Top 5 Things You Must Do After the Interview
photo by JU
Okay, so the interview went well (or so you think) and you want to know what you should do, right. Well, there are certain things you want to do and there are certain things that you don’t want to do. I can count on both hands (and maybe even toes) the number of times that candidates of mine were on the verge of getting offers and blew it in the follow-up process. Make sure you know the right thing to do after the interview.
Today, I am going to share with you my top 5 things you need to make sure you do after an interview to get the job (the top 5 things not to do or coming in a future post).
TOP 5 THINGS YOU MUST DO AFTER AN INTERVIEW
1. Always end by demonstrating your interest in the position – One of the biggest feedbacks I get from hiring managers is: “Yes, I really liked their experience, but I’m not sure if they are interested.” At the end of the interview, end it by reinforcing your interest in the position. Something as simply as, “Thank you for your time today, I really appreciate it and I am definitely interested in taking the next step as you see fit. Look forward to hearing from you.” Don’t leave them to wonder, go ahead and put yourself out there. Just make sure you don’t appear desperate either.
2. Never leave without their business card - now this can be awkward if they don’t offer it up, but try to get that business card at all cost. Having their email address and phone number is going to help in the days to follow. One benefit of working with a recruiter is that they can give you this info if you don’t get it at the interview.
3. Send a thank you email within 24 hours – This is a great way to reinforce your interest in the position. You should keep it short and sweet but you should include two things.
First, mention something that you learned on a personal level. Like, I hope you have a wonderful vacation in Hawaii. I really enjoyed my time there when I went 2 years ago. This will help to cement that you are likable and a good culture fit because you are a genuine person who listens and cares.
Second, briefly bring up an important discussion you had. “I really enjoyed discussing your ideas on how to streamline the processes in your department. i think you are on the right track…” You always want to come across as a positive, solution-oriented candidate. Remember from my InterviewEdge post, they are asking “Can this person remove the pain I am feeling in my department right now.”
4. Mail a hand-written thank you note within 3-4 days. Most people no longer do this! This will make you stand out among the crowds. Make sure it is hand-written and the only purpose is to state your interest and that you will give them a call on Friday to see where things stand 9or whatever day you want to put in there.
5. Make a follow-up call – now if you are working with a recruiter, you will want to talk with them before doing this first. I have had hiring managers who were frustrated because both I and the candidate were calling for updates. Again, it is a delicate balance and you do not want to come across as desparate. If you are going at this alone, give them a call (or HR) on the day that you mentioned in the hand-written thank you note. This call should be up beat and positive and you wanted to just let them know that you are still interested and see if a decision had been made as of yet.
Try not to call first thing in the morning, right before lunch or at the end of the day. These are the busiest times of the day and people are distracted by what is going on at the moment.
Now, you know what to do so go after it! Look for my next post on what NOT to do!
Article by Jonathan Milligan
CPACareerCoach.com is a blog (weblog) website aimed at those interested in building and improving their career in Accounting & Finance. CPACareerCoach.com content is produced by Jonathan Milligan, an Executive Recruiter/Career Coach from Florida. Jonathan has successfully placed hundreds of Accounting & Finance Professionals and coached many on how to build a successful career.
Jonathan,
Thank you for this timely reminder. I am prepared for an interview this afternoon at Dun & Bradstreet and have a complete course of action for success.
With confidence and direction.
Dave
Thanks Dave.
Let me know how the process works for you and good luck on the interview.
Jonathan
Jonathan,
I like your 5 steps after the interview.
I would add something that has worked for my candidates… “what concerns do you have about me/my abilities to do this job”?
This gives the candidate a ‘chance’ to discuss concerns and hopefully overcome the concerns before they leave the interview. If the concerns don’t get addressed, they may cause the hiring person to move on to other candidates.
Tim
Excellent tip Tim! I really like that. I am going to have to use that with my candidates when prepping them for an interview. Thanks!
Jonathan,
I’ve worked with Tim as a candidate and I can tell you that one simple sentence has helped me enormously. Two things I’ve seen when I ask the question:
1) The interviewer reacts positively as he realizes no one has asked that question before, and
2) it immediately gives me a chance to minimize or remove any concern that the interviewer did have.
Bill
Thanks…Bill. This is great stuff!
I really believe these tips work!
Thanks Christine. I learned most of them from watching and observing some of the best candidates out there. Thanks for reading!