After the Interview
By: Leanne Scarola
You might feel like you can breathe now that the interview is over. But this part is truly difficult…waiting for an answer. Organizations vary on how long it takes for them to make a hiring decision. It depends on the size of the organization; the role and how many candidates are being interviewed. On average, it takes 3-4 weeks after the first interview for a candidate to get rejected or receive an offer, according to a study conducted by MRINetwork in 2016.
Some companies could send offers within 48 hours or could take up to a month. An employer might not give a job offer right away for a couple of reasons. They could be interviewing more candidates, running a background or credit check, checking references or taking extra time to get a job offer package ready. Managers could also be deciding between several candidates. This process can sometimes take up to six weeks from the initial interview, according to the MRINetwork Study.
The more complicated the role, the longer it could take to hear back. Don’t fret, there are steps you can take to keep your best foot forward, instead of constantly checking your e-mail or phone. These 5 tips can help you keep the company focused on you in a good way, after your on-site interview.
1. Follow up with Recruiter
It’s important if you’re working with a recruiter to get back to them as soon as you can. Provide as much information as you can so they can assess how it went. They can work through any questions or concerns you might have after your interview and advise you on the next steps. They’re also the liaison between you and the company and can push harder to get quicker answers.
2. Send Thank You / Complete and send extra assignments ASAP
In today’s technology driven world it’s acceptable for candidates to send Thank You e-mails instead of a letter in the mail. If you met with multiple people in a group-style interview, it should be ok to send the same thank you to everyone, but if you met with people individually, you should alter each note for each person you met with. Not only is it polite and professional to send a thank you email post-interview, but it allows you to mention anything you might’ve missed in your interview presentation. You can highlight why you would be a good fit for the role and what value you would add to their organization. Remember to keep the Thank-you note brief and to the point, with no more than a couple of short paragraphs and make it a priority to send this as soon as you’re able (ideally within 24-48 hours). In addition, it’s a good idea to send a note through the mail, which could leave a lasting impression on your interviewers.
Nowadays, it’s common for companies to ask for additional information after the first interview. Depending on the role it could include coding tests, samples, a link to your portfolio, a specific assignment they want you to complete for evaluation or your professional social networking profiles.
Timing is everything. While it is important to do an exceptional job with the assignment at hand, you should be cognizant that it should be done quickly after your interview (or if given a deadline, send within timeframe). Keep in mind, their might be other candidates in the interview process with you and you don’t want the managers to evaluate the other candidates work before yours if you can help it.
3. Get your References ready
You should have a solid list of references ready to provide the company. This could be a combination of managerial references as well as colleagues or peers. Conducting reference checks can sometimes slow down the process of an offer being made. Be sure to inform your references to expect a potential call and let them know it’s time-sensitive (to prevent any delays in completing the reference).
4. Follow up with Company/Recruiter
If you’d like to follow up on the status of the position and where you stand in the interview process, once a week is probably enough. You want to demonstrate your interest, but it’s important not to overdo it. Organizations are busy enough, and if you’re working directly with the hiring managers you don’t want to look desperate or too eager by reaching out too often.
5. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket
Even though this opportunity might seem like the perfect role for you, there are still many more out there. The more you interview, the more practice you’ll get and you’ll have a better chance of getting an offer. If you get rejected, it may be useful to ask the hiring manager for some feedback – what were you lacking or what could have done better? In doing so, you can attempt to curb any answers or interview habits that reflect poorly on you. Some Managers are nice enough to provide feedback but don’t take it personally if they don’t. Always self-reflect and think about where you could’ve done better so you’re always improving.
Working with Micro Tech Staffing Group will help you put your best foot forward during the interview process. We can help you prepare for those tough interviews and provide guidance through the entire interview process. Our recruiters always try to retrieve any feedback that might be beneficial to help you improve your interview technique. Let Micro Tech Staffing Group help you find your next role.