The Do’s and Don’ts of Job Interview Follow Up

You’ve made it through the job interview process and now you’re breathing a big sigh of relief. Although it certainly is true that the bulk of the work is done, if you really want to land the job, it is all about the follow-up from this point forward.

Far too many people go on the interview and then just sit back and wait for the job to come for them. Keep in mind that you may not be the only person that interviewed. You may be considered, but along with a list of others. With the proper strategies in place, you can follow up and land the job you want.

HAVE AN INTERVIEW FOLLOW-UP PLAN

First of all, it’s important to have a plan in place rather than just going about it haphazardly. If you’ve ever seen the movie, Swingers, you know how difficult it can be when you are stuck in an endless cycle of leaving messages, one after the other. Have a plan and follow through.

GATHER INFORMATION

Believe it or not, the follow-up process begins while you are still sitting in the hot seat at the interview. Rather than just getting up, shaking hands and parting ways, get all of the information necessary to make your follow up effective. This would include finding out when the employer is expecting to make a hiring decision. You should also get business cards or at the very least, the names and titles of the people who interviewed you.

WRITE A FOLLOW-UP EMAIL

An immediate email after the interview process is always welcome. It lets them know that you are interested in the job, and it helps to keep your name in the front of their mind. Don’t stop at the email, however, send a handwritten and personalized letter or card to the individuals who interviewed you. This should be done within 1-2 business days. A short note is all that is really necessary; just try to personalize it if you can.

When sending any follow-up mail, particularly if it is handwritten, pay close attention to spelling and grammar. Have somebody look it over carefully. We live in a world that makes it easy to spell check when we’re using an electronic device but it is not always 100% accurate so proofread and use a second set of eyes.

NOTIFY YOUR REFERENCES

If the employer is serious about hiring you, they are going to do their own follow-up and contact your references. Now would be a good time for you to contact the references to ensure that they are prepared for the inevitable phone call from the potential employer.

KEEP APPLYING FOR JOBS

Are you confident that you are going to land the job? Don’t simply sit back on your haunches and wait for the phone to ring. It takes anywhere from 24 hours up to 2 weeks to hear from a company after the interview in many cases. You can be actively applying for other jobs, just in case things don’t go in your favor.

BUILD CONNECTIONS

Finally, be careful not to burn any bridges if the job offer does not come your way. There is always the opportunity to reapply for the same position or to go back to the company at some time in the future. Always keep your options open.