 Immediately Afterwards
As soon as you get to your car or bus, go to work:
- Take notes about details such as people's names, their personal
information and what you learned about the company. You will forget
if you don't!
- Congratulate yourself for doing your best.
- Send thank you letters to each interviewer, including the person
who arranged the interview. Fax, mail or email your thank you depending
on how soon they'll make a decision (see Following
Up).
- Evaluate your strengths and weaknesses during the interview and
identify how you can improve.
A Few Days Later
Follow-up with your reference people:
- Ask if the employer called.
- Ask how the conversation went.
- Thank them for their help.
The decision process can be slow. If you haven't heard back, follow
up directly with the employer!
- Call the lead interviewer to express your interest and check on
the decision's status.
- If you have other offers, let the interviewer know — it may
help prod a decision.
- Ask a few more questions about the job — it shows your enthusiasm
and thoughtfulness.
- Be patient.
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To Accept an Offer
Congratulations! You've been offered the job. Now you need to agree
on the terms of employment.
- Call the employer immediately and arrange to meet to discuss terms
(see Negotiations).
- After the negotiations, send a follow-up letter to express your
enthusiasm and confirm the terms.
To Decline an Offer
Congratulations! You've been offered the job. If you don't want it,
though, you need to move quickly.
- Notify the employer immediately.
- Keep the doors open, e.g., "This position doesn't seem like
the best fit but please consider me for other openings" or "I
appreciate the offer very much but I've just accepted another position."
If you Don't Get an
Offer
Congratulations again. Every "rejection" brings you one step
closer to the job that's right for you. Now's your chance to "turn
those lemons into lemonade!"
- Ask why you were turned down; it might help you improve your interview
skills or change directions.
- Ask if the employer knows of other opportunities.
- Ask the employer to keep you in mind for future positions.
- Send another follow-up letter, thanking the interviewers for their
time.
- Assess what you might do differently next time.
- Remember that being the most qualified doesn't mean you'll always
get the job.
- Remember that every interview "fails" but the
last one
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Step Five Interview: After