Self Improvement » Interview Tips

What You Need to Ask

icamm — Tue, 13 May 2008 08:30:07 +0000

The interview is almost over and you feel that it has gone well. You answered all of their questions and listened earnestly while the interviewer explained the position and the company. Then you are asked “Do you have any questions for us?” This is where many interviews are either clinched or lost.

The number one reason many people are not hired is not due to lack of skill or poor appearance, it is in failing to ask any questions. Your interviewer is interested in seeing that you are an active participant in the interview process, and nothing says that more that asking intelligent questions. This is your turn to take control of the interview and find out what you need to know before making the decision to work for them, if asked.

The first good question to ask at this point is if they see anything that concerns them about your ability to handle the position. It may seem like putting them on the spot, but what a great opportunity to clear up any misunderstandings before you walk out the door and lose that offer forever. If it is a sincere concern and you are unable to get the job, then you become armed for the next interview on what may be a weak spot on your resume. If you never ask that question, then you will never know why you did not win that position and may repeat the mistake in the future.

Secondly, ask questions that relate to the company. Ask the interviewer why they came to work for the company and how long they have been there. Ask them how they think that you can be an asset to the company and what strengths they see in you. This lets them know that you are interested in their opinion and are trying to make a careful and informed decision. Ask them why the position is open. If it is due to replacement of a current employee, it is acceptable to ask why.

End the interview with questions that relate to the actual position that you are applying for. Think of the questions that you would ask if you were starting the job at that moment. It would be wise at this time to take a few notes while they explain their answers. Good questions would be who you would be working for and what things they see you needing to accomplish in the next ninety days. Perhaps you would like an overview of the software programs you would be using or equipment at your disposal. If you are going to be part of a team, you might like to know what the overall makeup of the team is as far as experience and time with the company. Ask them what a typical working day would entail for you. These questions get them in the attitude of thinking of you as a potential coworker, not just a job candidate.

There are, of course, questions that you should never ask. All questions that you ask should be of the same type and fall under the same rules of questioning that the interviewer follows. They can not ask you about your religious beliefs and marital status, so neither should you ask them. While it is acceptable to ask about the general benefits plan, it is not a good idea to ask how soon you can take your first vacation. All questions should be relevant to the position and company. You should always ask questions that you feel confident that they can answer, or you risk appearing arrogant or making them feel embarrassed. Even though asking questions gives you a measure of control over the interview process, they still decide whether or not you will get the job.

What To Wear To Your Interview

icamm — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 03:00:22 +0000

The adage about first impressions is true, and on a job interview you do not have the luxury of time to correct those impressions. What type of job you are interviewing for will largely dictate your dress, but for all jobs neat, clean, and put together is the order of the day.

If you are interviewing for a professional position as in a corporate environment or sales, dress conservatively. The company wants to know that you respect who they are. Men should wear dark colored suits of navy blue, black, or gray and a subdued tie. Women should also wear a suit, either pant or skirt. The colors should again be conservative as with men, but neutral tones can also be worn as the darker colors can sometimes make women look too severe. Be sure to avoid strips, check patterns, or bright colors like red – anything out of the ordinary. The suit does not have to be the most expensive in town but it does have to be clean and pressed and fit well.

Accessorizing your outfit will give the pulled together appearance that you need, so wearing jewelry is recommended. Again, think conservative. Rings for both men and women should not exceed two, as in wedding band or set and a second piece like a class/company ring or small additional piece. Make sure that your watch is of decent quality (no Velcro!) and in good working order or don’t wear one at all. Bracelets are acceptable for both sexes, with one for men and no more than two for women. Earrings and necklaces, however, should not be worn by men and should be conservative for women. Never wear any other type of piercing to your interview, like a tongue ring. Avoid any jewelry that is flashy, large, or could be offensive. Also, I would highly recommend not displaying any religious jewelry. If it is on a necklace, simply tuck it under your shirt for the interview.

Shoes need to also be conservative, so women should avoid those 4 inch and above heels. Men should wear black or brown dress shoes. The shoes should always be leather and clean and polished. Lizard, snake, and alligator skin shoes and boots can be worn if they are black or brown and in perfect condition, however the preference is plain leather. Do not wear any multi-colored or jewelry bedecked shoes.

For your interview, your hairstyle should be appropriate for the position. Mostly, it should be clean and neat with no outlandish styles. Women should not wear their hair pulled too tightly or left too loose. Men should make sure that their hair, beard, and mustache are trimmed neatly.

Cologne and perfumes can sometimes be overbearing and can cause problems if your interviewer is allergic. The best recommendation is to not wear any. Use a perfumed soap when you bathe before going or use a lightly perfumed lotion on your hands instead. If you are a smoker, it is not advisable to smoke in the car on your way or you will reek of cigarettes or cigars. Wash your hands before the interview and use a breath mint to cover up the odor.

Lastly, cover up any tattoos, if possible, and make sure that your fingernails are trimmed and clean. Women should wear a conservative nail polish, if desired.

If the job that you are interviewing for is more on the creative side, as in the arts or publishing, then you have a little leeway with all of these rules. You can wear brighter colors and men may be able to forgo the tie. However, do not get carried away. Clothes that are too tight and skirts that are too short will not land the job.

Ways to Ruin Your Interview

icamm — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 05:45:03 +0000

There are many ways to destroy your chance of an offer, or even getting them to keep your resume on file. They can run the range of showing up with alcohol on your breath to getting in a fistfight in the parking lot. There are, however, many common mistakes that well prepared candidates make repeatedly from one interview to the next. Knowing what these are will keep you aware of what not to do, ever, during an interview.

Dressing unprofessionally will put you immediately on the wrong foot. Dress casual is not appropriate, even if you have heard that it is casual Friday at their office. You must put your best foot forward on the day of the interview. The people that are meeting with you need to be able to judge how you will look on Monday morning and how you will represent their company to customers and other staff. It is much better to appear as an example that they may want for other employees in the office.

Do not appear too nervous during the interview. Tapping your foot or playing with your pen is a sign of someone who may have difficulty under pressure. You should prepare in advance by rehearsing the interview questions and answers to avoid panic. Control yourself by taking notes and asking questions.

Do not make self deprecating remarks like you know that you are over or under qualified. Let them make that decision otherwise you are letting them know up front that you desperate for the job. If no one else wants you, why should they? They want you to be excited about working for them and respectful of the opportunity. Most importantly, they want to feel as though your decision to accept an offer is based on the knowledge that the position and compensation suit your needs, not your willingness to take the first offer down the pike. That does not make for a long term commitment or a happy employee, both of which they desire.

Do not bring up subject of compensation. If you seem more interested in the vacation time and salary than in the position itself, the interviewer will not take you seriously. Yes, they plan to pay you for your work and may throw in some great perks. But find out what you will be doing first. In that vein, don’t let them bring up salary too early, either. Defer by saying that you do have some thoughts in mind, but that you would like to discuss the position first. You need to be able to sell them the product and make them want you before handing them a price that may be higher than they anticipated. In the best case, the interviewer will finish with discussion of the salary. They may ask you what you have in mind, so put the ball back in their court be replying with your current or last salary. They should respond by telling you what range the position offers. Then answer honestly whether or not that range will allow you to comfortably take the position. If the interviewer never brings up the subject of compensation, then leave without discussing it. When they make their offer, they may have you negotiate at that time and possibly with someone else.

Lastly, not asking any questions is the most common, and most detrimental, mistake made. It may be that you do not have any. Your interviewer may have talked ad infinitum about themselves, the position, and the company. Prepare for this in advance by creating a list of questions to ask. You should make notes while they are speaking and highlight an area that you may want to go back to. Think of questions that are unlikely to be discussed during an interview, such as “Why do employees leave this company?” as a backup for this situation. Not asking questions makes you seem disinterested or unprepared, and you do not want to seem either, ever, to an interviewer.

Unusual Interviews

icamm — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 04:02:35 +0000

You have landed the interview and have prepared in the traditional way. Your papers are in order, your shoes polished, and you arrive fifteen minutes early. You have even practiced answering those questions like “Where do you see yourself in ten years?” Think you’re ready? You might not be, according to the new practice of asking applicants to do tough, and sometimes strange, tasks.

The unusual interview can consist of out of the ordinary requests as a way of assessing a candidate’s mental agility, problem solving skills, ability to produce on the spot, or to prove that they really can do what they are saying. Most unnerving, however, is not expecting it to come and being caught off guard. Thank the technical fields for introducing the rest of big business to this way of sorting through the pack. Microsoft is known to be the worst offender; your initial contact call can come in the form of being asked to solve an equation on the spot from someone who does not even identify themselves.

If your field is in information systems, whether as a programmer or system administrator, be prepared for anything. The competition is fierce and the company needs to know that you can do your job. A lot of damage can be done by the time someone realizes that a candidate misrepresented their abilities. You may be asked to set up permissions for a database or write code in your stated language. You may be interviewed by your potential coworkers to assess your ability to participate on that team. In this case, the interview can get very technical. Do not overstate what you can do and expect time to get up to speed. Be clear on your resume and in the initial interview about what you are proficient at and what you have some experience with. This should keep you out of an embarrassing situation.

Worst of all can be the brainteasers and riddles. These purportedly test your mental agility and problem solving skills. They can be presented in any field, although most likely to occur in the technical, math, engineering, and finance industries. You may be asked why manhole covers are round or how many cubes are at the center of a Rubik’s Cube. You may be presented a math problem like: The sum of N real numbers (not necessarily unique) is 20. The sum of the 3 smallest of these numbers is 5. The sum of the 3 largest is 7. What is N? Or perhaps it will be a riddle, as in: Two people come to a river. There is a boat that can carry one person only. How can they each get to the other side of the river using the boat?

There is a method to surviving these scenarios even if you do not come to the correct answer. Remember, most riddles have obvious answers so think simple. Approach math problems and on the spot technical situations as you would a test in school. Break down the problem into smaller components that you can manage more easily. Then talk it through out loud. This way the interviewer may give you some clues or excuse a wrong answer since you thought it out well and rationally. Some puzzles can have more than one correct answer (remember the one about the boat?) so just be sure that yours makes sense. The problem should not be too easy, so don’t blurt out the first thing that comes to mind. Neither should it be too hard, so if you find yourself doing advanced math calculations you may be on the wrong track. Take it easy and take your time. If you think it through logically, you will eventually come up with at least a feasible answer, and likely even the right one.

The Phone Interview

icamm — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 13:14:57 +0000

There are several reasons for doing an interview over the phone. Often, you may live far away from the company you have applied to with the intention of relocating if hired. In this case, they will usually do an initial interview over the phone before going to the expense of an on-site interview. Or perhaps you are job seeking by calling companies that you would like to work for to see if there is anything available. Before you know it, you may be on the phone with someone with hiring power who wants to discuss your qualifications. The job seeking just became an interview. If you sent a cover letter with your resume indicating numbers that you can be reached at, the interviewer may decide to narrow down the field with a preliminary phone interview. In any case, you must be prepared to hold an interview over the phone that is as equally important as one held on site.

The first thing to do is to be sure that your answering machine or voicemail conveys a conservative message. This would not be the time to have a joke message or one that plays your favorite song before the beep. Make sure that the interviewer can confirm that they have dialed the correct number by either leaving your first or last name or phone number in the message; “You have reached 111-222-3344…” Be sure to make arrangements with those you live with about who will answer the phone and make message taking simple by keeping a pad and pen near the phone. You do not want your four year old taking a call from a prospective employer while you are getting the mail.

Secondly, create an interview place that is quiet and free from distractions. No one will take you seriously if they can hear the television in the background. Turn off your call waiting so that the interview doesn’t continually get interrupted by a persistent caller. Have a glass of water available as you will not be able to take a break. Make sure that no one will bother you during the call. Keep on hand in this room all that you would take to an on site interview; your resume, reference list, license and certifications, and paper and pen. Make notes as you speak with the interviewer to use for research later.

It is usually advisable to make some note cards in advance highlighting your strengths with real life examples. This is where the phone interview can be advantageous because you can keep your notes handy. Have at your fingertips relevant information about the company with whom you are interviewing. Know their products and structure, all of the research that you would have done for an in person interview. They will not know that you are getting information from the documents in front of you. They will only hear an intelligent and well informed candidate.

It is often suggested that you stand, or even pace, while doing a phone interview. It makes you an active participant in the process and, literally, keeps you on your toes. Your response time will be quicker. Smiling is also important. When you smile you will subconsciously improve your telephone presence. Carry yourself physically as you would in an in person interview and you will convey the same tone over the phone.

If for some reason you cannot do the interview when the interviewer calls, say so and arrange for a later call. Obviously, this should be avoided if at all possible, but you may be at work or running out the door for another appointment. It is much better to be up front with the interviewer than to have your mind on something else that you should be doing. If at all possible, arrange for a time for you to call them back as it will give you a measure of control over the proceedings.

Lastly, keep a log of companies and positions that you applied for near your phone. This will help you keep your bearings when the call comes in.

Job Interview Tips

icamm — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 11:00:23 +0000

Are you looking for a new job or career? If you are, you will probably have to interview for the job. Most people find job interviews very stressful and filled with anxiety. Job interviews are one of the many times when people are judging you on your performance, background and intelligence. If you would like to excel at your job interview, here are some tips.

The best tip for acing a job interview is to be well prepared. Many people walk into a job interview unprepared and fumble along making many mistakes. If you do you prepare yourself for a job interview, you can usually impress the interviewers and land yourself a job. You should prepare yourself on the type of questions to be asked, the history, products or services of the company and how you can be of value working for them.

It is also important to dress appropriately and show a positive attitude when at a job interview. Most job interviewers want to make sure that you are reliable, respectful and are positive. No one wants to work with a slob or a person that is very negative. You don’t have to fake it, but show your prospective employers that you are a good natured and intelligent person and not a sour puss. So if you are looking to land a job, take a look at these great job interview tips.

The Behavioral Job Interview

icamm — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 02:45:11 +0000

In the 1970s behavioral interviewing was developed by industrial psychologists. It differs from the traditional interview in that the questions center on your behavior in past situations rather than why you would like to work for the company or what you believe your strengths may be. The answers to traditional questions can be anticipated and rehearsed; the behavioral ones are harder to plan for.

Behavioral interviewing is based on the premise that “the most accurate predictor of future performance is past performance in a similar situation”. The traditional interview is based on theoretical questions like “how would you…” while the behavioral questions will state “tell me about a time when…” Preparing for the chance of having a behavioral interview will prepare you for both styles. If you are unprepared, it can lead to interview disaster.

The companies that employ this style of interviewing know what type of person they need for a particular job. Once they have scheduled the interview, they have already determined that you are basically qualified for the position. At this point, they need to know if you have a particular skill set they are looking for with this position. Often, these skills are things like leadership, organization and planning, problem solving, the ability to work well within a team, and/or communication. Before the interview, you must make some decisions, based on the position and the company, on which skills they may be looking for. This is where your pre-interview research comes into play. Try to decide which skills may be important in landing you that job.

The most important step in preparing for this interview will be developing three to five stories that you can recount to the interviewer to illustrate your past performance. These should follow the STAR method; Situation, Task, Action, and Result. Think of an interesting or difficult situation that you faced. How did you assess what needed to be done (task)? What specific action did you then take and what was the result. Using this method is the best way to tell your interviewer about your experience in a clear manner and highlights what they want to know.

These stories are real-life experiences and therefore hard to fake. That is one of the reasons why behavioral interviewing is being used to sift through applicants who have similar credentials for the job. You should make a list of situations that you could use and practice telling each story. This will make you more comfortable with the interviewer and make it easier to remember the details. It will also give you experience in developing stories on the spot using the STAR method when asked a question that you did not expect. These stories can also be used in a traditional job interview. When asked how you might respond to an angry customer, use the same method and tell about how you responded to one in the past. This is usually beyond what most other applicants will do in a traditional interview and gives you an edge over the competition.

A question in a behavioral interview to establish your ability to communicate can be “Have you ever had to speak up to get a point across that was important to you?” To establish your organizational skills, they may ask something like “How do you decide what gets top priority?” Flexibility may be established by asking you to tell about a time when a task or goal frustrated you. The questions can vary widely, and you can’t prepare for every one you may be asked. Just remember that the overall goal is to find out how you really perform in real life situations. Recalling past examples of your successes and times when you were proud of your actions under pressure is the key to winning the job.

The Bad Interview

icamm — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 08:30:03 +0000

Even the best prepared candidates can sometimes find themselves in the bad interview situation. It may be the result of some action on your part or on the part of interviewer that you are meeting with. Don’t get caught off guard as there are always ways to still control, as best as you can, the damage that was done.

If the error was a physical snafu on your end, attempt to remedy the situation as gracefully as possible. If you have spilled something on your shirt or tie and cannot do anything about it in time, simply acknowledge the stain as you are sitting down. We’ve all been there and it is easier to just get it out of the way and not allow them to think that you are a disheveled slob. Your interviewer may offer you a drink and, out of courtesy, you should take it. What do you do, however, if you spill it all over the table? Simply apologize and start cleaning it up. Since you planned ahead, you will have brought extra copies of your resume to replace the one that is covered in soda. If you trip, fall, or are otherwise ungraceful entering into the room or sitting in your chair, laugh at yourself and apologize, blaming it on your nervousness because you really desire the position. Just do not make too big of a deal out of the situation.

Interviews can also begin to go south during the process itself. You may answer a question and then moments later realized that you were wrong. If it is something that you are sure they noticed, bring the conversation back to that question and acknowledge your mistake. They may see it as a sign that you can admit your errors, which is a positive trait, and you will have the opportunity to then give a better answer. You might realize during the course of the interview that you are unqualified for the job. Do not let that get in the way of your confidence in speaking with the interviewer. They have read your resume and know what you are offering in terms of education and experience. Often, the employer may want someone that they know can learn the job. Don’t make the decision for them and lose a great opportunity.

Sometimes, the interviewer is to blame. If you are being interviewed by a manager or department head, they may not be trained in what they can and cannot ask. General questions about your personal life are none of their business, but you will feel uncomfortable not answering. That, however, is exactly what you should do. Decline with tact and explain to them that you do not like to get into personal matters while discussing business. It can even get worse if they start asking illegal questions. Every state has laws that restrict employers from asking you questions relating to your religion, marital status, ethnic origin, medical history, age, religion, and dependents, pregnancy, or your plans for having children. Check with you state department of labor before interviewing to make sure you know the rules for your area.

The decision whether or not to answer is your choice. Most of the time, the interviewer may simply be making small talk with out realizing that they have goofed. In that case, answer the question. Other times, the interviewers may be trying to eliminate concerns that they have, legal or not. You may answer the question by addressing the underlying concern. Simply rebuff the concern with “Can I meet the demands of the job? Yes.” The last choice is to remind the interviewer the question is illegal and state that you would rather discuss you qualifications for the position. That should stop the line of questioning, although may hurt your chances for an offer. If the line of questioning is discriminatory and the company managers flout the law, you probably don’t want to work there anyway.

Research the Company

icamm — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 15:44:54 +0000

So you got the phone call. They can fit you for an interview at 2:30 on Tuesday between two other candidates. What is going to set you apart from the others? One sure thing is your interest in their company. You may have sent out thirty resumes to post office boxes with out any idea until the call came in of who they are. The key is to find out.

First of all, keep a paper and pencil handy so that when that call comes in you can write down all of the information, not just address and time, while you are on the phone. These are the clues you will need to find out more. Ask the person you are speaking with to repeat their name if you did not get it the first time and find out if you are interviewing with them or someone else. Now the research begins.

Learn about the company. Most companies have websites, so that is the first place to go to. Look and see what the corporate structure is, how long they have been in business, and try to get an idea of their business philosophy. See if you can place the names that you got in the phone call so that you know if you are interviewing with a department head or the Senior VP of Accounting. If it is for a tech position in the IT department, note the structure of the site and how it is running. Check out the company press releases to get an idea of any recent changes or big announcements, such as just going public. If you understand before going in how large (or small) the company is or how fast it is growing (or shrinking), you will gain an edge in the salary negotiation.

If the interview is with a large corporation, look on the internet or in local newspaper archives for any media reports. Is this company known for being a great place to work with great employee benefits or not? This will let you know just how strong the competition may be to land that job. It will also let you know if you might be willing to accept a lower starting salary or not. The flip side is to find out if the company has had legal or financial problems recently and how severe they might be. Remember, last in first out is usually the way it goes when layoffs occur.

Learn about the industry. If you are in accounting, human resources, or IT, for example, this is probably a different industry than you have worked for in the past. Although experience of the industry may not be required, doing your homework and getting up to speed should be done before the interview. This way you can speak intelligently about aspects of your field that may benefit their business. Also, you have shown a willingness and ability to apply your knowledge to their industry. It helps if you know the lingo a little bit. Be careful, however, that you are sure about what you are saying before opening your mouth. It could be very embarrassing start a conversation about industry trends and have statistics from 20 years ago.

Finally, know your interviewer. Make sure to learn titles, departments, and names of the people you are speaking with. If the name is difficult, find the correct pronunciation. You do not want to butcher your prospective employer’s name repeatedly throughout the interview. Again, go to the company website and see if there is some biographical information on your interviewer or prospective department head. See if there is anything that you may have in common with them such as fraternity/sorority associations, sports, churches, colleges, or birthplaces. These types of things will help them remember you out of all of those other applicants.

Job & Career Fairs

icamm — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 01:15:05 +0000

Job and career fairs are a great way to assess the hiring opportunities available in your field. They are often held as a way of placing local job hunters with companies that are hiring in your area. They are also held at college campuses to assist graduating students in beginning their search. You will also find industry specific job fairs usually held in convention centers in metropolitan areas.

The companies represented at job fairs are actively seeking talent, usually for more than one position. This gives you an advantage to the impersonal approach to sending your resume in response to a want ad. The staff at each booth is made up of recruiters and human resources representatives who have the ability to fast track you into their company. So consider meeting with them your first interview and you may only have a few moments to make that good impression.

Follow all of the rules of a standard interview in that your appearance, body language, and materials on hand will how you will be initially judged. These fairs are usually slightly informal so dress casual attire is appropriate. Be neat and clean with polished shoes and conservative jewelry. Men should wear dress slacks with collared shirts and ladies skirts or slacks with a blouse. Make sure that you bring a briefcase or portfolio containing many copies of your resume, cover letters, certifications and licenses, curriculum vitae, reference lists, and letters of recommendation. Have them ready to go in packages for each recruiter that you approach. Remember to bring several good pens and a notepad and planner so that you can schedule a later on site interview if asked.

When you approach the booth for each company, remember that you will only have a few moments to make them want to talk to you. This is where you need to practice a one minute introduction speech that will get your foot in the door. Look the recruiter in the eye, give a firm handshake, and have your resume package in your hand. Tell them who you are and why you are interested in their company over all of the others. Some companies will be prepared to do screening interviews on the spot, so be ready if asked. Your mission is to sell yourself to them and stand out from the crowd. If the recruiter is busy speaking with someone else, browse the materials that they have available and try to catch the recruiter’s eye so that he or she knows that you are waiting to speak with them. If they can not get away or if the booth is too crowded, you may just want to come back later. You may alternately leave your resume on the table with a note attached saying that you know that they were busy and will contact them later. Follow up with a call the next day.

As with any interview, research the job fair before you go. Find out which companies will be represented and gather some information on those that you will be interested in. Make notes and list questions that you can ask each recruiter. Go over those notes before you approach each booth. Doing this will ensure that you can show real interest in each company, that you are prepared for the task at hand, and that you can engage each recruiter in a real conversation about the company that they work for. You want them to enjoy speaking with you and look forward to meeting with you again.

Finally, do not forget the follow up. Ask each recruiter for a business card and make notes after leaving the booth about the conversation. This way a follow up letter can be personalized and may jog their memory. Call the next day and thank them for their time. Send your letter within the next 48 hours and include a second copy of your resume in case yours got shuffled into the pack.

Follow Up After the Interview

icamm — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 08:00:02 +0000

After finishing an interview, many candidates simply wait for the job offer or letter of regret. As in sports, follow through makes all the difference in the world. The question is simply just how and when you should re-contact your potential employer, not if. Sometimes the only thing separating you from the position that you want is other equally credentialed candidates. Keep yourself at the front of the pack by reminding them of who you are.

The first move is to call your interviewer later and thank them for their time that they spent with you. This should be done on the same day, but if the meeting was near the close of business, the next morning will suffice. If you get their voicemail, just leave a message expressing the same. Keep it short and sweet, as you are sure they are very busy. If you can think of any additional information that would be helpful to them in making their decision but failed to mention earlier, now would be the time.

The second move is to follow the call with a note expressing your thanks again. It should arrive the twenty four to forty eight hours after the interview and it is therefore acceptable to fax or email that note. Highlight what was discussed in your interview and reiterate your qualifications. Finish by expressing your continued interest in the position. If you met with several people, the department head and the Human Resource Manager for example, send each of them a separate note. Ideally, you will have collected their business cards so that you can correctly address, by name, each person with the correct title. Make sure that each person’s note is unique. Changing the name at the top of each letter will not do as the department head may bring the letter to the Human Resource Manager just to find out they received the exact same thing.

Alert each person on your recommendation list to the possibility of being contacted by your potential employer. This gives them some time to think about what they may say. If you have a person on your recommendation list who could have a strong impact on your chances of being hired, ask them to follow through for you with a call of their own. Use only one person to do this so that you do not come off as being overbearing and only do this if this is a truly great job opportunity. You do not want this person to become frustrated at being asked to repeatedly call on every interview chance that you get and eventually lose interest.

If you have not heard anything within a week to ten days after the interview, you may again call to ask if any decision has been reached. Sometimes the hiring process takes longer than the employer expects and you want to show your continued interest. Of course, you do want to be bothersome so always be deferential and patient during the call. If no decision has been reached, you may again remind them of your strengths and why you think you would be a good fit for their company.

Finally, if you have gone on several interviews and receive an offer on one, but are still waiting to hear from the company you would prefer to work for, it is recommended that you let them know of your other offer before accepting it. This kind of forces a response one way or the other from your preferred company as a sort of leverage. You may simply call the person with whom you interviewed and inform them of the offer that is on the table. You only need to state the company that wants to hire you and tell them that you would like to have an indication from them before accepting that offer. This lets them know that you are seriously interested in working for them. They may offer you the job before losing you to someone else.