In a competitive world today, a small little thing that you do can make a huge difference. Think about applying for a job; there are thousands of potential candidates, just as capable as you do. What are you going to do to beat them in a run for a position in a new company?
One of the most critical steps in the recruitment process is the interviewing step. For a successful one, I am sure that you need to spend a lot of time and effort. Still, a good interview does not end when your recruiter finishes the conversation and ask you to keep in touch. Don’t just sit quietly and wait. Take the initiative – this step can increase your chance of getting into the next round or finally landing a job offer.
Here are some crucial steps that you should follow after a job interview:
1. Know About The Process
If you don’t know much about what would happen after the interview, don’t be afraid to ask. You should ask your interviewer how long you have to wait for the outcome. Ask him or her if you receive the advice only when you are successful or even when you fail. You should also ask about the potential of other interviews in the next round. The waiting period will help you determine when you can act after the interview. It also helps you reduce your anxiety once you know how long you have to wait or whether they will let you know the result or not. If the interviewers the waiting period is 1-2 weeks before the result is announced, then wait for 2 weeks before you call for an update.
Collect the contact details of the interviewer or interviewers so that you can send a thank you note to the people who interviewed the other day. Most of them are on LinkedIn nowadays so if you cannot find their email addresses on the company’s website then look them up on LinkedIn. They can be your potential employers and a thank you note might make a great impression on them. Also note that if the interviewers said you should contact them by email, don’t call them on the phone.
2. Write A Thank You Note
As I mentioned above, during or after your interview, you should take note of the details of your interviews so that you can send a thank-you note afterwards. Many people consider the ideal time to send such a note, possibly by email, is during 24 hours of your interview. You should email a thank you message as soon as possible when the interviewers can still remember you. Also, interviewers tend to make decisions quickly. Hence, you should act as quickly as you can.
So what can you say in a thank you note, besides the over-used phrase “thank you for your time”?
- Confirm that after the interview, you firmly believe that this position is a suitable one for you given your skills and interests. Assert that you think the organisation is a good fit as well, and you would like to join the company. Mention things you can contribute to the organisation.
- Send along a reference of the topics that you discussed during the interview if appropriate such as a link, a book recommendation or a post. It helps to show your knowledge in the field that you want to work for.
- Mention things that you didn’t have the chance to do so during the interview.
- Keep the thank you note short and concise. If you can, personalise the emails for each of the interviewers, showing that it is not just a thank you letter you copy and paste to all of the interviewers.
If you are applying for a job in creativity, why don’t you take this chance to show off your skills in a well-designed (or handwritten) thank you card?
3. Make Sure Your References Know About Your Interview
You might have asked your referees for their consent to put their names and contacts on your CV. However, you should let them that the company may call them following up your interview. This will help them to prepare better to support your experience and skills and prevent them from feeling annoyed as they are cold called.
You should call or send them an email to tell them about your job’s requirements and what you want them to emphasise. After the reference check, it is also polite to send your referees a thank you letter.
4. Review Your Performance
You might not be successful this time, but each time you had an interview, you gain more experience for the next one. So even if you think you have done well with your interview, it is time to assess your performance.
After you go back from your interview, you should write down what happened during the meeting including the questions and how you answered these questions. Writing down things that you have done well and things that you need to improve. Think about your answers and how you can make them better. These critical notes will help you prepare better for upcoming interviews.
Writing down your answers also help you prepare for the next round of interview if it happens. It is critical that your responses be consistent with others. Also, note down something that you would like to say but didn’t have the opportunity to.
That is all about important things that you should do after a job interview to increase your success in getting through the next round or landing a job offer. Good luck with your interviews and let us know if you have any comments or tips below.
This is a very good article. Thank you for sharing.