Now that you have nailed your job interview, it’s time to sit back and relax, and wait for the employer to offer you the job on a silver plate, right? Wrong! When it comes to getting your dream job, you have to be proactive, even after the interview is over. Following up on a job interview is an important part of the job search process, and there are a few things you have to keep in mind when you follow up with your potential employers.
Take notes after the the interview
When your interview is done, the first thing you should do is to write down all the relevant information, including what went well and what went wrong. Take note of anything that stood out to you during the interview. You should also write down the name of the interviewers, as well as what questions and concerns each of them had and any important issues that were discussed.
Send a personalised thank you note
Depending on the nature of the job you are applying for, you can either write a handwritten note or an email. If it is a technology related job, by all means use email to avoid looking like a dinosaur! If the work environment is in a more traditional setting, then you may write your thank you note on blank note cards. Either way, send a thank you note to each person you met during the interview. If you have to send more than one note, make each of them unique, as it will show more thought and sincerity. In addition, use the “soft sell” technique to show your potential employer how enthusiastic you are about the opportunity and reinforce the fact that you are the perfect fit for the job.
Do a second follow up
Sometimes the hiring manager would give you a timeline for the recruitment process. In this case, do a second follow up if you haven’t heard back from the company after the date that they were supposed to contact you. If you don’t have an exact date, do your second follow up around 10 days after your interview. For the second follow up, do not just resend the thank you note. Write a customized email to each person you met at the interview to thank them again for the interview and gently remind them that you are still waiting and interested. If you have followed up twice and still haven’t heard back from the company, put it out of your mind and move on, as it is likely that you have not been successful at this point.
