How do you stay on their radar after your interview? Follow it up with more interaction.
You rocked your interview. It's a great job at a wonderful company, working for an inspiring cause. But there are other candidates for the position, and you aren't entirely sure you sold yourself.
Don't just wonder - call them and ask! Everyone can benefit from an interview follow-up, says Bob Wilson of the career transition firm Wilson McLeran.
"Even if you thought things went well, it's a professional courtesy," Wilson says. "And you're trying to figure out if there's more you can do, under the best of circumstances. Or, you might try to turn around a bad situation."
Unless you're sure a job offering is in the works, a well-planned continuation of the rapport you initiated with the interview can help put you at the head of the pack. "Can you press the right buttons with the interviewer?" says Wilson. "The person who gets the job is not necessarily the best qualified, but the person who is on the interviewer's wavelength."
It's the candidate the hiring manager can most easily see in the cubicle, the one they think will work best with the existing team, he says.
"For those [candidates] who sense that the head isn't nodding up and down as quickly," Wilson adds, "the interviewee might have lost the interviewer." If you get that sense, the follow-up can be a perfect chance to bring them back. "The primo task is to find out what went wrong," he advises.
How to do it
If you're comfortable on the phone and can wing it well, it's best to talk with your interviewer directly instead of slogging through days of email back-and-forths. This way, you can ask directly and get a better sense of your connection with the interviewer.
You can say things like, "'I thought things went very well,'" Wilson advises. "'Is there any reason you believe I won't make it to the next round of interviews?'"
Either the hiring specialist will be forthcoming, or they'll hedge. Unless it's an experienced interviewer, he or she is probably going to finesse it and not deal with the subject head-on if it's anything other than positive, explains Wilson.
If it's less clear-cut than a matter of qualifications - like the sense that you might not fit into the company's corporate culture very well, or a perceived racism or culturalism on the part of the interviewer - you shouldn't be as direct. Wilson suggests handling it with a light touch: "Is there any doubt about my ability to do this job for any reason?" If you approach these touchy subjects any more directly, you risk alienating the manager, says the career specialist.
Older workers benefit by presenting themselves as ambitious and full of vitality, Wilson says. "This is particularly true in the tech industry, where some people in their 40s are viewed as over-the-hill," he adds. You must come across as energetic and well-versed in the most cutting-edge technology, not rooted in the baggage of how it was done 20 years ago.
Direct doesn't mean pushy
Is it OK to call, email, write? The only way you'll know is to ask.
If they've given you a business card, then asking is generally a formality, but it shows consideration for the interviewer's time. Be polite: "I see you have email. Can I follow up this way?" is one way Wilson recommends broaching the subject.
In addition, you might offer to complete a trial project according to their specifications. This illustrates that you're confident in your abilities. "If you want this job and think you can do it, then it's worth risking being a bit aggressive - you have nothing to lose," Wilson says.
On your way back in the door, just be sure not to step on any toes. This is particularly true if you're applying for an entry-level gig. The first stop should probably be human resources, if they've been involved in the process. Ask your HR person about subsequent rounds of interviews, their impression of your performance, benefits questions - whatever you feel wasn't addressed in the interview.
Cut your losses
Sometimes, it's just not a good fit. When you've been turned down, accept it and don't try to get them to reconsider. Accept defeat gracefully and graciously, and move on to your next corporate conquest.
Even in defeat there are lessons to be learned, so to prepare for eventual victory, ask them flat-out why they decided against you. "After it's over," Wilson suggests, "call to say 'I'm not trying to resurrect my candidacy, but I do want to learn from this experience and take it to my next interview.'" Reassure them that you're not going to be hypersensitive but you just want this information for your own benefit.
You have no legal right to this information, but if you make it clear you're requesting it as a favor, hiring officials are often forthcoming. With luck, it could be the last request of that type you ever have to make.
