August 17, 2023
We’ve all heard the best practices before and during a job interview — dressing professionally, maintaining eye contact, answering practice questions, researching the company and so on. But what about tips for after the interview? We’ve created this list of essential post-interview tips to help job candidates leave a lasting impression on employers and hiring managers.
Those few days following a job allow individuals to take the time to:
Spending time reflecting on interview performance, writing a thank-you note, looking up the interviewer on LinkedIn and noting important things about the job and company can help candidates make a lasting impression and solidify themselves as upstanding candidates. Below, we’ll cover some constructive steps to take after a job interview.
A candidate should gauge what the next steps will look like. They can ask the interviewer about the following details:
Exchanging phone numbers or email addresses allows interviewees to get ahold of the hiring manager if needed. For instance, if a candidate doesn’t hear from the employer within the specified time window, they might consider reaching out and politely inquiring about the status of the interviewer’s decision.
The employer also needs the candidate’s contact information so they can reach out once they’ve made a decision. Exchanging contact information serves as a fundamental post-interview step.
Following the interview, a candidate should jot down their answers to any questions they remember. They can review their responses and how confident they feel in them. Additionally, candidates can reflect on questions or topics they wish the interviewer would have asked.
Evaluating performance helps the candidate note strong answers for future interviews and identify improvement areas. It also helps reveal untapped talking points.
After the interview, the candidate should consider their overall perception of the company and job. Have their feelings changed since they first applied? Here are some reflection questions that would be beneficial to think about after an interview:
In addition to writing down answers to questions and discussion points for future interviews, interviewees can note other things worth remembering about the company. Some examples include:
Writing a thank-you note within one to two days of the interview expresses a candidate’s gratitude for the interviewer’s time and willingness to speak with them. It’s also a good opportunity for an applicant to reaffirm their interest in the company and position. The note can be handwritten or sent via email.
A written note may be more appropriate after an in-person meeting, while an email thank-you note may be more suitable after a video or phone interview. An emailed message will also be received more quickly. Timely receipt should be a vital consideration if there’s a limited timeframe for the hiring decision.
However, a formal handwritten card might be more acceptable in some industries. If a candidate has any connections in a similar industry, they might consider asking that connection for advice. Whether a written or typed-out message, proofread it carefully to ensure it’s free of typos and grammatical errors.
Connect with the interviewer on different social networking platforms — such as LinkedIn — after the interview. Their accepting the request could indicate their interest in learning more about a candidate. Additionally, applicants with extensive professional networks can learn about job opportunities faster than their counterparts who solely use job portals during their search.
Connecting on LinkedIn can help an interviewee sell themselves to the employer. Recruiters and hiring managers can learn more about the candidate’s experiences and achievements by viewing their LinkedIn profile. The candidate should regularly share posts, engage in discussions and update their profile information to build and reinforce their personal brand.
Employers will more likely remember a candidate with a unique brand and accomplishments. As a result, the interviewer may be more inclined to consider that candidate for the role. In fact, a job applicant with a comprehensive LinkedIn profile is 71% more likely to get an interview.
Even if an interviewee ends up in a different role and organization, connecting with the employer on social media still serves as a valuable part of the post-interview timeframe. It helps the candidate grow their personal network and keep an eye out for future opportunities.
If the employer, recruiter or hiring manager requests any additional supporting documents, be sure to send them after the interview. For example, the interviewer may ask an applicant to provide the following resources:
Try to organize and submit these documents as soon as possible. Like always, ensure up-to-date, grammatically correct and typo-free text.
If a candidate included references in their application, they should inform these references that a company representative may contact them after the interview.
Ideally, the candidate would have asked these individuals about using them as references before applying for the position. Even so, it’s a common and courteous practice to inform the references that they may receive a phone call. That way, they know to expect it.
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