I interview tons of people and there are 4 little things that I’ve noticed that works EVERYTIME. These are so simple, but very few do them, and pretty much no one does ALL of them.
Do this and you will make a killer impression in your next job interview.
1. Thank You Email
Sending a follow up email after having an interview is a simple yet potent thing that shows interest. I have heard that offer decisions have been made based on Thank You notes, and it’s because companies want individuals who are excited about the opportunity. And there’s an emotional aspect–getting a nice email further solidifies your bond with the team.
2. Frequent follow ups
In a similar vein to the thank you message, following up frequently also shows interest, and shows you take initiative, which is very attractive to employers. Companies aren’t as interested in candidates who wait around and are passive. If the company has not gotten back to you after an interview, Follow up every 3 to 5 business days, or the specific timeframe they give you, to ask about next steps. I recommend following up 3 times before giving up.
I have heard several stories of candidates who did not give up and after 2 emails of no reply, their third email is the one that got the response and got them ultimately to the offer, persistence gets jobs!
3. Do Research on the Interviewers
Research on the company is for sure good, but when you look into the PEOPLE on the interview loop you start to build deeper connections.
I work with someone who was hired at the company a while ago and to this day we still bring up how impressive it was that he had read about everyone in his interview loop and brought up specific blogs they had written or interests they have.
It wasn’t creepy, this is all publicly available information, but it made each interviewer feel acknowledged as someone worth knowing about, and showed great effort and interest on the candidate’s side. And I already spoiled the ending, but he got the job. 🙂
Make sure to get the names of your interviewers before coming in for the interview, this is a common request.
4. Ask questions in the Interview
In most interviews, there will be a point where the interviewer will ask, “Do you have any questions for me?” And you should always be asking questions during this time. You should be vetting the company just as they are vetting you. You come off as a low-quality candidate if you do not ask questions, because it seems like you just need a job instead of the right job.
Here are a few Questions that you might ask:
- What is the growth path for an individual in this role?
- Where do you think the company is headed in the next five years?
- Why did you come to this company?
- What’s your favorite part about working here?
- Is this a new hire / replacement hire?
- How soon do you expect someone onboard?
- What / How does a typical day look like?
- What are the skills and experiences you’re looking for in an ideal candidate?
- What are the biggest challenges that someone in this position would face?
- Are there opportunities for advancement or professional development?
- Would I be able to represent the company at industry conferences?
- What are the most important things you’d like to see someone accomplish in the first 30, 60, and 90 days on the job?
- I’ve read about the company’s founding, but can you tell me more about…?
- What can you tell me about your new products or plans for growth?
- What’s the company and team culture like?