The MicroTrain Blog

You have been working your job search plan, building a network, reaching out to employers, colleagues, career centers and you now have completed an interview!  All is good and now you ask “what do I do from here” The first step is sit down take a few moments and review the interview and prepare to follow up.

During the interview the interviewer should have provided an outline of a schedule and potential next steps.  Now, what is the first thing to do when you get home? Write a thank you note/email to each person you met during the interview.

First action after meeting each interview is getting their business card. The best way to get their card it is ask the interviewer before you leave. Most business cards will provide information you will need, name of the interviewer, title, email address, phone number and mailing address.

Second, send a thank you email to each of the interviewers thanking them for the interview. Include in each of your thank you emails a specific topic you discussed during the interview stating how your experience will meet their needs.  Write your emails as soon as the interview has been completed so the thank you is either in their email that day or the following morning.

Third, place a follow-up phone call to the interviewer several days after the interview. There is no hard and fast rule here however; a follow up call should be placed within five to seven days after the interview.  In your call state your   continued interest in the job and ask if there is any further information needed from you. If the interviewer is not available when you call, leave that basic message on their voice mail.

Fourth, send mail letter via U.S. Postal Service.  This letter further expresses your interest in the job and summarizes some of your strongest points. A hard copy letter will also increase your odds of being remembered.  Few candidates follow up in writing regarding a job, this action further demonstrate your professionalism and helps you stand out. From this point forward follow once per week until the job has been filled rotating between email and phone calls. 

Many applicants misunderstand the importance of follow up thinking they do not want to bother the hiring manager it is essential to avoid this mistake.   Some employers wait or postpone decisions regarding new hires and offering jobs.  During this time employers observe who follows up and this can be as important as the interview itself. Average applicants do not follow up; keep in mind jobs are achieved in the follow up.

If you didn't get the job, that's okay because there is a better one waiting and the employer has now missed out on hiring the best person for the job.  I have seen this played out with many candidates, dust you off and keep looking. There will be a company smart enough to hire you. The right job is looking for you right now.

Dos and don’ts

• Do be proactive and consider follow-up a strategic part of your job search process. Follow-up can give you just the edge you need to get the job offer over others who interviewed for the position.

• Do use these follow-up techniques to continue to show your enthusiasm and desire for the position, but don't make it seem as though you are desperate.

• Do obtain the correct titles and names of all the people who interviewed you. (Ideally, do get each person's business card.)

• Do write individual thank you notes and letters to each person who interviewed you. Each letter can be essentially the same, but try to vary each a bit in case recipients compare notes. Don't ever fail to send a thank you -- even if you are sure the job is not for you. And do write thank you notes after every interview.

• Don't worry so much about hand-written versus typed thank you letters, but don't make a mistake by sending it through the wrong medium; make sure you know the best method of reaching the employer, whether by regular email or mail.

• In your thank you letter, do show appreciation for the employer's interest in you and do remind the employer about why you are the perfect person for the position.

• Don’t ever have any errors (misspellings or typos) in your thank you letters.

• Do alert your references -- if you have not done so already -- that they may be getting a phone call from the employer.

• Don’t stop job-hunting, even if you feel confident that you will get a job offer. Continue to interview and attempt to find other opportunities.

• Do follow-up with a telephone call to the employer within five to seven days to ask about the position. Do continue to build rapport and sell your strengths during the phone call.

• Do be patient. The hiring process often takes longer than the employer expects.

• Don’t place too much importance on one job or one interview; there will be other opportunities for you.

Networking, networking, networking!

In my previous blog, we discussed how networking is one of many job search tools used to develop and launch your job search campaign and ensure your success.

This week, let's look at other sources you can integrate into your networking plan.  As you read, keep in mind the network you are building now is the "living connection" you will take with you for the balance of your professional life.

Tips and Tricks

There are many opportunities to build and develop your network on a daily basis.  The following are some opportunities for networking. Challenge yourself each day to come up with something new:

• Be more concerned with gathering business cards than passing them out
• Always look, act and speak your best (we never get a chance to make another first impression)
• Look at every party,  event,  etc. as an opportunity to network
• Set aside time each day to network; you can do this over the internet as well as face to face

Here are some sources to kick off your network:

• College Alumni Associations
• School functions, social gatherings, churches
• Former co-workers and former managers
• Professors, career counselors, faculty
• Social Networks i.e. LinkedIn, Twitter, Branch Out, Face book etc.
• Family

In Closing

The opportunity to network can happen at any time so be prepared.  Networking is not an overnight solution.  Networks need to be developed and nurtured over time.  Once you have begun networking, it becomes one of the pillarsof your development.

Congratulations!  You have just acquired additional knowledge on how to build and maintain your professional network for the balance of your career!

Get ready, set, network!