"Preparing for a successful interview" (page 8/8)
Step 8: What happens next?
So you’ve just got through the interview! Well done!!
By following Steps 1 to 7 of ‘Preparing for a successful interview’ you gave yourself the best chance possible!!
So what happens next?
Many interview guides encourage you to write a ‘thank you’ note or email to your interviewer. I must admit, I have received plenty these notes, but they have very little (if any) bearing on whether I will select the candidate or not.
That said, as long as they are carefully worded, and don’t make you sound desperate, then there appears little downside to sending one, so by all means go ahead and do so.
One trick that does make these notes particularly powerful, however, is to refer to one of the conversations you had during the interview. That makes you farmore memorable. Something along the lines of “As you could probably tell, I particularly enjoyed our discussion on the future strategy of XYZ Corp and the efforts they are making to expand into overseas markets”
Right now, while the interview is still fresh in your mind, sit down and try to write as full a list as possible about what went well in the interview, and what you would like to have improved.
From here, there are going to be one of two responses from the company – either you’ve been successful (which could mean you’ve got the job, or you’re through to the next round of interviews – it doesn’t stop does it?) or unfortunately on this occasion you were unsuccessful.
At this point, if you were unsuccessful, it is always a good idea to write a thank you letter. No company enjoys disappointing a candidate, and remember, they thought you were special enough to offer you an interview in the first place. Anything you can do to show that you are parting company on good terms will make them feel positively towards you which could have a number of benefits:
- Firstly, it is not unheard of for their first choice of candidate to turn the job offer down. If it had been a very close decision between you and the other candidate, then the company is likely to give you a call. And if they’ve received a nice note from you in the meantime, that makes it all the more likely!!
- Secondly, there may be other opportunities within the firm, either now or in the future. When they come to review your next application they will again look to see if you’ve previously applied to the company, and the well written thank you note will be the first thing they see. How’s that for creating a positive impression!
- Finally, you could use this opportunity to ask for some feedback. Don’t ask why you didn’t get the job. That sounds as though you thought you should have, and that you are questioning their judgement. Instead, ask what advice they could give you to improve your performance in future interviews. Some companies will give it and some won’t, but it doesn’t hurt to ask!!
Now sit down with your list of good points and bad points from the interview, go through steps 1 to 7 again, and practice hard to fix those bad points in time for your next interview!!
Good luck!!
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