You spent hours practicing for your job interview. You pressed your suit after changing your mind three times about what you would wear. You walked in to the interview confident but not cocky, friendly but not overzealous. You are sure that you made a good impression. So now what?
What do you do after the interview to help your cause?
You know that you have to leave the final decision in the hands of the hiring team, but you don’t want them to forget about you.
Do you have one final opportunity to leave a lasting impression?
Right Way to Follow Up
As the following article shows, it can be confusing for applicants to know how to follow up after a job interview.
Many candidates do nothing but sit and wait. They wait for the phone call that never comes. Instead, they receive a message that another candidate was chosen.
Give yourself the edge by following up the right way and avoiding the wrong behavior that would alienate you from the recruiting staff.
The first thing that you should do almost immediately after the interview is to send a thank you card.
You can send the message in an email in some instances, especially if you are working with a company in technology.
However, for many businesses, the handwritten card that is mailed is still preferred. It shows that you took the time and gave some thought to sending the message.
Not sure what to write? Keep it brief.
The act of sending the card is more important than what you say. Just expressing your thanks for the opportunity to interview is quite enough. You can also promote yourself in a subtle way, but don’t come on too strong.
Of course, that advice varies by the industry.
If you are trying to get a job in sales, it is perfectly accepted and often expected that you would continue to promote yourself in any interactions.
When to Follow Up
If you were given any timelines or dates for when you can expect an answer, don’t do anything other than send a thank-you note until then. If you didn’t find out when a decision is to be made, wait about a week to follow up.
Call or email the recruiter who is your main contact and politely ask if a decision has been made.
It is acceptable to ask if they need anything more from you or if you can help make their decision easier.
Sometimes it is something as simple as a difference in starting date or salary that may be keeping them from offering the position to you. If you have any flexibility and they let you know this is the problem, speak up.
Whatever you do, don’t harass the company. It will turn them off if they hear from you daily.
One follow-up is enough unless they tell you to call back in a week or two.
It takes some time for these decisions to get made and processed through all of the channels, so don’t get discouraged.
In your efforts to find work over the years, what advice do you have for fellow job-seekers?
About the Author: Joyce Morse is an author who writes on a variety of topics, including small business and job hunting.
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