The Interview is Over…Now What?

follow up after interview

The time immediately following a job interview can be filled with impatience and uncertainty. You want to know how well you did, how well the other candidates did, whether you are about to start a new job or need to redouble your job search. Luckily, you don’t have to spend this time just waiting and wondering. Here are a few things you should be doing instead:

  • Write a Thank-You Note – Send the person you interviewed with a thank-you note within 24 hours of the interview. These days an email is acceptable. As much as possible, try to reiterate your fit for the position in the note, but avoid sounding pandering.
  • Follow Instructions – If you’ve been asked to follow up with your interviewer using a particular means, or after a prescribed amount of time, follow those instructions to the letter. Just because the interview is over doesn’t mean you’re not still being evaluated.
  • Be Polite – There is a natural tendency to contact the hiring manager quickly and often following the interview. However, this usually comes off as pestering rather than persistence. And if your messages aren’t being returned, take it as a sign to move on.
  • Prep for the Next Interview – This may have been the first of several interviews, and you never know when you’ll be called in for round two. Immediately start preparing so you’re not caught off guard.
  • Leverage Your Network – If someone in your professional network is connected to the hiring manager or company you’re seeking a job from, ask if they could give you a recommendation. This is a potent time for that kind of endorsement to arrive.
  • Be Cautiously Optimistic – Sometimes hiring decisions aren’t made until months after the interviews are held. Continue looking for work, but know that good news could be coming even if a lot of time has passed.
  • Graciously Accept Defeat – If you find out that you have not been offered the job, accept the news in a polite and professional manner. There may be opportunities with the same company in the future and you don’t want to jeopardize your chances by being rude or inflammatory.
  • Stay in the Loop – Even if you don’t get the job, you should periodically reach out to the company/hiring manager. Consider sending them links to articles you write on LinkedIn, or suggestions related to the company’s issues. This helps remind the decision makers that you’re still a viable candidate. However, limit your contact to once every few months at most.

If you’re struggling just to get an interview, the problem could be the way you’re looking for work and reaching out to potential employers. Learn about more effective methods by working with Artemis Consultants.Artemis_CTA_SearchJobs

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