The Follow Up

By Corinne Feight

According to an article written by the Robert Half International firm titled, “6 Tips for Acing the Post-Interview Thank You,” the aftermath of an interview is one of the most important parts for putting your best foot forward after the career fair. Your work is not yet done! According to the article, “91 percent of managers believe it’s helpful for job candidates to show their appreciation after an interview.” Yet, not every candidate will remember to follow these steps, ensuring that you do will get you closer to that end goal.

However, though extending a branch to your interviewer is important, do not bombard them right after the interview. As Lisa Snodgrass aptly informed me, this only shows them that you took five minutes to consider the interview and respond when they may have taken an hour. Try instead to wait 24-48 hours and give them the response and thank you they deserve.

Here are the six tips:

1.     Choose the right medium. The article states that e-mail is ranked first, then phone call, handwritten note, and social media message.

2.     Act fast. You want your interviewee to remember you. Contact them within one to two days after the interview.

3.     Keep it concise. Remain focused in your message. There is no need to ramble on. Relate to the employer your enthusiasm about the company, position, and your appreciation. Consider hitting your top selling points again as a reminder.

4.     Share the love. Did you come in contact with multiple people during the interview process? Show them all that you remember and appreciate their time. Maybe a phone call to your main contact and a letter to any others. Remember to make these unique to each conversation and interaction.

5.     No grammar mistakes or typos. Proofread, proofread, proofread. Ask someone else to look your work over. Any errors can seriously lessen your chance of getting the job or opportunity.

6.     Practice good penmanship. If using a handwritten note, make sure it is legible and on quality paper that shows you took the extra time. Consider working with personalized stationary.

Interviews provide no guarantee. However, through my (chaotic!) career week process, I have tried to follow the words of Steve Martin, “Be so good they can’t ignore you.” Remember that these six tips for after the interview can really help you to continue heading in a positive direction. Good luck to anyone at Purdue who interviewed and is still working to find his/her perfect fit.

Source: http://msn.careerbuilder.com/Article/MSN-3091-Interviewing-6-tips-for-acing-the-post-interview-thank-you/?SiteId=cbmsnhp43091&sc_extcmp=JS_3091_home1