This document provides 14 tips for actions to take after a job interview. The tips include sending a follow-up note to the interviewer, asking about the timeline for hiring, reflecting on how the interview went, following up periodically with the hiring manager, continuing to apply for other jobs while waiting to hear back, bringing examples of work to interviews, not bringing up salary or benefits in the first interview, and thanking all interviewers in person, by email, and with a written note. The overall advice is to follow up professionally with the interviewer, reflect on the experience, continue pursuing other opportunities, and express appreciation for the interviewer's time and consideration.
3. 1. Follow-Up Note
A few days following the
interview, send the manager a
follow-up note via e-mail or
through the postal service.
Don’t just thank the manager for
his time; instead, reiterate that
you are interested in the position,
add a few additional points from
what you discussed during your
interview and thank him for the
opportunity.
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• http://jobinterview247.com/free-ebook-145-interview-questions-and-answers
• http://jobinterview247.com/free-ebook-top-22-secrets-to-win-every-job-interviews
5. 2. Timeline
After the interview is over, inquire
about the timeline. This includes
getting a firm or prospective date
about when the manager plans to
make her decision. By doing so,
you create your own base for when
to follow-up a few days following
the interview.
6. 3. Reflect
If you feel your interview went less
than ideal, you must reflect on the
experience.
Ask yourself what you would have
changed in the interview –
constructively – to identify what
went wrong so that it may be
corrected in the future.
7. 4. Follow-Up Again
Check in with the hiring manager
periodically to find out the status of
his hiring process. Keep the follow-up
within the timeframe given to you, but
don’t check-in daily or even every
other day. Spread out your inquiries
and don’t sound aggressive or anxious
during them.
8. 5. Desire
After the interview, you have time
to reflect about whether the job is
right for you. Ask yourself if you are
the right fit for the job, if the
people and culture of the new job
work for you, and, most
importantly, if you would be happy
working there.
Sometimes, interviewees realize
the job is not right for them, or
that there are better opportunities,
once they reflect after an
interview.
9. 6. Patience
The hiring process takes longer
than you might think. "US News &
World Report" points out that
hiring for a position has numerous
hurdles, such as hiring managers
going out of town, scheduling
issues and human resources
delays. Therefore, be patient
during your wait, and don’t
assume that just because you
haven’t heard anything means you
didn’t get the job.
10. 7. Apply for Other Jobs
Don’t stop looking for work while
waiting on one interview. No
matter how well the interview
went, there might be other
candidates in the same position.
Therefore, continue to send out
applications, resume and go to
interviews while waiting to hear
back about interviews already
completed.
11. 8. Move-On
Don’t check your phone
frequently or constantly worry
about past interviews. After the
interview is over, and you have
completed your follow-ups,
move on mentally. If the
employer doesn’t call, you
won’t waste time worrying
about a position you never had.
12. 9. Explain
You should never make excuses for
an error, but you can explain it in a
follow-up letter to the employer. If
you felt your answers to interview
questions were poor or that you
left something out, send a
professional follow-up letter that
explains this to the hiring manager.
Only do so if you know the hiring
manager made a note of your poor
answers. According to "Forbes,"
giving an explanation on minor
things the hiring manager didn’t
notice can add attention to errors
that might have gone unnoted.
13. 10. Apologize
You might feel your interview was
poor, but don’t automatically
assume the hiring manager thought
the same. According to "Forbes,"
you should never apologize to a
hiring manager if you think your
interview went poorly. The only
time you should apologize is for a
slip-up, such as referring to the
hiring manager by the wrong name.
14. 11.Focus more on what you can do for the company, rather
than what they can do for you
At the beginning of the job interview process, someone has to
assume the role of the seller, and someone has to be the buyer.
You're the seller at this early stage of the process.
As the interview progresses you will eventually be asked: Do
you have any questions for us?
It’s a bad idea to say, no, I can’t think of anything. It’s also a bad
idea to have a grocery list of interview questions a mile long.
Appropriate Job Interview Questions to Ask Your
Interviewers
• How would you describe a typical day in this position?
• In my first 90 days on the job, what’s my first priority?
• What is one of the most difficult challenges facing your
department?
• Is this a new position, or am I replacing someone?
• What’s the company’s strategy for generating new business?
• What is your management style like?
15. 12.Bring examples of your work
Use the power of the printed word to your advantage.
As an executive recruiter, I can’t tell you the number
of times I’ve been called by a hiring manager after
an interview, and told how impressed they were with
one of my candidates who brought examples of their
work.
Most job seekers fail to do this in preparing for a job
interview. This one job interview tip alone will set
you apart from other candidates.
Idea: Some job seekers bring a copy of their most
recent written evaluation to the interview. Obviously,
you should only do this if your evaluation is
outstanding.
The power of the printed word applies here as well.
If you share your strengths with your interviewers,
it's duly noted. If one of your bosses said those same
things about you...it's gospel.
Another great example of your work is any chart or
graph that illustrates specifically how you saved the
company time or money...or how you made the
company money.
16. 13.Don’t bring up salary or benefits during the first
interview
The interviewing process is a 2-way
street. Just as the company is evaluating
you, you are evaluating them.
A job change is a big deal and you should
know things like how the 401K plan
works, how the bonus is figured, what is
their vacation policy, and what kind of
benefits they provide.
However...
It is interviewing suicide to ask these
questions during the first interview. The
appropriate time to ask these questions is
after the company has decided to extend
you an offer.
Once a company has decided that they
must have you on their team, then it is
timely and appropriate for you to ask
these kinds of questions.
17. 14. Thank Interviewer(s) in Person, by Email, and Postal Mail
As you have already seen from previous
tips, common courtesy and politeness go
far in interviewing; thus, the importance
of thanking each person who interviews
you should come as no surprise. Start the
process while at the interview, thanking
each person who interviewed you.
Writing thank-you emails and notes
shortly after the interview will not get you
the job offer, but doing so will certainly
give you an edge over any of the other
finalists who did not bother to send
thank-you's.
