7 Things to Do Immediately After a Job Interview

The job interview is over and the hard part is out of the way, but it doesn’t stop as soon as you leave the room. There are things to do immediately after a job interview which we will cover today. These things revolve around reflecting on what you have just seen, witnessed and experienced. Taking time to critically assess your job interview honestly without bias can help your chances significantly for future job interviews.

Once you have had your job interview, take an additional twenty to thirty minutes out of your day to fully reflect on how you felt it went and consider these points:

Job Interview Environment

From the moment you arrived until the moment you left, how did you feel about the surroundings?  Consider whether it was a welcoming environment with nice people to greet you and somewhere you think you would enjoy working. First impressions are as much important for the business to the job candidate as they are for the candidate to the business.

Think about other factors such as the people you met, were they people that you could see yourself working alongside and visualise the actual environment of the workplace, is it extremely quiet or extremely loud or somewhere in between? Is that the kind of environment you would be happy working in?

What impression did the business leave on you?

Continuing on from the first point where we’ve looked at the environment you was in, you should now think about the business itself and the understanding you have of them, what they do and what they stand for.

• Is the nature of the business and its industry something you’d be happy working in and could bring enthusiasm to? 
• Are the job responsibilities and day to day tasks agreeable with you? 
• Is there potential for growth and promotion? 
• Does the business have a set of core values that are in agreeance with your own values?

For some, these things might not be applicable and will always come secondary to earnings potential, but for others, they can be important factors in picking your next employer and determining how long you decide to stay working for them.

Travel to and from the Job Interview

Now that you’ve travelled to the job interview and returned home, consider the journey you have just made. Is this a journey that you could do comfortably several times a week in regards to the time taken and cost of fuel or public transport?

The cost of getting to and from your new place of work is often something we overlook. Understanding the cost alongside the rate of pay for your new job is something you should consider when accepting a job offer.

If you will be travelling on public transport and the job you have applied to involves different shift patterns, make sure that the transport is available to you for all the shifts you could be working.

Did you make a good first impression?

Remember that first impressions go a long way. It’s true that many hiring managers make their decision about an applicant in the very first few moments of an interview. Make sure you make a good one! 

If your appearance is sloppy or inappropriate, if you can’t seem to make eye contact during the interview, or if you don’t seem excited about your skills and experience…what does that say about your ability to perform well on the job?

Now think back to the job interview you just had. Does any of the above apply to you or can you confidently say you gave off a good first impression?

Did you answer the job interview questions to the best of your ability?

Job interview questions can be tricky to answer. Potential employers are looking for specific information about you as an employee, so it’s important to give thought to how you’re going to respond throughout the interview process.

When it comes to the job interview, preparation is key. Knowing the kinds of questions you’re likely to be asked and the answers that will impress a hiring manager can set you apart from other candidates – and get you a job offer. Check out The Ultimate Guide On How To Prepare For A Job Interview for tips on how to prepare.

Think back to the questions you have just answered and recall the answers you gave. Do you feel you gave enough detail in your answers to fully answer the question and link your own abilities and experience to the criteria they are looking for?

If you feel you could have answered some questions better, now is the time where you are free of the job interview pressures to take your time and construct the very best answer you can give. Commit this answer and its key points to memory and should you need to use it in a future job interview you can recall it to really impress.

Did you ask a good range of questions?

Asking questions in a job interview is more than just about showing that you’re interested in the company, it’s also about making sure that the company is a good fit for you. The right questions can help you to decide whether or not you really want to work for this particular company, and they can help you uncover important information such as what kind of training and support you’ll receive if you’re offered the job.

You should always look to ask an appropriate amount of questions and not be afraid to ask something that is of importance to you. Not asking questions in a job interview can show a lack of interest and enthusiasm in the job role which another candidate could show in abundance and could secure them the job role because of their positive attitude.

Did you tell them everything you wanted them to know about you?

A job interview is your chance to show hiring managers what you can bring to their business, to learn more about you and prove why you’re the right person for the job.

No two job interviews are alike. Some interviewers will be friendly and chatty, some will be more formal, and others will be downright hostile. Some may fail to ask enough questions and some will give you the third degree. The important thing is that you plan the key points you want to discuss/mention before you go in there.

Look to get these points in throughout the job interview at opportune times. If it gets to the end of the interview where you have the opportunity to ask questions, use this opportunity to bring things onto the topics which haven’t been covered yet but feel by touching on them will strengthen your case.

If you’ve returned home from your job interview and know you failed to get in key pieces of information that would have gone in your favour, think about where it is you could have dropped them in or what questions you could have asked which would have led into discussing these points.

Once you have heard back…

Hopefully, in the coming days after taking the time to reflect on your job interview, you are greeted by good news with a job offer. This might make the process of reflecting seem redundant but it is all good practice for future job interviews.

If you are unlucky in your job interview and are not successful, seek feedback from the company and find out what they thought about you and the interview. 

Compare their feedback to your own assessments of the job interview and see if you agree. 

Take on board feedback that is constructive and think about how you can implement it into future job interviews. 

You might find our article How To Turn Job Interview Feedback Into Job Offers useful.

Conclusion

Reflection is an important part of improving your performance and is definitely one of the things to do immediately after a job interview. Taking the extra 20-30 minutes out of your day to be honest with yourself and either thinking alone or discussing with a friend or family member to assess your performance and true feelings towards the company can lead to stronger job interviews in the future, an increased chance of securing work and give you a clear indication on the kind of employer you want to work for.