant.

The Guilt Trip or Aggressive Tone: The Guaranteed Disqualifier

This is the most damaging fail. Pressure has no place in a professional follow-up. Phrases that demand a response or question the company’s integrity will end your candidacy immediately. Avoid at all costs:

• “I haven’t heard back and I expected a decision by now.”
• “I need an answer by Friday as I have other offers.” (Unless this is 100% true and you’re using the correct, polite template for that scenario).
• “Is there a problem with my application?”

Such language puts the hiring manager on the defensive and frames the relationship as adversarial. You are not entitled to a job; you are earning their trust. A respectful follow-up understands that delays are often organizational, not personal. Your tone should always be collaborative, assuming you are on the same side.

The reality is, a company’s silent period is often a test of your professional maturity. How you handle the wait is a proxy for how you’ll handle project delays or stakeholder feedback.

Neglecting the Details: Undermining Your Own Professionalism

Your follow-up is a final audition for your attention to detail—a non-negotiable trait. Sloppy errors contradict the polished image you worked so hard to project in the interview.

• Typos and Grammatical Errors: Use a tool like Grammarly, but also read it aloud. A “principle” vs. “principal” error in a finance role application is catastrophic.
• Wrong Names or Titles: Double-check the spelling of every name in the email chain. Getting a name wrong is often perceived as deeply disrespectful.
• The Forgotten Attachment: Promising “I’ve attached my updated portfolio” and then forgetting to attach it is a classic, unforced error. Always attach the file before you start drafting the email body.

Pro Tip from Experience: Create a pre-send checklist for every professional email: Spell Check → Name Verification → Attachment Confirmation → Link Test → Send. This 30-second ritual prevents 99% of amateur mistakes.

By steering clear of these four common pitfalls, you protect the strong impression you made. Your follow-up ceases to be an anxious check-in and becomes a consistent, quiet reinforcement of your professionalism, patience, and cultural fit—precisely the qualities that win offers in Saudi Arabia’s deliberate and relationship-driven hiring landscape.

Conclusion: Turning Follow-Ups into a Strategic Advantage

Mastering the post-interview follow-up isn’t about sending an email; it’s about managing a professional relationship during its most delicate phase. In 2025, where hiring processes are often elongated by multi-layered approvals, your patience and precision here are direct reflections of your workplace temperament.

The strategic advantage lies in consistency and cultural intelligence. From my experience coaching professionals in the region, the candidate who lands the offer is often not the most technically perfect, but the one who demonstrates respectful persistence. They understand that “no news” is rarely personal—it’s procedural. By using the templates and principles we’ve discussed, you do more than remind them you exist. You systematically reinforce three critical perceptions:

• Your Professionalism: You are organized, courteous, and understand business etiquette.
• Your Enthusiasm: Your continued, measured interest signals genuine commitment to this role, not just any job.
• Your Patience: You respect the process, proving you can navigate complex organizational landscapes without friction.

The Golden Nugget: Keep a simple log. Note the date of each touchpoint, the channel (email, LinkedIn), and the core message. If you do get a rejection, this log allows you to send a gracious, specific reply that keeps the door open. I’ve seen more than one candidate get called for a different, better-fitting role months later because they ended the process on such a professionally memorable note.

Ultimately, your follow-up strategy is the final, uninterrupted audition for the role. It’s your proof of concept that you can communicate with tact, contribute without being asked, and add value in the quiet moments between formal milestones. Deploy it thoughtfully, and you transform a period of waiting into a compelling, continuous demonstration of why you are the right choice.