First and foremost, take a deep breath and relax. You did it! The interview is over, and now it’s time to take a moment to yourself and process everything that just happened. This is an important step in the post-interview process, so don’t skip it! Once you’ve taken some time to relax and decompress, it’s time to start thinking about what you can do to improve your chances of getting the job.
One of the best things you can do is to send a thank-you note to the interviewer (or interviewers). Another great way to improve your chances of getting the job is to reach out to your network. If you know someone who works at the company, or even if you just know someone who knows someone, now is the time to ask for a favor. Finally, it’s important to keep in mind that the interview process is not over until you have signed a contract. So, even if you think you did everything right, don’t be surprised if you don’t hear back right away.
Here are a few things you can do after a job interview to help you make the most of the experience and improve your chances of getting the job.
Say thank you
Thank you messages go a long way. After an interview, you should send a quick thank you to the hiring manager. This shows your appreciation and will help you stand out from other candidates. Keep the thank you message short and sweet. Mention one positive thing from the interview and that you look forward to the opportunity.
Follow-Up Note
A few days following the interview, send a follow-up note to the hiring manager via e-mail or through the postal service. Thank the hiring manager for his time and reiterate your interest in the position. Also, add some additional points from what you talked about during your interview as well as thanking him for the opportunity to interview with you.
Timeline
After the interview is over, ask your interviewer about the timeline for the hiring process. This will help you understand when the manager plans to make a final decision and when you are expected to hear back. This allows you to set your own deadline for when you should go ahead and follow up.
Reflect
Thinking back over an interview or meeting can be uncomfortable, but sometimes it’s the only way to learn and improve. Try to understand what you did wrong and how to change things next time – or how you responded poorly to a question and, in this case, you need to know how to adapt your approach in the future.
Follow-Up Again
Check in with the hiring manager periodically to find out his hiring process status. Keep the follow-up within the timeframe given and without sounding too pushy. Don’t make frequent calls in hopes of getting the job.
Desire
After your interview, you get a moment to think back and ask: Is this the right job, and am I the right person for the job? Do I like the people and the culture? Are there better alternatives? Interviewees often decide they would rather pursue a different opportunity, or learn more in their new job, after they reflect upon the interview with the interviewer.
Patience
The recruitment process takes a lot longer than you expected. The job offer process has many obstacles, such as hiring managers being out of town, scheduling issues, HR delays and more. Also, don’t assume that because you haven’t heard a response means that you’re not getting the job. It likely just means they’re busy!
Apply for Other Jobs
Don’t stop looking for work while waiting on one interview. Even though interviews have gone well for you, there may be other candidates in the same position who are equally qualified, and so you will need to find a way to stand out. Therefore, continue to send out applications, resume and go to interviews while waiting to hear back about interviews already completed.
Move-On
Don’t be anxious while you’re waiting for the employer to call after the interview. After your interviews are over, and you’ve done any follow-ups, you should move on mentally. If the employer doesn’t call, you won’t lose any sleep or energy, since you didn’t have the position in the first place.
Explain
Never make an excuse for a mistake. However, if you feel that your answers were bad or that you left out an important detail, you can send a well-written professional follow-up letter to the recruiter. Only do so if the recruiter has made a note about your poor performance. “Forbes” says that explaining small mistakes the recruiter might have missed can draw attention to them.
Apologize
Don’t use the excuse “my interview was poor” to get out of going for the follow-up meeting. Candidates often put this in their explanation of why they didn’t follow up, but it isn’t a valid reason and comes across as childish. Even if you think you did horribly, follow up with the hiring manager and find out what happened.