You know how to research companies, how to tweak your resume and even how to answer tough interview questions. But how’s your interview follow-up?
If you’ve been invited to interview it means the company is already interested in you. You will either seal the deal or blow the show. What can you do to woo the employer and land the job?
To help bring you up to speed, here are suggestions on what you can do to rise to the top of the heap simply by following up!
ALWAYS Ask About Their Timeframe
Before you leave the interview, it’s imperative that you know these two things:
- What are the next steps in the process?
- What is your timeframe for making a final decision?
Without this information, you can only guess when to follow up or become frustrated when you don’t hear back.
By asking what the timeline is for filling the job and what the next steps in the process are, you will know exactly when to follow-up.
Sales professionals realize that making a follow-up call is much easier when granted permission, so be sure to ask whom you should contact and be sure to get their contact information.
To get more help on when and how to follow up, read this: Stop Wondering When To Follow Up.
Send A Real Thank You
In 2011, CareerBuilder surveyed more than 2,800 U.S. employers and found that 86% felt not sending a thank you showed a lack of follow-through by the candidate. You can change this perception with your interview follow-up.
Choosing to send your thank you via snail mail versus electronically doesn’t necessarily differentiate you, but it can.
What’s most important is the quality of the information in your message.
Anyone can send a “thank you for your time” message, even though few job seekers do. Candidates who put in the extra effort to explain why they’re interested in the job are even rarer.
To stand out, try crafting a thank you that includes your interest in the job as well as how you plan on being successful in the role.
Another idea is to provide a suggestion about how you might address a challenge mentioned by the interviewer. If that sounds risky, include an article referencing how another company has solved that challenge.
Do these suggestions sound over-the-top or old-fashioned?
Remember, you aren’t the one making the decision. It’s ultimately up to the person who receives your message.
In today’s high-tech electronic age, the personal touch within your message may just be why an interviewer remembers you and takes note of your communication skills and interest.
See sample Thank You Messages.
Don’t Take Rejection Lying Down
You only have one chance to make a great first impression. What if you sense things aren’t going well during the interview?
Is the interviewer looking at their watch or looking out the window?
Don’t ignore the signs of disengaged body language and don’t feel helpless.
What can you do?
You could politely pause the interview and ask if there are questions about your last answer, or if you’re brave, consider asking how he feels the interview is going so far. You may learn that the interviewer’s lack of interest has nothing to do with you.
Are You Still In The Running?
What’s the one question you’re wondering about near the end of the interview? You want to know how you did or whether you’ll be invited back for the next round.
You can ask those questions, but word them differently. Focus on a key aspect of the job and ask how the interviewer would assess your fit.
For example, you might say:
“Managing projects with team members in various locations and under tight deadlines is something I’ve been successful doing. Do you feel my background is a match for what you are looking for in this area?”
Another way to assess how well you match the job is to express your interest and why you feel you meet or exceed the qualifications, then ask the interviewer what they think.
If the interviewer says you aren’t right for the job, ask for more detail. If you’re still interested in working for that company and would be willing to work in a different capacity, let the interviewer know specifically what other jobs interest you.
You may even ask, “As I monitor your career page, if I notice other jobs, would you be willing to refer me?”
Every interview offers an opportunity to build a relationship with the people you met. After the interview follow-up by email or through an invitation to connect on LinkedIn.
It is up to you to continue to keep those relationships alive even after the job interviews are over. Future hiring is inevitable and you want to be on the must-call list.
You Can’t Win Them All
You will not be a fit for every job or company.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t establish professional relationships with the people you interviewed with.
Who knows what future opportunities might arise or whom your new contacts may know? This is a form of networking, which, if nurtured effectively, could help you hear about your next job sooner.
If you are interested in the company or future jobs, respond to the rejection letter and let them know you would still be interested in future opportunities. Who knows. Maybe the person they hire doesn’t work out.
Originally posted on US News & World Report’s On Careers
Hannah Morgan speaks and writes about job search and career strategies. She founded CareerSherpa.net to educate professionals on how to maneuver through today’s job search process. Hannah was nominated as a LinkedIn Top Voice in Job Search and Careers and is a regular contributor to US News & World Report. She has been quoted by media outlets, including Forbes, USA Today, Money Magazine, Huffington Post, as well as many other publications. She is also author of The Infographic Resume and co-author of Social Networking for Business Success.
