Interview Guide Part III: After the Job Interview

Last but not least, after the interview preparation mentioned in Part I and preparation for the actual interview mentioned in Part II, the final closure to this job interview guide is Part III: Following up with the interviewer after the interview.

Part III: Follow-Up after the Interview

These two actions are the final steps to a job interview preparation: sending a thank you note/letter after the interview and critiquing your interview performance.

Sending a thank you note after your interview can mean the difference between you with a job or not. Hiring managers interview several, if not hundreds of applicants. By sending a thank you letter, you are able to leave a more permanent image of you inside the mind of the interviewer. A thank you note can also show your general interest in the job and may help you stand out.

Do not just send out one thank you letter to the hiring manager if there were multiple interviewers involved. If other organizations and personnel within the company assisted or helped conduct the interview hiring process, be sure to send out thank you notes to everyone involved. Here are some suggestions of what should be included inside your thank you letter.

• Thank the employer for his or her time during the process of a job interview

• Mention what you’ve learned during the interview, especially aspects you feel qualified for

• If there is something you forgot to mention during the interview, mention it in the thank you letter

• If necessary, invite the employer to contact you for more information

• That you look forward to the employer’s decision

• If further paperwork is requested from the hiring manager, attach requested paperwork onto the thank you letter addressed: “As requested, I am forwarding letters of recommendation and certification materials.”

• Signing your thank you letter

Last but not least, the final step to a job interview preparation is to carefully evaluate your interview performance. Go over everything you did during the interview: how well you think you answered questions, how well you maintained eye contact, if your posture was appropriate, the quality of you responses to the questions asked etc.

Practice answering questions that caught you off guard by writing it down. Analyze all the times you felt uncomfortable and see how you can handle similar situations in the future. This is the best way to improve your interviewing skills. If you don’t evaluate your interview performance, understand your strengths and weakness during an interview, you will unlikely improve your future interviews.