After the Interview
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Follow up after a job interview in a professional and enthusiastic manner and give the company further proof that you are the right person for the job.
Use these seven key steps to follow up successfully after the interview and get the job you want.
Find out what happens next
When closing the interview ask for information about the next stage in the hiring process. Ask when you can contact the company to find out the status of your application. By asking when you can make the call rather than when you can expect to hear from them gives you an element of control over the follow up process. It also demonstrates a proactive, professional approach. You now have a time frame in which to plan your job interview follow up strategy.
Get all the necessary contact details
Make sure you have the full name and title of the interviewer plus his/her contact details. Ask for a business card or get it from reception on your way out. Find out from Human Resources after the interview if you forget! You need these details for your interview thank you letter and to make the follow up call. Know who you should contact to find out about your application - it isn't always the interviewer.
Make notes immediately after the interview
As soon as possible make notes on what happened in the job interview. What were positive areas that you can reinforce and what areas need to be addressed further? Use these details to write a thank you letter that is well considered and relevant to the specific job interview.
Write and send a thank you letter
The reality is that a large percentage of job interview candidates neglect this vital step in the interview follow up process. Send a professionally written and relevant thank you letter within 24 hours of the interview. Use your notes to reinforce you suitability in the interview thank you letter and to address any concerns that may have come up during the interview. Express your enthusiasm for the job and company. Make sure you have addressed the recipient correctly and find out the best way to send the interview thank you note - email, post or by hand. Use these Sample Interview Thank You Letters to help you.
Contact your job references
The company will probably contact one of your references to do a telephonic reference check. Alert your references and give them some details about the job and the company so they are well prepared to provide the best references possible for you. More about Job References.
Time to make the call
It is advisable to follow up with a call or email after a couple of days. If you have been given a specific time frame work within that. Do not wait for the company to contact you. There is nothing desperate about making a professional follow up call after the interview to ask about the status of your application - rather it demonstrates enthusiasm and tenacity. You can use the phone call or email to thank them again for the opportunity to interview and then ask when a hiring decision is likely to be made.
Keep looking
Continue with your job search. Even if you are sure that this is the job for you and you are going to get the offer it is never wise to rely on just one opportunity. Explore other job opportunities, this will help you to better evaluate this job opportunity and to make the right decision when a job offer is made. You never know whether a better opportunity may come up so keep looking after the interview.
Determined but professional and polite follow up after the interview puts you in a strong position for job interview success.
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