38 After the Interview: Show Appreciation and Evolve
You made it through the interview! You’re almost at the finish line, but before you decide to congratulate yourself with a big delicious meal or night out, follow these three valuable steps to leave a lasting impression.
- Evaluate and reflect.
After the interview, it is a good idea to reflect on your performance and consider what questions you answered well and what questions could have used more information or preparation. A best practice is also to write down the questions that were asked so that you can prepare better for next time. - Ask for feedback.
If you were not the chosen candidate, don’t sweat it! Look at your experience as a practice round, and take the opportunity to ask the employer for feedback on your interview. You may find that not all employers will provide you with this specific information or that the response you receive is vague. However, if you do receive feedback, this information could be very valuable in increasing your chances of successfully passing your next interview. - Send a thank you letter.
After your interview, differentiate yourself by showing your appreciation and reiterate to the employer your interest in the position by sending a thank you letter in an email format to those who took the time to interview you. Your thank you letter should be sent within a 24-hour period of when the interview was held. If you have agreed to provide additional information or samples of your work, be sure to do this as soon after the interview as possible. Remember to always proofread your email to ensure there are no spelling or grammatical errors!
Sample Thank You Letter
Dear Mr./Ms. Last Name, (if multiple, list all the interviewers’ names)
Thank you for meeting with me today to discuss the __________________ position with your company. I really appreciate the time you took to get to know me and hear about my skills, experiences, and qualifications.
After speaking with you (or the interview panel), I am confident that I would be an ideal candidate for this role, offering the quick learning and adaptability that is needed to succeed with your diverse clientele. In addition to my enthusiasm and strong work ethic, I would bring the technical and analytical skills necessary to get the job done.
I am very interested in working with your talented team and I look forward to hearing from you once the final decisions are made. Please feel free to contact me at any time. If you require any further information, I can be reached at (613) 727-4723.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Your Name
Download Thank You Letter Sample [opens a Word document (.docx)]
