By Heather Huhman, Glassdoor.com
Walking out of a job interview leaves most of us overwhelmed with a variety of feelings, whether it’s a sense of confidence and excitement or an unsettling worrisome feeling from a less-than-positive experience. Whatever your feelings may be, it’s important not to forget the steps that follow an interview.
Occasionally, the job search can cause an unforeseen amount of tunnel vision. We’re conditioned to focus closely on ensuring the proper preparation for the important parts of the hiring process, like receiving an offer to interview, but what follows is often overlooked.
Don’t make the same mistake as many job seekers out there and completely miss out on the follow-up that’s involved to ensure a successful post-interview experience. Here’s a list of eight do’s and don’ts for after your job interview:
Do:
1. Send a thank you note. A personalized, handwritten thank you note is an opportunity to once again express your interest in the position, address any concerns, and show gratitude for the opportunity. Be sure this note is put in the mail on the same day you interviewed to ensure it arrives in a timely manner to your potential employer . It’s also important to send a brief thank you email to everyone who interviewed you, thanking them for the opportunity, their time, and also touching on your interest in the position.
2. Connect on professional social media. . This might not be the best action after all interview experiences, but if you truly feel you connected with the individual during your interview, adding them to your professional social networks might be beneficial. When you connect with them, include a brief message thanking them for their time and expressing an interest in keeping in touch.
3. Follow up. During your interview, you hopefully touched on the timeline of the post-interview hiring process. It’s important to be patient and act accordingly, but if you don’t hear anything by the given time frame, it’s your job to reach back out to your potential employer.
4. Review your interview experience. As soon as you return home from your interview, be sure to take the time to recap all of the questions and responses because this is when it is the most fresh in your mind. By taking the time to evaluate your interview, you can evaluate the overall experience as well as remain consistent about any other questions that might be asked of you in the future by this employer.
Don’t:
1. Stop your search for a job. Just because you might feel like you’ve nailed a job interview doesn’t mean you can call off the search. A great interview is only one factor that goes into finding the right candidate to hire. Don’t let the excitement of your interview create “what-ifs” that interfere with your job search.
2. Be impatient. The hiring process takes a lot longer than most job seekers (and employers) care to admit. This can cause a range of emotions for a job seeker, including insecurity, worry, and even anger. Keep calm and don’t make the mistake of reaching out too soon to your potential employer.
3. Lose touch. Even if your interview experience was less than enjoyable, it’s still important to remain in contact with your potential employer. Take the necessary steps to show your gratitude for the opportunity.
4. Be too aggressive. Nothing will scare a potential employer away quite like an overly aggressive job seeker. Use tact and respect in your approach to your post-interview steps. A simple thank you note and an email will be enough to express your gratitude — phone calls and incessant emails aren’t necessary.
The aftermath of your interview is just as important as the actual interview itself. Don’t let your post-interview actions ruin your chances of getting hired.
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