You just had a great interview and you want to make a lasting impression on the hiring manager. How can you show your appreciation and interest in a professional and memorable way? Follow these tips to craft a thoughtful and effective post-interview communication strategy.
One of the most important steps after an interview is to send a thank-you note to the interviewer(s) within 24 hours. This is not only a polite gesture, but also a way to reiterate your enthusiasm, highlight your strengths, and address any concerns or questions that came up during the interview. You can send a thank-you note via email, handwritten card, or both, depending on the company culture and your personal preference. Make sure to personalize each note with specific details and examples from the interview, and avoid generic or copy-pasted messages.
Thank you emails can be the difference between getting a call back or a rejection. If you meet multiple people during the interview, write a personalized thank you email to each person that underscores the conversation you had with them.
If there was an especially productive interaction (they were impressed with something you said or did) in the interview, remind them of it.
Another way to express your appreciation and interest after an interview is to follow up with relevant updates that showcase your value and fit for the role. For example, you can share a recent accomplishment, a relevant article, a project update, or a positive feedback that you received from a previous employer or client. You can also use this opportunity to ask for an update on the hiring process, if you haven't heard back from the employer within the expected timeframe. However, be careful not to follow up too frequently or too aggressively, as this may come across as desperate or annoying. A good rule of thumb is to follow up once a week or once every two weeks, unless the employer tells you otherwise.
If the interview went really well, it's hard to resist the impulse to pester them. But resist. There can be lots of reasons why they are slow to respond. It is good to ask at the end of the interview when you can expect to hear back. There is nothing wrong with asking this. It will give you and idea of how many more interviews they are doing and then you can plan your follow up.
Another way to express your appreciation and interest after an interview is to connect with the interviewer(s) and other relevant contacts on social media platforms, such as LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook. This can help you build rapport, stay in touch, and learn more about the company and its culture. However, before you send a connection request, make sure to customize your message with a brief introduction and a reference to the interview. Also, be respectful of the professional boundaries and privacy preferences of the people you connect with, and avoid posting or commenting anything inappropriate or irrelevant.
Another way to express your appreciation and interest after an interview is to showcase your skills and expertise through your online presence, such as your portfolio, blog, website, or podcast. This can help you demonstrate your value proposition, your passion, and your continuous learning and development. You can also use these platforms to share your insights, opinions, and perspectives on topics related to the industry, the role, or the company. This can help you establish your credibility, authority, and thought leadership, and attract the attention and interest of the employer.
Another way to express your appreciation and interest after an interview is to ask for referrals or recommendations from your network, such as your former colleagues, managers, mentors, or clients. This can help you increase your chances of getting hired, as referrals and recommendations can boost your reputation, credibility, and trustworthiness. You can also use this opportunity to thank your network for their support and guidance, and offer to return the favor in the future. However, be careful not to ask for referrals or recommendations from people who don't know you well, or who may have a conflict of interest or a negative impression of you.
The last and most important way to express your appreciation and interest after an interview is to be positive and proactive. Don't let the stress, anxiety, or uncertainty of the job search affect your attitude, motivation, or confidence. Instead, focus on the positive aspects of the interview, the feedback, and the opportunity, and use them to improve your skills, knowledge, and performance. Also, don't stop applying for other jobs, networking with other professionals, or learning new things, as this can help you expand your options, increase your visibility, and enhance your value. By being positive and proactive, you can show the employer that you are a resilient, adaptable, and enthusiastic candidate, who is ready to take on any challenge and succeed in any role.
Especially after an interview that you think went very well, go back at it, applying to more positions, networking and generally keeping active in the job search. If you stop all this because you think you are getting the job, and then it falls through, you have no other prospects. Wouldn't it be great to have more than one offer to entertain?