Interview Follow Up

What do you do after a job interview? Do you go home and wait or do you improve your chances of progressing to the next stage and getting the position? Following up after an interview is a great way to make sure you stand out from the multiple applicants and here are some tips on how to write a great ‘Thank you’ follow up.

Always remember, a thank you is a nice touch, but it can be a great strategic move. Include anything you think of after your interview that you wish you had said in retrospect (not too much though, keep it short and sweet).

If there were any concerns shared about your suitability, address them and reiterate your reasoning behind this potential weakness not being a problem and your suitability for the role.

Finish by highlighting your three top experiences and qualifications and how they would benefit the company from what you learnt during your interview. Reiterate information you learnt and your increased interests and determination, promising to deliver in the role, as we are sure you will.

Do Something Memorable

Are you still unsure of where you want to focus your degree? Have you considered taking a gap year at the end of your studies to explore the world and figure out your next move? It’s a great thing to do to gain the life experience and soft skills companies love whilst giving you the opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of others.

There are a variety of different organised projects you could get involved with on your time out, for example Africa & Asia Adventures, a fantastic not-for-profit organisation offering amazing voluntary projects in a range of areas with fantastic benefit for the community in which you would live.

Recently more and more we are noticing an increased preference from companies for applicants who have been involved in extracurricular activities and voluntary projects in order to demonstrate the key soft skills they seek and a great personality fit for their company culture. Africa and Asia Adventures and other like companies are able to provide such experiences, offering you the ability to be truly involved with new cultures, living with the locals within a totally new community, whilst gaining work experience that truly makes a difference to both you and the people you are helping.

It would definitely be an experience you would never forget and ensure that you yourself are unforgettable.

Always Ask Questions

Everyone has experienced it, knows it’s going to be asked, or both. The question at the end of every interview; ‘Do you have any questions?’ The only answer to this question is ‘Yes’.

This is your opportunity to shine. Have questions prepared before you have even entered your interview so that you will have things to ask without fail, for example, ‘why is the position vacant?’, ‘what are the long term goals of the company and the department’, ‘what is the company culture like?’, ‘what is a standard day in this role like?’ and asking if the interviewers themselves like working there and why. Asking such questions shows your interest in the company and expresses long term intentions.

Also ensure you take a notepad and pen (in a folder, neatly presented, no chewed up old biros) into the interview with you so that if you think of a question from the interview you can jot it down to remember later. Such interest, preparation and organisation is sure to leave a great, lasting impression.

Do Your Research

Last week’s tip was to ensure you have researched the role you are applying to, and the career path you are set on. This week’s tip follows on in same nature; research.

Another element of research you will need to do is on the company to which you are applying. Ensure you have done this before applying, it will help you tailor your application to the company properly, helping you stand out from other applicants. You also never know when a company may call so doing this research at the earliest stage of the application will ensure preparation when receiving a surprise call.

When you are invited to an interview, do more research, don’t just rely on your initial research. This research will need to be far more in depth, and you will need to consider the external environment too, such as competitors and the market in which they operate. Doing this will enable you to tailor your answers, think of good questions to ask at the end of your interview and give a great overall first impression, making sure you stand out from the crowd.

Know What You Want

When applying to graduate jobs, in a time when too many people are falling into the trap of applying to any role, you need to know what you want. By this we don’t mean narrowing down your job search to only one specific type of career, we mean avoiding making a very common mistake; not truly understanding what you are applying to.

Research your chosen path thoroughly, just because you may have heard of the job role at university doesn’t necessarily mean you completely understand what that position entails. This may sound obvious, but it is a mistake we see regularly. As a job applicant you need to be able to answer what you understand about the career and role and why you are interested in it. For example, consultancy, there are many different types, yet more and more we speak to people who want to go into consultancy, but don’t realise consultancy ranges across every industry and therefore haven’t thought about which interests them.

Having a thorough understanding of the career path you want and the role you are applying to will leave any interviewer impressed and far more convinced of your interest, sincerity and suitability for their vacancy.