What to Do After a Job Interview

So you made it through a job interview—now what? As you anxiously wait for the results of your interview, you may be wondering what the next steps are. When should you send a follow-up email after an interview? Should you send a thank you email? When should you negotiate a job offer?

All of these are great questions to ask yourself, and the Church’s Employment Services can help give you some guidance on what to do.

What Usually Happens After an Interview?

After an interview, employers will usually finish up any other interviews they had lined up, and then they will spend time reviewing each of the candidates and their applications. With this in mind, don’t be worried if you don’t hear from the employer for a couple of days. At the end of your interview, be sure to ask when they hope to make a hiring decision. This will help you to know when you should send a follow up email.

Follow Up Email

When Should I Send a Follow up Email after an Interview?

Wait a couple days after the interview to send a follow up email. As previously mentioned, ask the employer when you should hear a decision from them, and ask if you can contact them in a few days to follow up. If you tell the employer that you will follow up with them, do it.

Following up after an interview improves your chances of being hired. Many companies measure an applicant’s interest in the position by what he or she does to follow up after the interview. Remember that each interaction with an employer is an interview, whether formal or not.

How Do You Write a Short Follow Up Email after an Interview?

What you say in your follow up email will differ from situation to situation. But here regardless of your situation, make sure you:

• Restate your interest in the position.
• Refer to things you discussed in your interview.
• Reemphasize, in concise, powerful statements, how your skills can help the organization.
• Resolve concerns.
• Thank the person for his or her time.
• Do not pressure the person to hire you.

Thank You Email

Should I Write a Thank you Email after an Interview?

Yes! Thank you emails are a great way to follow up with an employer because not only does it reinforce in the employer’s mind your interest in the position, but it also shows your gratitude to them for considering you.

Sending a thank-you note after an interview is good business etiquette. Some employers even expect to receive one. Surprisingly, only a small number of applicants send thank-you notes. Perhaps for this reason, many employers hire people who send thank-you cards or letters to them.

Be sure to write your thank you email within 24 hours of the interview to ensure that they read the note before making a hiring decision. In your letter, be succinct and make sure there are no errors.

Job Negotiation

Congrats, you received a job offer! But this doesn’t have to be the end of the deal. You may have the opportunity to negotiate salary, benefits, and other job details with an employer. Negotiation should end in an agreement that meets your goals and your employer’s. Effective negotiation is a skill, and like any skill, it can be learned.

When Should I Negotiate?

You are in a position to negotiate when the employer understands your value to the organization. During your job search, only negotiate pay and other benefits after a job offer is made. If a potential employer wants to discuss pay expectations or other benefits before extending an offer, ask to discuss money after you and the employer agree you are a match. Suggest that if you both find that you want to work together, you can agree on a salary then.

How to Negotiate a Job Offer

Before negotiating an offer, prepare by identifying your goals, what you are looking for, and at what point you would walk away from a negotiation. Prioritizing and evaluating your goals ahead of time can help you to know what is most important to you when accepting a job offer.

Throughout the negotiation, remember to be open and honest. Negotiations should leave both parties feeling satisfied with the outcome. Here are a few additional points to consider:

1. Ask questions. If you ask permission to ask a question, you will lay a foundation for agreement and likely receive a complete answer. Plan for questions you can ask.
2. Be an excellent listener. The more information you get, the better able you’ll be to uncover others’ needs. It will then be easier for you to show how you are able to meet those needs.
3. Paraphrase to ensure understanding. Restate in your own words what the other person has said to make sure you understand correctly. Be sure to use different words so that it doesn’t sound like you are mimicking.
4. Get it in writing. Take notes during negotiations. Notes will help all parties recall what has already been discussed or decided. Be sure to get all offers in writing.
5. Save issues for later discussion. Focus on one issue before you move on to the next.
6. Emphasize your value. If the organization thinks your monetary expectations are too high, indicate what you think your contribution will be to the organization. Use “Power Statements.”
7. Be flexible in your negotiations. Take the attitude of “I’m just working out the details.” Be willing to give up things that don’t really matter to you in order to create a feeling of goodwill.
8. Use silence for consideration. In response to an offer, restate the offer, sit quietly, and silently count to 10. Allow everyone time to consider. This technique may also prompt the employer to justify the offer, which could continue the negotiation process, or it could lead to a better offer.
9. Take time to consider offers. When a final offer is extended, if it is not enough, thank the employer, provide a Power Statement, and ask for time to consider the offer.
10. Express gratitude. When you reach an agreement, express gratitude and appreciation. Show how anxious you are to join the organization to make a contribution.

If you are unable to reach an agreement after following these steps, don’t get discouraged! Get creative in finding a solution that allows both sides to come together. Review your original goals to see if you are able to adjust. Be sure to continue to ask questions and seek information.

If, in the end, you are not able to find an agreement, thank the employer for their time. Be sure to smile and keep the conversation positive, as knowing the employer could help you in the future. Express interest in joining the company, emphasize your value, and be clear on what it would take to come to an agreement. Keep open the possibility of reaching a deal at a later date.