Interview is done. What's next?

What you do AFTER the interview can set you apart significantly and increase your chances of being offered the job.  So, what do you do first? Yes, the Thank You note is the next step in the process.

Thank You Note

The first — and most important — thing to do is to send a follow-up note. The etiquette for thank you letters after the interview has changed as email takes a larger role in communication during the hiring process. Surveys reveal a wide disparity of preferences among hiring managers about whether a handwritten or emailed note is best. However, what hasn’t changed is the need to send a thank you note. It’s a MUST.

If you have decent penmanship and access to preprinted thank you cards AND can handwrite a note immediately after the interview, go for it. Just make sure you mail it right away so that it arrives the next day, or within 2-3 days of the interview. Make sure you address the card correctly and you’ve spelled everything correctly, especially the interviewer’s name.

Email is also acceptable for sending a thank you message. Just make sure you address the email to the right person. Send it from you personal yet professional email address.  Do NOT use your work email address or something like, cutiepie38@hotmail.com.

The best post-interview thank you notes are brief and to the point.

Cover these four points:

1.     Address the person by name. (Ms. Jones or Mr. Smith, not “Bob” or “Nancy,” unless the interviewer directed you to use his or her first name.)

2.     Thank them for their time and the opportunity to interview for the (name of position).

3.     Mention one thing from the interview that especially resonated with you, or mention an issue (or answer a question) that you felt you didn’t address properly in the interview. But don’t take an apologetic tone. Instead, say something like, “I wanted to clarify what we talked about with curriculum development. I should have emphasized that I do have experience in lesson planning and creating course outlines, having prepared a comprehensive course syllabus as part of my graduate class on Classroom Management. I would be happy to forward you a copy of these materials for your review, if you’d like.”

4.     Confirm the “next step” from the interview, including what action you will take — or what you’re expecting from the interviewer.

Follow-Up With Your References

After writing your thank you note, you should also immediately contact anyone who you provided to the company as a reference. Let them know about your interview and how it went, and prepare them to answer any questions that might have come up during the interview. And ask the reference to let you know if they are contacted for a reference check. 

Next week, we’ll discuss more tips on following-up.

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New Leaf Career Solutions is a career consulting boutique that redefines individuals and small businesses professional brands.  New Leaf partners with each client to provide quality résumés, cover letters, bios, brochures and much more.  Visit newleafcareersolutions.com to schedule an appointment.  Follow on Facebook and Twitter for daily tips.  Call today to turn over a New Leaf !!