What to Do After an Interview

Interview

Congratulations! You applied for a job and managed to get an interview!  You aced the interview and are anxiously waiting to hear back from your potential employer.  What do you do in the meantime so you don’t drive yourself crazy waiting by the phone?  You’ve heard that a strong follow up is key, but you’re not exactly sure how to go about doing that.  There are a few precautions and steps you can take in order to ensure you get the best possible chance at your desired position.

For starters, one of the most effective strategies when it comes to following up after a job interview is a simple thank you note.  Your interviewer(s) will appreciate immensely it and it doesn’t take too much effort on your part.  Often times a visual reminder will act as a trigger for recapping the time they had with you.  It’s not too important whether or not the note is hand written or typed up, but it’s usually better to type it up if you’re penmanship isn’t all that legible.  Remember to address the card to the proper person as it conveys personalization.  You might even want to try including something you two talked about during the interview process.  It’s typically advised that you send a thank you note to any person who’s interviewed you within two days.  This shows promptness and illustrates your eagerness in the job.

Many people will be tempted to make a follow up call, which can be a good tactic.  However, employers are often times busy and, though electronic communication has become normative social behavior these days, some people may view phone calls as invasive on their time.  Try to remember if your interviewer invited you to call them or did they state a preference for email?  If you did decide to call, though, practice what you’re going to say whether they answer or you have to leave a message.  You don’t want to seem unsure of yourself while speaking to your potential manager.

You may be confident in your performance during the interview, but that doesn’t mean you should stop pursuing other job opportunities.  Continue to interview with other companies.  It’s better to have to choose between several jobs wanting to hire you instead of hoping that the one job interview that you did go to pans out in your favor.  And most importantly do NOT quit your regular job in hopes that your interviewer will call you.

And if you do know someone at the company (perhaps they got you the interview in the first place) do not continue to pester them, asking how it’s looking for you.  Chances are, they’re not the hiring manager so, most of the time, your contact has no direct say in whether or not their company decides to hire you.

Remember that patience is key between the time you go in for the interview and the time you actually get the job.  Following up is good, but there’s a fine line between proactive and pushy.  Don’t be pushy.  Try to show you are interested and available, but know that it won’t devastate you if you end up not getting the job.