Write a letter after your interview
The interview process does not end when you walk out of the door. There are certain important things you should do post-interview.
What happens after a job interview is equally important as what happens during it. Following up after an interview can mean the difference between getting a job offer and getting a rejection letter. Too often this step is overlooked or missed completely. You don’t want to jeopardize all of the work you put into preparing for and going through the interview by missing out on this key step.
This is a very straightforward lesson. You are going to work with your student on the steps they should take following their interview day.
Can you think of some things you can do after you have finished a job interview?
We’re looking here for some of the advice mentioned in the Practice section below. Praise the student for coming up with any of those. If the student has ideas that are not in the list, evaluate those (if they are cogent, add them in the Comments section at the end of the lesson).
Here are some useful phrases for evaluating ideas:
Positive evaluation:
- I definitely think you should…
- It’s probably a good idea to…
- This is a great idea.
- I would definitely recommend (doing)…
- Absolutely. This is a great move.
- Definitely.
Negative evaluation:
- That’s probably not a good idea because…
- I would recommend (doing)…
- I’m not sure that this is advisable…
- Absolutely not.
- No way. That would be a big mistake because…
- This is a definite no-no.
Ask your student if there is anything that they are not familiar with or have difficulty in using. Offer some examples of these to aid understanding.
Let’s look at some possible things you can do after a job interview. Which of these are useful and which are not? Why? Which of them should you not do under any circumstances?
Use the language above to evaluate the statements.
1. At the end of the interview, ask what the process will be moving forward.
2. Write up a summary of the questions you were asked along with your answers.
3. Note anything you wish you had said to your interviewer but didn't get the chance to mention.
4. Write a thank you letter to your interviewer within 24 hours of the interview.
5. Tell everyone on Facebook and Twitter how well your interview went.
6. Connect with your interviewer via professional networking site such as LinkedIn or Xing.
7. Phone every day to see if a decision has been made.
8. Make a follow-up call after two weeks.
9. Notify your references.