Merito Group is a US-based woman-owned business providing data-driven talent acquisition solutions including consulting services based in the Washington D.C. area. We understand that candidates face a lot of pressure when applying for a new position and that is why we offer individualized coaching to help candidates gain the confidence to crush their interview. But when it comes to impressing a potential employer, performing well during the interview is only half the battle.
In fact, bestselling management author and CNBC contributor Suzy Welch believes that what you do after an interview can “make or break your chances of getting an offer.”
Many candidates spend the time after an interview wondering when they are supposed to reach out, considering whether they should call or email. However, there are things you could do to help you get hired.
In this article, we’ll discuss the waiting period after an interview and how you can use it to secure your dream job.
The period of time after an interview is very important
The period after an interview provides you the opportunity to, again, present yourself as a professional. You have the chance to do this during your interview, but you can reinforce it in the post-interview by following up on the practices outlined in this article. It is a chance to elevate yourself as a candidate by keeping your name fresh in the interviewer’s mind. Taking the right steps after an interview shows eagerness for the job which can be a deciding factor if you’re being closely considered against other candidates.
- Write Down Anything You Want to Remember
If there is anything you want to remember, outside of how you answered the questions and what you did and didn’t say, write that down too. Perhaps you had an interview with more than one person; write down their names. Don’t forget to write down insights you gleaned about the office environment that you have further questions about. If you get a second interview it’s good to have those notes to remember about the interviewers and what you discussed previously.
- Write a Thank You Note
Thank you notes are critical to showing an employer you appreciate their time. That’s why Welch says you should send a personalized thank you note to every person you interviewed immediately after your meeting.
“Guess what? Hiring managers often compare thank you notes,” Suzy Welch says. “So, no cutting or pasting.”
She adds that each note should contain at least one piece of meaningful information that “expands on an answer you gave or includes a relevant link to a topic you discussed.”
- Connect on LinkedIn
Welch recommends sending your interviewers an invitation to connect on LinkedIn, along with a message that refers back to your meeting.
“Don’t just click a button,” she warns. “Say something about how much you enjoyed meeting and discussing x, y, or z.”
- Send any supporting documents
If there are any supporting documents or portfolios required, send that post-interview. Getting these back in a timely fashion should be a top priority.
- Be patient
Waiting for a response after a job interview can be excruciating, but Welch explains that under no circumstance should you pester an employer with back-to-back calls and piles of emails.
“All of your post-interview communication should come within 12 hours,” she says. “Then, give your interviewers at least a week before reaching out again.”
Welch warns that there is a “fine line between eager and desperate” and says that failing to understand the difference can put you at risk of “damaging the good impression you made during the interview.”