Sunday 3 March 2013

The Value of Staying In Touch After Your Phone Interview

By Chris Everett


You may know that after an interview, whether it was on the phone or face-to-face, you should follow up with the employer. Commonly this means sending a letter of thanks to them for interviewing you, then following up later to find out if there are any updates. It is particularly important that you check in after a phone interview and you've successfully answered the telephone interview questions confidently. Even if you had a stellar interview, you need to guarantee that the company remembers you. A simple e-mail saying thank you and interest in the job is all that is needed to avoid missing a terrific window of opportunity to stand out compared to the other interviewees.

Do not cease with the thank you letter. Even though the company will appreciate your thanks, he/she is very busy and may forget you. If you have not heard anything from the company a week after the interview, get in touch with the company to find out if you got the job. If possible, converse with the person who interviewed you. Either phone or e-mail the interviewer, unless he/she hasspecified a preference for one or the other. Take in account, hiring managers are very busy individuals but a week should be sufficient for them to respond to an inquiry.

If he/she told you not to contact him/her directly, then speak to a office assistant or other colleague at the company. Prospective employers expect you to follow up, so do not fret about disturbing any one. Do not think that they will give you a status report, even if they promised to do so. However, do not pester them by calling or e-mailing excessively. Sometimes it may take several weeks, or even several months for a company to make a hiring decision. Since it can be a lengthy process, learn to be patient, but do not become lazy. Checking in occasionally will keep you current in their minds, and prove your continued interest in the job.

If the phone interview takes place during the final or intermediate phases of the recruiting process, then checking in is crucial. But it is even more necessary if it is during the initial phases, or the screening process. Since the company is trying to filter through a huge number of candidates, you will be competing with many others. Sending a follow-up note immediately afterward will confirm that they remember you, and will distinguish you from other applicants as a effective communicator.

Whatever reply you obtain from your check-ins, stay professional and polite. The organization may reject your application or not advance you to the next phase of interviews. If this happens, thank them for the opportunity, and ask them to be in touch. Often, the business may not select you for a certain position, but, if you have started a connection with them, they may select you for another position later. Though this may not happen, the business will be appreciative of your pleasantness and it may create networking opportunities that will lead to future work. Regardless, learning to follow up after your phone screeen and telephone interview questions will help you in your job pursuit. Deciding to ignore this important part in the interview process could cost you by not being considered for an opportunity.




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