Getting the Job After the Interview
Leave a Lasting Impression With Interviewers While They Deliberate
Oct 16, 2009
Today's high unemployment rate has created a large pool of job applicants and stiffer competition for jobs, so it is even more important to be set apart from the rest of the crowd. What potential candidates do to receive an interview and how they perform in that interview are only two parts of the equation. Each interview candidate needs to leave a lasting impression with his interviewers that will carry through their deliberations and leave them with no doubt that they are choosing the best candidate for the position. Remember, the interviewers’ perception is the candidates’ reality.
Show Gratitude for the Interview Opportunity
Remember to shake the hand of every person that participated in the interview and make eye contact with each one after the interview is over. A candidate who leaves the room without acknowledging the interviewers can leave a perception that he or she is not interested in the position or the organization. By smiling and shaking hands, the candidate leaves the impression that he or she has a warm personality that would integrate well into the organizational culture.
Send a note or e-mail of thanks for the interview. The thank you note acknowledges appreciation for the time the interviewers took out of their busy schedule to meet. Many candidates are too self-absorbed to realize that the interview is a two-sided investment, and they do not take advantage of this simple idea for getting themselves remembered. Taking these 5-10 minutes to set themselves apart will be the best time investment a candidate can make.
Following up after the interview is appropriate, but do not overdo it. The organization's Human Resources representative should provide a timeframe within which all candidates should hear from the company, but HR personnel are busy professionals. Give the process a chance to run its course, then call or e-mail them – once – and ask for a status update. If the interview candidates call too soon or too frequently, the HR representative may feel hounded and pass that negative perception on to the hiring manager. The perception of the HR rep could unduly influence the decision.
Be Respectful of the Organization and the Interview Process
Do not discuss any interviews on social media sites during the process or after it is over. The interview is a privilege extended to the interview candidate by an organization that has as much at stake in the process as the candidates. Job seeking is the time to build bridges, not burn them down. Posting feelings about the interview or the organization as a result of the interview could raise questions with other potential employers about a person’s integrity.
If the interview panel decides to bring a smaller group of candidates back for a second interview, be a gracious participant. Some organizations require multiple interview rounds, while others may be facing a tough decision among a group of similarly qualified candidates. Remain professional. Do not get discouraged, nor assume that anyone has won the job. The second interview is of equal or greater importance than the first, and any change in behavior could leave nagging questions in the minds of the interviewers and leave the best candidate without the position.
Resumes and interviews are important keys to landing the job, but the impression the interview candidate gives after the interview could provide the winning edge. Remember that perception is reality. Candidates that remain professional will provide themselves with every opportunity for success in the next step.
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