After a job interview, your interviewer will tell you whether or not he or she believes you are qualified for the position and whether or not you should be offered the job. This conversation can take place in person or over the phone, but no matter how it takes place, it’s critical to end it with these 10 things you should never do before the interview ends.
1) Thank the interviewer
Thank your interviewer for their time and consideration. And, yes, thank them even if you don’t get the job—you never know when you’ll run into them again. Furthermore, being courteous is simply good karma. (However, ignore all of those insincere sentiments about staying in touch.)
2) Update your LinkedIn status
Make sure that your professional network knows you’ve got an interview in your calendar. Don’t go overboard with a long, drawn-out status update (people get bored fast). Keep it simple and let everyone know where you’re going, who you’re meeting with and when. Bonus points if you take a picture of yourself outside of where you’re interviewing or dressing up like someone who works there!
3) Collect business cards
Following an interview, thank your interviewer for their time with a handwritten note on nice stationery (yes, actual paper). Include details from your conversation as well as a request to stay in touch. Follow up within 48 hours of your meeting if possible, but don’t be discouraged if you don’t hear back right away. Interviews in many industries can take several weeks or even months to turn into job offers. In either case, let them know you’d like to learn more about what you discussed so they’re aware of your progress (and ask how they prefer to be contacted). If there is mutual interest, you will be given another interview opportunity; if not, there will be others in the future. Best wishes!
4) Send Thank you note
A thank you note following an interview shows that you are serious about your interest in a company and eager to move forward. Send your note within 24 hours of your interview and include some of the information we discussed (use a calendar to remember what we talked about). Keep it brief, but personalize it. The first impression is crucial, so make sure it’s a good one. While it may be tempting to wait until you hear back from each company that interviews you, sending thank-you notes as soon as possible shows confidence and professionalism. Humility goes a long way toward demonstrating these characteristics.
5) Follow up with references
You may receive a referral or recommendation from an old boss, colleague, or friend. Don’t waste your time contacting them if you don’t intend to follow up with them within three days. Is there no response? Continue on. The hiring manager will not do it for you, and it is your responsibility to demonstrate that you are a thoughtful candidate who will be an asset to their company once hired. People hire people they know, like, and trust. It can take months, if not years, to integrate these elements into a relationship with someone important in your career.
6) Put in extra effort on your presentation
Spend some extra time considering how you’ll present yourself and your accomplishments. A poor first impression can be fatal, so prepare for your interview as if it were an important client or customer presentation. Do a few practice runs of your elevator pitch, for example, before going into an interview. All else being equal, the more comfortable you are with sharing key information about yourself and why you want to work at XYZ Company, the more likely they are to want to work with you.
7) Discuss salary expectations early on
Early discussion of salary expectations is the best way to ensure they are realistic. It can feel overwhelming, but remember that it’s perfectly acceptable to say, “I don’t know what my current or ideal salary is,” and then leave it at that. If you are asked, What is your desired salary? I really don’t have an answer for that right now—I have some experience in my field, and I would appreciate some time to research positions similar to yours before we talk about pay. Could be effective. Other strong responses include: My experience is limited in comparison to other candidates for this position.
8) Ask questions at end of interview
If you ask too many questions, your interviewer may feel as if they are being interviewed themselves. Your goal is to come across as a good conversationalist who is genuinely interested in learning about their company and their role within it. Consider the questions you’d like to ask an employer if you received a call back from your job application and use those to guide your questions during an interview. Here are some examples of effective interview questions: Can you elaborate on what it’s like on a daily basis? How many people are employed in your department? What should my first project be? What does success look like in this situation? Is there any opportunity for professional development?
9) Show genuine interest in the job role
Showing genuine interest in a role may not appear to make a significant difference, but believe us when we say it does. How many times have you been looking forward to meeting someone only to have them show up and appear uninterested? It makes a poor first impression. According to Harvard Business Review, managers frequently decide whether to hire someone within minutes of meeting them. So, there is no such thing as being over-prepared for an interview.
10) Maintain a positive outlook during interview.
While you may know that you have what it takes to land a job, don’t let your excitement blind you. While a positive attitude is important, ensure your enthusiasm doesn’t cross over into aggressiveness. Use these last few minutes of your interview to ask any questions you might have and maintain an upbeat tone. Remember: Treat everyone with respect and be gracious if things don’t go as planned; just because one door closed doesn’t mean another won’t open up! So look on it as just one step closer to an opportunity that fits all of your goals and dreams. Good luck!
Conclusion
Finally, you should never end an interview without establishing a time frame. Hiring someone is a time-consuming and often exhausting process. It stands to reason that you would want to know when it will end! When you inquire about their timetable, they cannot simply tell you. As soon as possible, which could be next week or in six months. The more specific they are, the more likely they will be able to stick to it. If you don’t get any time frames, try something like: Do you have any ideas about when we might hear back?