While we acknowledge that there are different
opinions about what you should do after an interview;
there is little disagreement about what you should
NOT do. You should NOT do what most people do,
and that is nothing.
Sample Thank You Letter
Consider writing a very brief letter to the person(s)
who interviewed you to thank them for their time.
If you are interested in pursuing the opportunity,
tell them in the letter. This letter should not
exceed more than one page.
Dear Mr. Interviewer,
I write to thank you for the opportunity to meet
with you and discuss the ABC position.
Having met with you and heard more about the
company and the ABC position, I would like to
confirm my interest in the position.
I will you call on (you pick the day) to see
if you require any further information from me.
Yours sincerely
Name and signature.
Review the interview and:
- Consider the questions you had difficulty
with.
- Why?
- What could you have said better?
- What will you say next time?
- Consider the position carefully.
- Is it a position that suits your objectives
as far as:
- Career prospects?
- Company style?
- Growth potential?
- Personal values and ethics?
- If you are keen to be considered further
for the position, carry out further research;
- On the company (locally, regionally, globally).
- The industry it is in
- Its competitors
- Its customers
- Its suppliers
- If you have been told that you will be interviewed
again and/or have been asked for your referees:
- Alert your referees and tell them about the
company and the position you are being considered
for
- Ensure your referees have a current copy of
your resume
- If you have been told that you will not be
considered any further for the position and
it is still a company that you would like to
work for still thank the company for the opportunity
in writing – they may consider you for
a future position that may suit you. The person
they offer the position to may change their
mind and you may yet be reconsidered for the
position.
FOLLOWING UP AN APPLICATION
It is understandable that with the extensive use
of the internet to advertise positions and to
reply to those advertisements by email, that protocol
has changed. Many job applications do not receive
a response and many candidates do not follow up
their applications to assess why they were not
called for an interview. To some extent this can
be attributed to the ease with which an application
can be submitted and the vastly increased volumes
of applications received.
However we believe that you should never submit
an application for a position unless you are so
interested in the position that you will follow
the application up.
When you follow an application up:
- Allow three or four working days before calling.
This allows time for the bulk of responses to
reach the advertiser.
- If a position has a closing date, make your
call one or two days after the closing date.
- Where you find that the advertiser has read
your resume, ask whether you will be interviewed
and if the answer is negative, ask why.
- If you feel that certain aspects of your experience
have not been understood or have been overlooked
(it happens occasionally), provide details and
explain why you answered the advertisement initially.
State your case without being argumentative.
- If you are not going to be interviewed, accept
the decision and finish the conversation on
a positive note, having clarified your skills
and experience and what type of company and
role you are seeking. If you have called a recruiter,
you may be laying the foundation for a future
call about your ideal job.
a. Preparing
for the interview
b. Typical
interview questions
c. What to
do before the interview
d. What to
do during the interview
