What to do after an interview

After an interview, there are many things you can do to improve the chances of getting the job; these include:

Inquire about the next steps

This is something that can be done literally as the interview is wrapping up. You should ask for the hiring manager's contact information and inquire about what the next steps will be. This can include asking about a timeframe for the decision or asking if there is a need for a second interview.

Critique your interview performance

Write down some of the key questions given to you in the interview and how you responded. This can be an extremely useful tool in gauging how you performed and can also be helpful to your process of preparing for future interviews.

Send a thank you email

A thank you email to the hiring manager or whoever you interviewed with is a good idea. This should be relatively quickly, within 24 hours post the interview. Do not send it immediately after, of course, but make sure it is timely. This also gives you an opportunity to follow up on anything that was discussed in the interview.

In addition, in certain lines of work, a handwritten note may be more appropriate than an email.

Use professional social media to connect

You should try to connect with your interviewer on professional social media a short time after the interview. Even if you don't ultimately get the position, they may be a valuable resource down the line in your career. Plus, it is always beneficial to expand your professional network.

Reach out to your references

It is helpful and courteous to reach out to any references you may have given post your interview. This way, your references will be ready in the event your interviewer contacts them.

Send a follow-up email.

It is important to follow up relatively soon after the interview. This can be done a few days to a week post-interview and is a great way to remind them of your interest and passion for the position.

You can also include anything you forgot to mention during the course of the interview in your thank you email, such as a relevant skill or accomplishment that you forgot to mention; perhaps you can include a link to something relevant that was discussed or send them more examples of your work.