I received the article below as a submission. When I first read it I thought, "This does not fit our audience. Our audience wants to know how to get clients, not a job." Then it dawned on me that the process for the two are VERY similar. When you read this article by Ford R. Myers substitute sales call for interview and business for job. Read it and you will see how these 10 "Post-Interview" ideas can really be your outline for sales call follow ups (or maybe they can help you find your next job!)
Here are 10 suggestions for navigating through the interview process and following up
Ford R. Myers
afterward:
1. Set the stage for effective follow-up. This step will help you feel prepared, pro-active and more in control. Developing your follow-up strategy before the interview will even enhance your behavior during the interview.
2. Act more like a consultant than an applicant. Focus on asking intelligent, probing questions about the employer's business needs, problems and challenges (like a good consultant would). Write-down the interviewer's answers, which will become the foundation for your follow-up steps.
3. Don't rush toward an offer. The purpose of your initial interview is not to get an offer, but to get invited back for a second meeting - most likely with a higher-level individual at the company. Use every interview to ask more questions and uncover the employer's primary needs and problems.
4. Confirm next steps. Don't settle for "Thanks for coming; we'll let you know" or similar comments that place you in a passive position. Assume a more active role, and get a commitment from the employer for "what comes next!"
5. Follow-up promptly and compellingly. Now that your interview is over, be sure to send your thank you letters as soon as possible. These should be personalized to each individual (not generic), and must include specific references to each person with whom you met (something they said or contributed during the interview).
6. Use every follow-up contact as a chance to build your value. In your thank you letter, include brief synopses of your accomplishments, tying them directly to the company's stated challenges (usually in a side-by-side chart format). You can even support your "claims" by sending the employer samples of your work, if appropriate.
7. Be punctual and persistent. Be meticulous in your business etiquette, which includes consistent, regular follow-ups by phone and e-mail. Be persistent in expressing your sincere interest in the opportunity, but don't be a pest.
8. Leverage outside resources. If you have contacts and connections with anyone who might influence the hiring decision, or who actually knows the interviewer, ask them to "put in a good word for you" after the initial interview.
9. Accept rejection gracefully. If you get the message (directly or indirectly) that the company is not interested in you, or if they actually reject you, then all you can do is move on.
10. Turn defeat into victory. After being rejected, the first thing you should do is send a thank you letter. You can really distinguish yourself from the other rejected applicants if you send this sort of polite, professional letter.
By employing these follow-up strategies after the interview, you will improve your chances of getting more offers, and you will also feel more empowered and effective throughout the hiring process!
For more information and other useful tips for achieving career success, visit http://www.getthejobbook.com .
Copyright (C) 2015, Career Potential, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Permission to Reprint: This article may be reprinted, provided it includes the following attribution: Reprinted by permission of Ford R. Myers, a nationally-known Career Coach and author of "Get The Job You Want, Even When No One's Hiring." Download your free bonuses now at http://www.careerbookbonuses.com.
ABOUT: Ford R. Myers is President of Career Potential, LLC. His firm helps clients take charge of their careers, create the work they love, and earn what they deserve! Ford has held senior consulting positions at three of the nation's largest career service firms. His articles and interviews have appeared in many national magazines and newspapers, and he has conducted presentations at numerous companies, associations and universities. In addition, Ford has been a frequent guest on television and radio programs across the country. He is author of Get The Job You Want, Even When No One's Hiring. More information is available at: http://www.getthejobbook.com and http://www.careerpotential.com.