After the Interview

What to Do After a Successful Interview that Effectively Clinches a New Career

1. Have you been actively seeking employment for six months or more?
2. Tired of being turned away after a job interview?

Now that the interview is over do you think it's time to relax? Wrong! There is still a lot of work to be done. It is always wise after an interview to give yourself a post-interview evaluation.

1. How effective was your role and posturing during the interview?How suitable were you dressed?
2. How thorough were answers?
3. How many times did the room go silent?
4. How could I've done it differently?

^{It is very important that you use these questions as a reference tool and not as a baton in beating yourself up.} How do you know if the interview went well? The easiest and best way to judge how an interview went is to watch the time. It is a known fact that a good, solid interview will last up to 45 minutes or longer. The best way to judge how that time was spent, ask yourself the following items:

• Were you shown around the department?

• Did they introduce you to additional staff members?

• Did the interviewer explain the next step to becoming employed?

• At what point did you feel like you were already a wanted team member?

• How successful would you rate the interview from 0 to 5; with 5 being the highest?

Once you've completed your personal questionnaire, it's time to get busy writing a thank you note.

Setting yourself above the rest should be your number one prerogative. The letter provides you an outlet to contact the interviewer; before, he or she makes a decision towards who they might select. It is always wise to send the letter or email if preferred, within one or two business days. Make sure your letter is directly written to the party that conducted the interview and that the letter is titled in a modified block business style. You should include the company's address and titles, certifications or licenses the interviewer held. That is why it is so important to always ask for their business card. Reaffirm your interest in the company and answer any questions that were left opened. Make sure to use the same paper as to what was used in creating your resume and the envelope as well. Never apply a return address sticker. Your return address should be typed or neatly written by hand. Typically only 1 out of 4 applicants write a thank you letter or follow up letter. This is an easy way to be a step above the rest.

[As a recommendation; print this page and use at a tool to help you give yourself some valueable selfsameness critiquing. Be prepared to honestly answer the listed questions. Stay true to yourself. Take notes after the interview if need be. You may also use your cellphone to record a summary of the reconciled accountant.]