After the Interview
Be available.
Returning phone calls and emails quickly is a sign of professionalism, respect, and competitiveness--all positive attributes in the job market.
Write a thank-you note.
Within 24 hours, send a thank-you note to all of the people who interviewed you. (If there were four people in the room, send four notes). Reiterate that you really want the job and are eager to contribute to the organization. Include an idea or two about how you can add value to the company.
Wait a week
After sending a note, wait before making any additional contact. Be patient--it can take at least this long for a decision to be made.
Send an email.
Send a message to your main contact with a brief follow-up note. Provide an added value idea or two; for example, point out another fact you learned about the company that makes you eager to get started.
Leave a voicemail.
If e-mail doesn't do the trick, a smart idea is to call late at night or early in the morning when your contact is unlikely to pick up (just make sure you don't dial a home or cell number!). Reassert your interest, show your enthusiasm, and provide the same information as in the e-mail.
Keep busy.
Even if you think an interview went extremely well, you never want to put all your eggs in one basket. Keep pursuing other options, and stay relaxed. Part of persistence is knowing when to let go and let the process happen.
Ace the Interview
August 2009
Lindsay Pollak
Writer
When it comes to interviews, the key is to overprepare. Set yourself up for success with these tips, and practice them in a mock interview before the real thing.
Conduct company research.
The number one pet peeve of interviewers: when a candidate doesn't know anything about the company. Don't waste time asking questions that you can find on the company website. Some things to look into: management team bios, recent press releases, and major competitors.
Never, ever arrive late.
Assume that everything that can go wrong on interview day will (traffic jams, public transportation delays, security check-in lines, etc.), and give yourself gobs of time to get there. To be early is to be on time, to be on time is to be late, and to be late is to be unforgivable!
Be nice to receptionists.
The minute you walk into the building, or any time you call the office, you are being assessed. Any interaction you have will likely be reported to the hiring manager--positive or negative. Many hiring managers ask their assistants or receptionist for their impressions of a candidate. Make no mistake--all eyes are on you.
Let the interviewer talk.
Statistics show that the more the interviewer talks, the more likely the candidate is to get the job. Be a good listener--allow the interviewer to share his or her thoughts, and never interrupt. This is especially important at the beginning of an interview--let the interviewer set the tone.
Don't be wishy-washy.
Never say that you don't know what you want, even if it's the truth. Think about it: if you say you're interested in working for this accounting firm, but also have an interest in management consulting, the employer will take someone whose lifelong dream has been to work at this firm. Land the job, and then decide whether you'll accept it.
Think PAR.
Talk about your experiences in terms of the Problem that you encountered (raising funds for your string quartet to tour in Europe), the Action you took (hosting a fund-raiser and selling sponsorships), and the Result you achieved (raising enough money to tour for three weeks and pay for accommodations). Use this technique to back up any general statements you make, such as, "I'm a responsible leader."
Anticipate dreaded questions.
If you have any "red flags" on your resume (a gap in your education, a history of not staying long in one place, etc.), have a strong answer prepared. Test your answers in a mock interview.
Prepare more questions than you could ever ask.
Always have a question when the interviewer asks if you have any. Some good ones: "How did you get into this business?" "Can you tell me a bit more about the company's new initiative to...?" "What would you consider to be exceptional performance from someone in this position during the first 3 to 6 months on the job?"
Ask about the next steps.
At the end of the interview, ask when you will hear back, if there are several interviews in the process, or if you'll be hearing from HR directly or from the specific department to which you're applying.
Adapted from Lindsey Pollak's Getting from College to Career, Collins. www.lindseypollak.com/blog.