INTERVIEWS: The Day After

When it comes to interviews you can think positively and be prepared or you can think of it as impending doom. With all of the hurricanes and floods we have had this year I started to think about how we prepared for them. Could I have done more? Did I do the best I could to get ready?

I feel that this idea relates to every aspect of a job search, but most importantly, with the day after an interview. You can read my previous blogs for information about getting your foot in the door and being prepared for the interview, but most people just sit there and wait for a call that may never come because you did't follow through.

So congratulations if you’ve gotten your foot in the door and had an initial interview with a prospective employer. The interview has finished and now you sit there wondering what’s next. At this point, many people begin dissecting the interview in their minds and second-guessing themselves as to their answers, demeanor and even body language. It is certainly useful to reflect on the interview, but it should be done in a productive way. There is no use stewing about what has already happened – better to think about ways to improve in future. Here are some tips that may help you focus your post-interview energies in a positive and useful way.

IMMEDIATELY POST-INTERVIEW

Don’t fret about the interview

This is perhaps the most important tip we can give. Post-interview anxiety can be tremendous, especially if pressures are mounting in your current position or you have been searching for work for an extended period. Take a deep breath and remind yourself that, during the interview, you conveyed to the employer, to whatever degree, a sense of your own unique personality and qualities. This is something you cannot fail. If you ultimately don’t get the job, then better to know at the outset that there may not be a fit rather than when you’ve actually taken the position.

Write down your impressions of the interview:

It is good to keep a written record of the interview while it is still fresh in your mind. You can refer to this record and use it for future reference to prepare for a possible second interview and, over the long term, to not only improve your interview technique. When sending a thank you letter, you can include a small detail about your conversation that will make the interviewer remember you, thus, making a lasting impression.

Follow up with a thank you

Always make sure that you are able to obtain the interviewer’s full contact details (probably easiest by asking for a business card) so that you can email or snail mail them a thank you note. This serves a few purposes. First, it keeps your name at the forefront of the interviewer’s mind and, perhaps just as importantly, it conveys your professionalism and courtesy – both could ultimately mean the difference your between getting the job or not.

Be prepared for further interviews

Some employers will move very quickly after initial interviews and may conduct a second interview immediately afterwards, or want to give you a guided tour of the premises. If you do have the opportunity to return at a later date then this means doing more in-depth research on the organization and, just as importantly, determining in your own mind how serious you are about the position.

Line up references

If you have not done so already, you should begin contacting your references so that, in the event that the process expedites, you and your references will be prepared for the employer’s call. Of course, your references from your current employer need not be forewarned at this stage as you do not want to disclose your hand too early. You would normally wait until you know that an offer is definitely coming (or is in front of you) before contacting these references.

THE SECOND INTERVIEW

Review your resume

Prior to going for a second interview, you may want to review your resume again so that you are prepared to discuss your background in greater detail. This is useful since, oftentimes, a first interview is a preliminary meeting used to determine if there would be a fit within the organization based on your personality and demeanor. The second interview may delve more deeply into your actually experience and qualifications.

Obtain feedback

You may also want to obtain feedback from any contacts you may have. If you do not have contacts, then you can get a sense of how the hiring manager feels about you, simply by asking. Asking questions at the end of the interview is a key component of the interview process and should not be dismissed. “Do you have any questions for us?” This is an open door to switch the roles of the interviewer and interviewee. It also allows you to show that you are prepared for the interview which is a strong indication of your professionalism and sincerity. Asking questions also allows you to begin to perceive the employer’s initial impressions of you so that you can attempt to improve or clarify any perceived weaknesses. Ultimately, however, you should not tailor your answers or demeanor to the extent that you are a different person. Be yourself. Do make a point of inquiring with the interviewer how many more steps there are in the process, what those steps are and the timeframe for the entire process. This not only shows to the interviewer that you are forward-thinking and organized, but also allows you to plan your own time in order to accommodate any further steps in the process.

Show passion and interest

This may seem trite, but you would not believe the number of candidates who, after making it past the initial interview, jeopardize their chances for a position by not conveying to the interviewer at the second interview, the requisite zest or energy for the position. This is a sure sign that you have not completed the thinking process in your own mind as to how committed you really are to the job. A second interview is not a guarantee that you are going to be offered a job. Walking in and thinking that this is just a formality or you will be making small talk and negotiating salary is a quick way to end the interview in the eyes of the hiring manager. Remember that chances are this will come across no matter how hard you try to hide it, so be prepared to have some new questions and freshen up your responses if they ask similar questions.