interview preparation Archives - Blue Signal Search

The interview process can be extensive, with multiple interview sessions, required personality and skill assessments, and delayed response times. Several candidates never hear back from interviewers, leaving many to wonder what they could have done differently to set them apart. While not required, thank you notes are a guaranteed way to leave a lasting impression on your interviewer and put you ahead of the rest.

According to CareerBuilder, 57% of job seekers don’t send a thank you message after an interview. A thank you email is one of the biggest closers in the interview process, allowing you to review discussed items and show your excitement. This is also another opportunity to emphasize your qualifications, mention anything you forgot, and keep your name at the top of the list throughout the decision process.

Be Prepared

Sending a thank you note should be your first step after any interview. A quick email is a great way to show appreciation for the interviewer's time and consideration, plus it’s just polite. Just as you would prepare for an interview, you should be ready to send a follow up memo as soon as you’re able. In order to make your message relevant, it’s helpful to take notes during your interview so that you don’t have to worry about forgetting something. Make sure to mention that you are taking notes, as that shows you are focused and genuinely interested in retaining the information they are providing. Make your notes quick and short so that you are still engaged in the conversation and not falling behind. If you feel that they are supplying a lot of important information or you’re confused, ask them to reiterate in your thank you email or find your own answers by doing some research on their website. The more engaged you appear in the interview, the more prepared you can be in your follow up.

Timing Matters

Hiring managers come across hundreds of resumes in the interview process, making it difficult to remember every single person they speak to. This means that timing is everything. Thank you messages should be sent within 24 hours of the initial conversation, keeping your name higher up in their inbox and at top of mind. Ask interviewers for a business card or way to connect with them at the end of the meeting, and ensure you have the correct spelling and contact information. If you forget to do this, don’t stress! Reach out to your recruiter or do some digging online.

Customize it

Just as they receive hundreds of resumes, interviewers and hiring managers see their fair share of thank you emails. Customize your message to help set yourself apart, expressing your authentic interest over the role by citing specific examples from your notes that were discussed during the interview. This is also a great time to introduce new material that further validates your qualifications and experience. Use small details you have in common with the interviewer, such as a shared hobby or schooling, to personalize the note to each interviewer and demonstrate your attention to detail. Consider including a link to an online portfolio or shared folder for more work examples.

Source: CareerBuilder

Keep It Professional

Some interviewers are more casual than others, but it’s important to maintain a professional demeanor throughout the process. Always, always, always follow up. Though rare in today’s digital age, some hiring managers may be more old-fashioned and would prefer a mailed thank you letter. If you feel this is the case, still send a thank you message and make it clear that their personalized letter is en route. If you’ve met multiple people during the interview stage, be sure to send thank you notes to all parties involved. This way, you are able to gain more connections in the company you’re applying for, and possibly discover more opportunities in the future. This is a great opportunity to show that you will be able to represent them professionally. Before sending, read over your note several times to eliminate any chances for grammatical issues and spelling errors.

Thank you notes should be thought of as a required step in the interview process. There is really no downside to sending a follow-up email. At worst, you’ve wasted 5-10 minutes on advocating for yourself and being polite; at best, it could be the factor that pushes you to the top of the list. Even if you’re not a good fit for the role you are applying for, hiring managers and interviewers may remember you for your professionalism and respect when another opportunity opens up. In order to set yourself apart, you must be prepared, respond in a timely manner, customize your message, and stay professional.

“Why haven’t I heard back from my interviewer?” This is one of the most common questions asked by candidates. According to a CareerBuilder study, as many as 75% of applicants say they never hear back from companies they have applied for. Companies looking for help are companies that need help, and their lack of communication typically signifies their need for an on-board applicant ASAP. As recruiters, Blue Signal has extensive experience working through every step in the hiring process from submittal through offer acceptance. We have taken thousands of candidates through many hiring processes, and have found that no two companies handle it exactly the same. However, there seems to be common themes that come after an interview. If you haven’t heard from your interviewer after what you believe to be a successful interview, this may be why.

1. Decision-Maker Scheduling Issues

Just like any business operation, there are certain players in the process that have to be involved to gain approval. And, just like every other employee in a business, hiring managers have busy schedules and competing priorities. The fact of the matter is: you might not have heard back after an interview because of scheduling conflicts, someone being out of office, or just plain logistics. Making a decision to hire is an important choice for any business and can take time, especially when having to navigate some unfortunate hierarchy hurdles.

2. They are Interviewing Others

When looking for a job, you probably set out to apply to several roles at once. While landing the job requires certain skills and experience, it also is a slight game of numbers and favorable terms - where you always want more chances to win. In the same way, companies look to interview several qualified candidates before making a final decision on a hire to ensure they are getting the best of the best. If you have been waiting to hear back from the company after your interview, they could be putting off contacting you to make sure they weigh out their options. No news might be good news in this case! If they are interviewing others and haven’t passed on you yet, you might be in consideration among their top picks.

3. Too Many Opinions at the Table

Depending on the organization, the sheer number of voices in the decision-making process might factor into why you haven’t been contacted yet. Even if you have met several people throughout your interview rounds, there still may be other people in the process that need to review your credentials. Those that you have met probably have to meet and make deliberations. There are many organizations that make this mistake by having too many people involved in the process, and it ends up setting back their schedule. There is nothing you can do about this, but it’s something to keep in mind when considering a new company. This means they really value employee input and having teams collaborate to make decisions, right?

4. Their Plans Have Changed

After companies have reviewed several candidates for a role, we have often seen the parameters of the job change and evolve to the market. Sometimes, they see such great candidates they want to make the role higher-level or have the hire take on more areas of responsibility. Other times, they see a need to bring on more than one person for this position in their organization, and are trying to budget out two new hires. This is a good thing! That might mean that the role you initially applied for is now an even better opportunity. The downside - this can mean a delay in their hiring process. They’ll want to wait to reach out to you with information til after they have ironed out the details, so their delay could be a courtesy.

5. Slow Interview Process

Especially with bigger organizations, the interview steps can seem never-ending. Meeting with other people, getting approval from extra departments, and having more screenings can slow down the interview process for all applicants. Being thorough isn’t a bad sign, however delayed communication could be a bad side effect. To avoid this and get a better sense of their timeline, it’s best to always ask interviewers what the next step in the process looks like before leaving an interview.

6. Hiring Freeze

These are a recruiter’s least favorite words. Hiring freezes can come from a number of factors: budget changes, market delays, the economy, team restructuring, mergers, acquisitions, shifts in management, and much more. In this case, there is nothing you could have done to avoid it. Consider that they might be holding out information to see how long the freeze will last in the hopes it ends before noticed. They also might need to protect proprietary company information in some cases. Regardless, when you have representation within this process, like a recruiter, you usually gain better insight into instances like these.

7. They Went with Someone Else

Everyone hates rejection, but it’s just part of the interview process. All industries are competing for top talent, and you might not have been their #1 pick. That’s okay! For all you know, you may have been overqualified, or an internal promotion may have made more sense at the time for the business. Whatever the case, try to keep a good relationship with companies you have interviewed with by sending thank you notes to follow up. Who knows, in the future they might have a role better suited to your expertise, and your gratitude and class could leave an impression that makes you their first call when that other role opens up.

No matter the industry, job, or reporting structure, no two interviewing processes are the same. Companies should treat interviewers with perception in mind, reflecting the best their company has to offer by keeping their lines of communication open and clear. But that’s on them! The best you can do is set yourself up for success by working with someone on the inside, like a recruiter! Recruiters are your best tool for representation and communication for a potential new gig, and can help answer questions about slow response times after interviews. Our job is to be in constant contact with hiring managers to see what they are looking for and why. It’s literally our business to know how your interview went! We have direct lines to client’s internal changes as well as the market shifts, and can provide you behind-the-scenes insight into their hiring strategy. We can help you with anything from interview preparation to salary negotiations, making sure that your start into a new company is a successful one. Talk to one of our Blue Signal recruiters today to see what opportunities they have available in your space! We’d love to represent you, and help you skip the guesswork after an interview.

HOW TO SCORE YOUR NEXT GIG WITH A THANK YOU NOTE