Following
up on a job interview is crucial. Even if you blow the interview, it pays to
get in touch after the fact.
Ideally
your interviews always go smoothly, and after each one you craft an effective
note thanking the interviewer for the time, expressing enthusiasm and making it
clear you listened closely to the hirer’s requirements. The follow-up letter is almost like a proposal letter. You should
tailor it to the company and suggest specific ways you can address the needs
you discussed when you met.
A
follow-up note should always focus on what the hiring manager’s looking for. You
should say, ‘I listened, I understand your needs and your challenges, and
here’s how I can help you address those.’ Ideally you should remind the
interviewer of what you’ve accomplished in the past, and make a couple of
concrete suggestions for how you can help the company.
Do
send the follow-up note as soon as possible. If you don’t have time to craft a
longer note, consider sending a short thank-you immediately, mentioning that
you want to give further thought to the challenges you discussed and promising
to send a more in-depth message soon.
If
you’ve met with more than one person in the interview process, think about what
will make for an appropriate note to each. For instance, if you interviewed
with someone who would be reporting to you if you get the job, you can say
something like, “It sounds like you’re working on some interesting projects. It
would be great to have you as a colleague.”
HR
professionals tend to struggle with overloaded calendars. It’s always a good
idea to send a follow-up e-mail, but if the interview was at a large company, don’t
be surprised if you don’t hear back. Ask the HR person during the interview how
he or she would like you to stay in touch.
Do
not curb your enthusiasm. A lot of job seekers forget that one of the most
crucial parts of interviewing is convincing the hiring manager that you truly
desire the job. Interviewers don’t just look for applicants who have the
requisite skills and will fit in with a company. Now more than ever, they want
candidates who want them.
You
can get across your enthusiasm in many ways, preparing an arsenal of stories
illustrating your skills, strengths and accomplishments is a good way to go.
Rather than bragging in a general way about your abilities, describe specific
experiences that show you putting those skills to use. You can speak animatedly
about the pleasure and pride you took in overcoming obstacles. One advantage of
storytelling over plain boasting is that it is the interviewer who draws the
conclusion.
In
addition to offering stories that illustrate your strengths, use a direct
approach and tell the interviewer how thrilled you’d be to work for her and for
her organization in particular. Describe other offers or discussions you’ve got
going, and let the interviewer know she is your first choice.
Most
applicants understand that they should do their homework, learning as much as
they can about a company and a job, before going in for an interview. Candidates
who haven’t done basic research still show up.
Ahead
of time, take a notebook, jot down a few points to help you remember your best
stories and note three questions to ask about the specific job and the company.
Then, when the interview starts, ask permission to take notes. Use your
notebook as a cheat sheet.
Before
the interview winds up, ask where you stand compared with the ideal candidate.
Then ask how you compare with other applicants. These questions emphasize how
much you want the job and help you take action after the interview.
Write
a follow-up note that addresses any ways you were told you might not fit the
ideal mold. You can turn a no into a yes through diligent, enthusiastic
follow-up. In the interview sometimes the most important thing you can do is
get the information you need to sell yourself.
1. Show
enthusiasm - Make sure you show your eagerness about both the job and the
organization. Start by making sure you know everything you should about the
position and the company before the interview begins.
2. How
I can help - Explain how your previous experience and your fresh ideas can
solve problems and make a contribution at the new job.
3. Tell
specific stories - Come to the interview prepared with at least three
experiences you can describe to illustrate how you tackled challenges and met
and surpassed goals.
4. Say
how much you want the job - Look the interviewer in the eye, say you want to
work for her and why. Let her know of any other offers you've got or interviews
you'll be having, and make it clear that you favor this job above all the
others.
5. Refer
to notes - Use a notebook as a cheat sheet of stories to tell and points to
make in the interview. Then ask the interviewer if she minds if you take notes
during the interview.
6. Ask
how you compare with the ideal candidate - Before the interview concludes, ask
how you compare with the ideal job candidate and how you stack up against other
applicants.
7. Follow
up - Rather than a simple thank-you letter, write a detailed note addressing
any hesitations about you that may have come to light during the interview.
