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4 Things to Do at the End of a Job Interview

Published: Nov 16, 2011

 Interviewing       Job Search       

Upping one's chances of landing a job depends just as much on a strong closing as it does on a positive first impression. Knowing the right way to end an interview may also mitigate some of those post-interview worries and doubts about how well one performed and allow the job seeker to attain feedback more easily.

Professionals shaking hands1. Get contact information.

At the end of the meeting, candidates should ask for business cards with contact information of those they interviewed with, whether it was just one person or a group. It's important to send the signal after the end of the interview that the candidate is still interested and that his efforts to secure the position won't end when he exits the interview room.

2. Ask about the next steps.

Not only will asking about what the next steps are in the hiring process send the interviewer the message that the candidate is committed and truly wants the position, but it may make the applicant feel less stressed after the meeting about whether or not he'll receive a call back. 

3. Send a thank-you note.

This is one of the most important steps to take after an interview, and it's crucial that the applicant doesn't skip it. A recent survey indicates that more than one in five hiring managers will be less likely to offer a job to someone who doesn't send a thank you note, and many report that they interpret failing to do so as indicative of a lack of follow-through and commitment to the opportunity.

4. Follow up.

This step goes beyond sending a thank-you note.  If the candidate hasn't heard back from the company by the time the hiring manager said he would make his decision, he should follow up. The contact information acquired from the business cards the candidate requested at the end of the interview will be useful in this case.

Even if the follow-up call or email doesn't land the applicant the job, gently pushing for more information might allow the candidate to get some feedback about why he was not selected, which will surely prove helpful when he pursues other opportunities in the future. 

--Published Courtesy of Brafton

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