If you wish to land a job successfully, post-interview etiquette is as important as how you perform during the interview. If you follow proper etiquette after an interview, it ensures that the potential employer won’t forget you. In fact, staying in contact with the interviewer after an interview provides you with an opportunity to reinforce that you’re interested in the job.
If you wish to land a job successfully, post-interview etiquette is as important as how you perform during the interview. If you follow proper etiquette after an interview, it ensures that the potential employer won’t forget you. In fact, staying in contact with the interviewer after an interview provides you with an opportunity to reinforce that you’re interested in the job.
Many job-seekers feel once they have landed an interview for a dream job, their journey is over. I’ve fallen victim to this!
Here’s a handful of quick and easy tips you should follow after an interview.
Send a thank you email
The very first thing you should do is send a thank you email to the primary search coordinator. This is a mistake of most job seekers, as they fail to understand the potential of a post-interview thank-you. Be sure to express your thanks for taking valuable time to meet you. This short email also displays your strong desire for getting the job.
Mail a written thank you note
It rarely hurts to “over” thank. So, be sure to mail a handwritten note to the search coordinator, thanking him or her for the meeting, as well as reminding of your interest in the position. Be sure to mail this note on the same day as your interview. As it relates to the email and written note, don’t hesitate to send something to everyone on the interview panel. I always ask for the name of each interviewer at the beginning of the interview. I also always ask for business cards. You never know if these people will be future references!
Complete any paperwork
If you’re asked to complete paperwork relating to the potential employer or the position, don’t take it lightly. Be sure to follow through by completing the paperwork from start to end. The sooner you complete the required paperwork, the more likely you’ll remembered before the final screening takes place.
Review your interview
You can become a better interviewee by taking a few moments to recap the questions, responses, and conversation. Taking some time to evaluate your interview will help you identify areas where you can improve and points you could have made, but left out. I usually go for a long run, just so I can dissect every question and answer from the interview. When I get home, I write everything down.
Reach out to references
If you listed references in your resume, keep them updated throughout the interview process. The same goes for any contacts you may have at the prospective company. Reaching out to these people will enable you to prepare them for potential calls, share with them key points made during the interview and any points you’d like to emphasize.
Ask questions
If the search coordinator invites you to ask questions, take him or her up on it. It’s a great opportunity to keep them focused on you, as well as gather and share important information. When this happens, be ready to ask specific questions, highlight relative skills, emphasize key points, and remind of your interest in the position.
Be available
You don’t want to miss a call or respond poorly to an email. Make yourself available for the search committee to contact you. Your availability and responsiveness will serve as a key indicator of how you might be as an employee. Don’t bother telling them that your replay is late because their email got stuck in your spam folder…it won’t work…trust me!
Be patient
The hiring process can take much longer than desired to complete. Having been on the hiring side so many times, I can honestly say that it can be more difficult than applying for the position. There are so many people to review, situations to consider, and viewpoints to incorporate. This can take a long time. Be sure to keep calm and be ready if and when they contact you.
If you really want to enhance your chances of getting the job, then go for a run. Just kidding. Be sure to remember these post-interview tips. Your interview followup may be just as important as the actual interview. Let your post-interview actions showcase your ability to be an active and engaging employee.