After the Interview

So you completed your interview and now all you can do is wait until you find out if you got the job, right? WRONG! Make sure to do the following steps so you have a better chance of actually getting hired:

1. Get business cards of interviewer(s). After the interview, ask for the interviewer's business card so you have their contact information.

2. Thank you letter. Send each person who interviewed you a thank you letter or email. According to Quintessential Careers, "only about 5 percent of those looking for jobs perform this simple yet crucial ritual." You will definitely stand out from the other applicants if you send a thank you letter which can be hard copy typed, handwritten or e-mailed.

3. Notify your references if you haven't already about the interview and include the job description and your resume. You may even want to highlight for them some of the ways you are a good fit for the position.

4. Any additional materials or documents. During the interview, did you offer to put together a rough outline of a marketing idea you discussed? Were you asked to forward your college transcripts? Did you volunteer to send a great article you’d read about manufacturing in rural areas? Be prompt, precise, and proactive in providing additional material that may help support your candidacy. You may cover these materials with a brief handwritten note or your business card with a word or two jotted on the back.

4. Follow-up phone call. It is perfectly appropriate to follow up with the interviewer after a period of time to determine the status of the position and your candidacy. One of your final questions at the end of your interview might be, “When may I expect to hear from you? May I check back with you in two weeks?” Enter the date in your calendar and follow up as promised.