What Do I Do AFTER the Interview to help seal the deal!
So you’ve had an interview for the perfect job for you and you think it went really well. Then what? There is no such thing as a “thank you” letter. It’s all about reinforcing your candidacy and making sure they remember what you can do for them. Here are 5 tips for the follow-up email: 1) Write an individual email to each person who has interviewed you. Make sure to take notes during the interview so you remember who said what. There is no such thing as “one size fits all” when you follow up. 2) Add anything you forgot or left out. Often, in the excitement and nervousness of an interview, we forget something that is crucial. Make sure to mention it in the follow-up. 3) Reinforce what you already said. Don’t assume that people will remember exactly what you said about your skills and accomplishments. Repeat specific accomplishments related to the position in your email. 4) Clarify anything that was a little mushy because you want to make sure they understand. Let’s say you answered a question partially or not to your or their liking. Tell the story again, briefly, to make sure nothing is left unclear. 5) Address any objection they may have about your candidacy. If they feel you lack a particular skill then write a proposal or offer to solve a problem, or analyze data, or create a newsletter. Then follow up again to get a meeting to discuss your ideas for a solution. The follow-up email is crucial to your differentiating yourself from the rest of the candidate pool. Don’t simply say thank you. Add the important information that distinguishes you from the competition. (c) Amy Geffen All rights reserved www.geffencareers.com
5 Reasons not to go it alone
You are in a job search and you are feeling frustrated, lonely, exhausted and ready to give up. But you don’t have a job yet and you are wondering, how can this get better? By joining a group or workshop you don’t have to go it alone. Why join? 1) It keeps you motivated – Job hunting is an exhausting emotional roller coaster. Some days it goes great and other days its a bust. It may take weeks or months to get the interviews and find the right fit for you. Staying motivated throughout this marathon is important for your well-being and your success. 2) Keeps you accountable – By meeting with a group each week you are held accountable for what is happening in your search. What did you do last week? What are your plans for next week? How many meetings did you take? How many phone calls did you make? Who did you meet? 3) Gives you honest feedback – Are you going in the right direction? Do your job targets make sense? How do you come across? Handshake? Voice? Clothes? Attitude? Members of the group will share their thoughts and suggestions. 4) Sounding board – You can practice your two -minute pitch, your phone script for making calls, and how to answer those difficult interview questions. By practicing you will feel more confident and make a better impression on the phone, in an email or in person. 5) Someone to lean on – Everyone in your group or workshop is going through what you are going through. You may be able to talk to a friend, spouse or significant other, but no one can empathize and keep it real as much as other folks going through the job search. A group of people has more ideas and suggestions than just one person. www.geffencareers.com