The interview is over; thank you and goodbye.
Now what?
Just sit around and wait to hear if you got the job or not, right?
No. There are two things you should do after an interview. The first is to immediately send a note to the person you interviewed with thanking him or her for the opportunity. It used to be considered proper that such a note be written on real paper and sent through the post office. I recall a time when the advice was to have the note already written and in a stamped envelope before the interview so it could be dropped in the nearest mailbox right after.
Handwritten notes are always nice, but e-mail is just fine today. There’s no need for a long letter here, just thank the interviewer for the time and to express your continued interest in the position.
But don’t just walk away and forget about it. After about a week and a half, send a follow-up email to again express your appreciation for the interview and to reiterate your interest in the position.
Why do this?
Well, it helps keep your name on the interviewer’s mind and demonstrates how much you want the job. The note can simply say,
“I hope you’re doing well. I just wanted to follow up with you about the status of the open position and to find out if there is anything else I can add about myself and my qualifications. I remain interested in the position and in joining your team.”
And you can follow up again in another couple of weeks. You can run the risk of being a pest if you inquire too often, but a follow up note has many more pluses than negatives.
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