A job interview is a daunting meeting. It can be stressful, intimidation and if you need the job, it can feel as though your whole future depends on that meeting. There are plenty of things you can do in your application and during the interview to help boost your chances of being selected. Additionally, you can do a few things after the interview. This helps because even if you don’t get that position, they keep you in mind when another position opens.
1. Follow up
Within 24 hours, send an e-mail thanking your interviewer for the opportunity to meet them. This e-mail should be concise. Address your interviewer directly, with an e-mail to each interviewer. If you can’t reach everyone, try to get the contact information of the senior-most person in the job description’s department who interviewed you. During the interview, ensure to ask for their contact information.
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In the e-mail, thank your interviewer then add two or three sentences expressing your interest in working for the organisation. Share something from the conversation you had that made the job more attractive to you. Conclude the email offering to answer further questions. During your interview, try to recall the important highlights from the discussion you had with the interviewers. This makes it easier to craft a follow-up email.
If you receive a rejection soon after the interview, thank your interviewer share a continued interest in working with the company, and conclude the email saying that you’d like to remain in consideration should any opportunities become available.
Avoid adding too many details. Don’t make requests that inconvenience the recruiter. The point of this communication is to make a professional connection. The recruiters have multiple candidates they’re dealing with and would struggle if they were overwhelmed with too many follow-up emails. If the job you’re applying for would be very fulfilling for you, it’s important to stand out to the recruiter so that they think of you if the job becomes available again.
Ask for feedback
If you feel like you didn’t perform particularly well during the interview, you can ask for feedback about how to improve your presentation during a job interview. When you get a confirmed rejection, send a follow-up email where you ask for feedback about your performance.
Not every job interview goes smoothly. Recruiters have specific things they inspect about your first impression, such as punctuality, dressing smart, and enthusiasm. If you were unwell or distracted by personal crises, take the time to briefly explain why you were off your game. This can give the recruiter a better chance to re-evaluate you with an interview do-over. If you are feeling unwell before an interview, contact your recruiter to explain and ask for a rescheduling. Going For A Job Interview? Here Are 7 Fashion Fails To Avoid
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2. Connect with recruiters on networking sites
If you weren’t already following the company and its employees on social media, start doing so after the interview. When you see your recruiter on LinkedIn or other business-related social media, send them one message telling them you’re glad to connect and meet with them during the interview. Avoid spamming recruiters or constantly asking for information. When you receive a job rejection, be gracious, and grateful. Send them a very brief message on social media expressing that you hope to work with them again.
Connecting with the company and the recruiters also gives you a list of more people to connect with within the same industry. This helps you find more opportunities to collaborate with others and also get other job postings. Look at your recruiter’s followers. They frequently have mutuals who would be great to network with for your career.
3. Reach out to your references
Whenever you submit a CV, some recruiters may mandate adding a few professional references. Some companies contact references before calling you for an interview but this is more frequently for interviews that don’t have a large group. Many recruiters find it easier to confirm references after narrowing down candidates after an interview. It’s important to get the consent of your contacts before adding them as references. After, reach out to them to let them know they could be contacted by your recruiters.
4. Get more insights
Some companies have multiple interview processes before finally selecting a candidate. If you have connections within the company, reach out to them to get information about how to prepare for a second interview. If you’re selected, you should be prepared for any upcoming interviews. You can also use your notes from your interview to better prepare for interviews with other companies. When being interviewed for a role that has many technical skills, interviewers may ask questions about how you would deal with hypothetical situations. Evaluate your answers against what other people have posted online.
For example, if you got an interview to get a placement at a university, research your answers vis a vis other students’ answers and see where you can improve. If you are rejected, you will then know how to better answer questions. If you’re accepted, you’ll know how to better respond to a second interview process.
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