Congratulations – you have successfully got through the job interview. The hard part’s over now (phew!) – but you’re not out of the woods just yet. Regardless of how you feel the interview went, here are some steps to take after a job interview that can help to improve your chances:
#1 Conduct an interview assessment
Immediately after your job interview, or at least within 24 hours while it’s still fresh in your mind, you should do an interview assessment. Write down the name(s) of your interviewer(s) and their email addresses. Keep a note of the interview questions that you were asked and the answers that you gave. Assess your own interview performance – what went well and what didn’t go well? What could you have done differently in a future interview? Was there any questions that you felt were particularly challenging or hard? Do you have any follow-up questions after the interview that you didn’t get to ask? Was there anything else that you didn’t get to mention in the interview? Some of these can be included in your follow-up email, or even the next interview (if there are any).
#2 Send a thank you email
Within 24-48 hours after your job interview, send an email to your interviewer(s) to thank them for their time and to reiterate your interest in the role and organization. If you have any follow-up questions (see Step #1), you may also ask them here. However, try not to bombard them with too many questions at the same time. Wherever possible, try to reference something specific from the interview. This can help the interviewers to remember who you are and what you talked about.
#3 Don’t stop the job search
Even if the job interview was perfect, you need to be prepared for the worst-case scenario in case of negative news. Keep working on your job applications and attend any other interviews that you may have scheduled. You need to keep your options open and explore the different opportunities that you may have. The notes that you make in Step #1 can also be useful in other upcoming interviews.
#4 Evaluate the job and organization
Remember that a job interview is a two-way street. It is not only the time for the employer to assess your suitability for the role, but it is also your opportunity to see whether the job and organization fit what you are looking for. Was there anything that the interviewer(s) said that really stood out to you? Check for any red or green flags that could indicate whether or not the company culture and values would fit your own personal values. You can also use this time to get connected to people working in the organization and get some feedback about their experiences.
#5 Reach out to your references
In some cases, companies may start reaching out to your references after your interview. This may be a good time to reach out to them and update them on your job applications. Let them know that someone may be reaching out to them, and update them on what you may want them to highlight in their reference. This can help them to be better prepared to help you, and also make you feel more confident that your referees are ready for the call.
#6 Be patient and trust the process.
At the end of the day, there is so much that we can do as individuals. Certain things are out of our control, such as how long the HR people would take to respond or how many other candidates they are interviewing. So, learn to let go of some control, stay calm, and focus on what you can control. You have done all that you can, so now it is time to let the world takes things to where it’s supposed to be.
If you need help preparing for a job interview, you can check out our interview preparation packages here.