Just Interviewed, Now What?

I currently work for a company that offers a way to pay and provide benefits to their international talent. On a daily basis I am interacting with hiring managers and executives. Here’s what I’ve learned.

When interviewing with a company there are two perspectives to keep in mind. The first is the interviewer (you) and the second is the hiring manager (recruiter). If you are unfamiliar with recruiter roles many have quotas they have to meet. Some recruiters may have challenges finding the right talent while facing hard deadlines. Recruiters are busy. It’s important to keep in mind that a recruiter on average spend only 6 seconds reviewing resumes. If you were able to stand out enough for them to reach out to you, they are already interested in you. Your job is to keep them interested.

If you are applying for jobs it’s likely you are trying to leave a situation that is no longer meeting your needs. Job hunting has never been described as a pleasurable experience due to the amount of time and energy needed during the application & interview process. If you are going to set time aside to market yourself, don’t miss out on an opportunity due to these simple mistakes.

1. Not Preparing: I wouldn’t do this until you have a meeting scheduled or you are in contact with someone at the prospective company. Preparing includes reviewing the company, the job description, the people you will speak to. Write out examples of how you meet each bulleted job duty. Identify what you have in common with the recruiter or company. Practice responses to the common recruiting questions in relation to the position you are applying to. Identify which questions you will ask them to understand their needs and the role better.
2. Being Inattentive: Be on-time to the meeting. Ideally, be available before your meeting. Make sure you are presenting yourself in the way you would like to be perceived. Remove distractions by closing out additional tabs if it is a virtual meeting. Turn off your phone and any other devices that could make sound or distract you. Have a copy of your resume and the items mentioned in bullet one available. Be respectful of your time and theirs by staying within the allotted timeframes outlined.
3. Not Following Up: Once you have met with them get an idea of the next steps. Send an email thanking them for their time and include any information that might be useful for them since they are likely passing your information along to someone else. Make it easy for them since you are only a small part of their day, most people aren’t good at remembering everything discussed.

It’s ok to be nervous but stay positive and be responsive. As someone in sales, you always want to place a sense of urgency on any request. You aren’t the only person applying for these positions and they are likely managing more than one role. Respond quickly while their attention is on you. Stay in contact by adding them on LinkedIn or shooting gentle reminder emails as part of your follow up process. Continue applying to positions since there may be delays or it might not be a good match. The odds of you landing a position is higher when the volume of positions you apply for increases.