Knowing What to Do Immediately Following A Job Interview Can Significantly Increase Your Chances of Being Hired

     So you've had your interview, you've shaken hands with your interviewer(s), now you go home and wait for a call, right? This is what many job seekers do. That's a huge mistake!
     They waste days, weeks and sometimes months anxiously waiting for that call. If they get a call back at all, it is all too often that they hear from the employer, "Sorry, but we chose someone else for this position..."
     Do not let this happen to you without taking action.
     The problem is that most job seekers don't know how to effectively follow-up on their job interview immediately following the interview.
     They don't realize that, although conducting an interview is an important step to getting a job, it's certainly not a guarantee to employment! They must move on to the next step in the process.
     The interview is like a first date, where both parties determine if they are right for each other. And like first dates, if one of those parties doesn't show interest and a willingness to make an effort, the other party may very well decide to move on.
     However, proper follow-up of an interview will ensure that you'll make a strong, favorable impression in the mind of the interviewer, and that you're not forgotten and pushed aside.
     Smart job seekers know to take advantage of good interview by using effective follow-up strategies immediately following the interview.
     According to Craig Kagel from Advantage Resume, it's a know fact that very few people actually follow up with employers in the form of a thank you letter or direct phone call after the interview.
     Know this! Employers are positively surprised when a job seeker does follow-up with a friendly thank you letter thanking them (the interviewer) for taking the time to interview you.
     It's a know fact that interviewer's remember these people far more often than they remember people who simply wait for a call.
     There are many things you can do to ensure a strong follow-up to an interview and make a strong, favorable impression on your potential employer:

Ask the interviewer what the next step is.

     Surprisingly, many people forget to simply ask what the next step is when the interview is over. Asking your interviewer what the next step that you should take is can relieve a lot of your anxiety, as it lets you clearly know what direction to take next.

Send thank-you notes.

     As was mentioned earlier, very few people send thank-you notes to the interviewer after an interview. Following this incredibly simple step is an excellent form of etiquette to thank the interviewer for taking the time out of their day to talk to you personally.
     The old adage that time is money is true, and communicating this to a prospective employer demonstrates that you understand and appreciate their time - this is priceless.
     A thank-you note is also a wonderful tool to use for clearing up anything that may have been forgotten during the interview. If you remember an important piece of information you forgot to communicate during the interview, the thank-you note is a great place to let the interviewer know.
     Thank you notes are also an excellent medium to reaffirm your interest in the position, as well as reiterate the next step you asked about after the interview.
     Make sure to keep the language professional, use a professional closing, and keep the letter short. For those of you who were smart enough to attend our free workshop or purchase our training system, we've provided you with some excellent examples of thank you notes.
     Remember this, while the thank-you note can be used to expand upon information, it is a poor place to add more information about your skills and abilities. Don't talk about your skills and abilities when you send a thank-you note.
     How do you know where to send the thank-you note? Make sure to collect the cards of all interviewers and anyone who was especially helpful to you after the interview. If these aren't available, you can ask for contact information (make sure to get the proper spelling of everyone's name!) and mention those that were helpful to you in the thank-you note.
     Create and send the thank-you note the same day, or the next day at the absolute latest. You want that note to be on the desk of the person who'll make the decision about considering you for employment as soon as possible. Know that it can take inter-office mail up to 5 days to get into the hand of the person who the mail was sent to.

Stay in contact.

     If you haven't heard from the employer within the timeframe they gave you, call them and make a polite inquiry about the position and when you can expect to receive a decision.
     Also make an inquiry a week to ten days after the interview to reaffirm your interest in the position and to inquire about it. Make sure to remain polite, friendly, and patient. Don't annoy the employer, but remain persistent.
     When you call, introduce yourself, ask to speak to the person who interviewed you and tell them why you are calling. If they haven't yet made a decision, ask them when the best time to call back would be and then schedule that call back time.
     Even if you didn't get the job, make sure to thank them again. When done consistently, this will increase your chances of being called up in the event that the other candidate doesn't work out and you were in fact considered as another candidate for the position.

What to do if you aren't hired.

     Finding out you weren't hired after you've gone through all the effort of applying, interviewing and following up can be incredibly frustrating.
     Never give up! Timely follow-up and appropriate communication will show your professionalism and will help you to stay in the employer's mind as someone to be considered if they have another position open, or if their first choice doesn't work out. Send another thank-you note thanking them for their willingness to consider you and to express interest in any other opportunities the employer may have.