After The Interview - Now What?

You applied for the job and just finished the interview. You think it went great but are not sure what to do next. The most important next step is to follow up with the hiring manager, make sure they know you want the job and thank them for their time in considering you for that job.

Following up after your interview is more important than you think. A recent survey conducted by Careerbuilder shows that 32% of hiring managers think less of a candidate who does not send a thank you.

While you are at your interview collect business cards from everyone you meet, this will make the follow-up process easy and thought free. A few tips to help you with the thank you:

• Follow up after both in-person and phone interviews with a personal thank you email to everyone you met with.
• Send your email message as soon as possible after the interview, within 24 hours if at all possible.
• Use this opportunity to reiterate your interest in the job and the company.
• Highlight your relevant skills and mention anything you may have forgotten during the interview.
• Keep it short and be sure to proofread before you send it.
• It is also appropriate and it never hurts to mail a handwritten thank you note as well.

It does not matter if you are interviewing to be a manager, a retail sales person or a bartender. You will stand out to the hiring manager if you follow up and thank them for the time they spent interviewing you and considering you for the job. Happy Hunting!