Following up Your Interview

A brief note thanking the organisation for the interview is an excellent way to keep in contact.

The overall tone of the note should be appreciative and indicative of your interest in pursuing employment in the organisation. In some cases, it might also be appropriate to include a fact or experience that you think might add to your candidacy. You may write the note by hand, but make sure that your writing is legible, and that you use plain, good-quality, standard-sized paper.

If you are no longer interested in the position, you can use your thank-you note to communicate this. You do not have to explain why but, if you wish to do so, make sure that the reasons are professional (seeking a greater degree of responsibility, etc).

In your interview, you should have discovered when a decision would be made. If you have not heard by then, it's a good idea to contact the organisation to see how they're going with their decision-making. Any feedback received at this time should be taken on face value; if an interviewer has no information, they will tell you so and indicate when they will contact you. Don’t be discouraged if the process continues over several weeks.

If you are offered a job with one employer whilst you are waiting to hear from another, more desirable organisation, telephone your contact in this company and explain what has happened. If they are genuinely interested in you, they may speed up their decision-making process. Alternatively, they may advise you to accept the first job offer, thereby resolving your dilemma!

Once you have accepted a position, contact any organisations still actively considering you and inform them of your decision (an email is fine). Thank them for their time and consideration.

Activity
Write a draft thank-you note that you could send to an employer with whom you have interviewed.