Job Interviews: How To Follow-Up Effectively
Contributed by Jay Schroyer
You’ve just interviewed for a job and you feel fairly confident that you nailed it. You answered all the questions smartly and thoroughly, your dress was impeccable, and you even developed quite a rapport with the interviewer in only a forty-five minute period. As you leave the office, you realize that now comes the hardest part of the job hunting process: the wait.
There’s no way to avoid the wait, unless the employer was so desperate to fill the position and you were just so stunning that they hired you on the spot. But there are a few things that you can do to help ease the duration and the results of your wait. Try these little tricks the next time you interview for a job that you really want to bag.
When
Before you leave the interview, you might want to ask the employer when they expect to make a decision on a candidate. What this does is provide you with a solid date to plan your own life around. If it’s fairly soon, then you know your wait won’t be long and that you need to follow-up as quickly as you can. If the wait is literally months, then you should probably spend the interim time shopping around some more. You can always let everyone know that you’re under consideration with another company. They’ll appreciate the honesty and might actually consider you quite a catch if someone else is considering you for an employee.
Who
You should also find out if the person that interviewed you is the decision maker. You want to make sure that the right person is receiving your letters, phone calls, or e-mails. If you spoke with multiple persons, you might want to find out if it’s a group decision or not. Most names, mailing information, e-mail, and other pertinent information is available through company directories online or via business cards which you should always ask for before you part ways.
Follow-Up
Follow-up is so crucially important after a job interview and may be what separates you from the pack. Generally, the day of or the day after is the perfect time to send an e-mail or a note via mail just thanking the interviewer for his or her time and reiterating how much you are interested in the job position. If you feel so inclined, you can also rehash your qualifications and skills if it doesn’t seem too obtrusive in the note. I would avoid phone calls as you may have a hard time getting a hold of the right person and for some, they are an annoyance. The last thing you want to do is annoy the person deciding on your future.
The final follow-up will come in coordination with the decision date that you were hopefully able to get from the interviewer. If you haven’t heard anything by then, you can send an e-mail or a note restating your interest in the position or perhaps mentioning that you do have other opportunities you would like to investigate and need to know what they’re thinking. Worst case scenario is that you won’t get an answer. And by that, you will already know your answer. But in most cases, you will receive some sort of communication letting you know what’s going on with the hiring process.
Why
If the word comes down that you weren’t selected for the job, you have to remember that this was one interview out of many, many more. Chances are pretty good that it wasn’t anything that you personally did wrong; it’s just that someone more qualified came along. If you feel like you can get away with it, you may want to ask the decision maker why you weren’t chosen. Be sure to do it politely and tactfully as you don’t want to seem like your attacking or questioning the interviewer’s decision. If you’re lucky, they will let you in on some invaluable information that you can then take with you on your next interview. If it was a skill that you were missing, you can now take the time to learn it before your next interview. This type of evaluation can be the most helpful thing that arises out of a job you didn’t get.
You can never avoid the wait, but with these little tips you may be able to lessen the anxiety and stress that may result from your wait. Don’t ever think that employers do it on purpose. They’re just as anxious to get the position filled as you are to fill it. Correct decisions take time and like any buyer, employers want to weigh their options and choose the best candidate for their company.
About the Author:
Jay Schroyer has worked in the client and customer service end of business for over five years in retail, advertising, and printing. He holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in English writing and communication.
This article is intended for general informational purposes and does not provide legal or other professional advice. All trademarks contained herein are the property of their respective owners. Please read our disclaimer for additional terms and conditions governing access to and use of this article.
