Your chance to impress a potential employer doesn’t end when you walk out of the interview. There are a number of post-interview steps you can take to make the case that you will be an asset to the company. We asked the experts to share some specific ideas.
Garrett Perks
Garrett is the Founder of EvenVision, a Northern California web development & digital marketing firm. He is a gifted communicator who works with a client’s marketing staff to understand the client’s unique identity and goals, and direct the design & development of creative marketing campaigns & web applications.
It is critical to understand the size and culture of a company you’re interviewing with. After any interview, the best steps will depend on the firm’s size and culture.
With smaller firms, you have a better chance of making a personal connection or impression upon the hiring manager, and that connection will matter more!
Always follow up with a polite email if you are able. Start preparing for that note in the interview itself – notice personal details and make a personal impression if you can, not just a professional one.
This is particularly important if you’re a candidate for a position such as a sales post where building personal connection is a key qualification. Notice sports teams, personal photos, an alma-mater or office decor. If you have an opportunity, make small talk about it. Build some memorable connection with the person.
If you do this right, the hiring manager has had an enjoyable time talking to you in the midst of a day otherwise filled with tedious work. I don’t like to admit it, but with years in hiring, I can tell you a bit of personal connection in a busy day of interviews can matter. And it’s memorable. It shows somebody with high emotional intelligence and an enjoyable presence. Especially at small firms this matters! If you’re hired, we will be spending 40+ hours per week working alongside you. Make the hiring manager or committee think that will be a pleasant experience!
If you do this well, you want to touch back to this personal connection when you write your post-interview follow-up note. This can be as simple as a pleasant reference in your concluding sentence expressing your enjoyment at the conversation or connection you had. Remind them that it was a pleasant and enjoyable interview!
Madelyn Mackie
Career Coach and Resume Writer
Madelyn Mackie is the career activator and helps professionals get clarity, get unstuck, and get hire madelynmackie.com
Tip #1: Send a thank you card/email immediately after the interview. With your thank you card, you should not only show your appreciation for their time and speaking with you about the opportunity, but you can also show the value you could provide the company. Include a tip, best practice, or resource on a topic that was discussed during the interview. Here is an article on how to improve productivity with sales teams. Many of the recommendations might be able to help with the issues we discussed.
Tip #2: Connect with the hiring manager on LinkedIn. But, before you do, make sure your LinkedIn profile is up to date, has a current profile and background photo, and you’ve cleaned house on your connections. Some hiring managers will review your mutual connections and reach out for a character reference from some they know and trust. That unofficial background check could either land the job or lose it.
Erin Howard
Erin Howard created Chirp Clarity to help people fly free from inner doubt, nervousness and self-destruction. Inspired by her childhood “friends” of wild birds and squirrels, she became a career counselor and coach to help people connect with their innate happiness and chirp freely and confidently in their own lives.
The people in the interview room become a valuable part of your career network as soon as you set foot in the door. You never know who you impressed so it’s crucial to nurture these relationships. Whether you were the first choice of the CEO or receptionist – someone in their network may be the key to unlocking your next career move. Simply send an “I hope you’re doing well!” LinkedIn message once per year – or make it even more impactful by sending a relevant news story or article. It will keep you relevant in their minds so when a new role at the company becomes open, or they know a guy who knows a guy who needs your qualifications, you’ll be the one they call.