After the Interview

Self-analysis
Shortly after finishing your interview, you should evaluate your performance and assess the image you portrayed. Self-analysis should be done by asking, "What did I do well?" and "What can I improve upon?" Look for actions to sustain or to do differently next time you interview. Write your thoughts down for later reference.

Thank you letters
Immediately send a thank you letter to each of your interviewers. Remember to ask for business cards during your interview so you have their contact information. Sending a thank you letter is professional and courteous. It will also help you to stand out in the minds of interviewers. E-mail is perfectly acceptable these days, and this method is the quickest way to get a thank you to the interviewer. You should include your thoughts from the self-analysis and make each thank you note personalized to the interviewer. (See example below)

Follow-up
About a week after the decision date, call or e-mail the interviewer to politely inquire about the status of his or her decision. A follow-up lets the interviewer know you are still interested in the position and gives you the opportunity to emphasize your qualifications again. However, do not continually ask the employer about the status of the decision. Be patient for their response.

Rejection letter
If you are turned down by a particular company, write them a letter mentioning your disappointment. Remind them of all the positive traits you could offer the company. State that you would be interested if a position would come available in the future.

Thank You Letter Template

[Your Name]
[Street o City o State o Zip Code]
[Phone # o Fax phone # o Messages phone # o Email]


[Date today]


[Interviewer's name]
[Company name]
[Address]
[Address]
[Address]

Dear [Interviewer's name]:

[Thank the interviewer for taking the time to talk with you. Mention the day of the interview and job title. Keep your letter brief.]

[Express your interest in the company. Say that you want the job. (Interviewers love to hear that.) Deliver a subtle sales pitch indicating why you think you're qualified for the job based on the interview, and what you can do for the company. If you forgot to mention something important, this is your second chance (but don't say you forgot).]

[Mention topics that stimulated your interest and something to make you stand out in the interviewer's mind. For example, if you both had a laugh, mention how you enjoyed the moment. If a particular qualification grabbed the interviewer's attention, emphasize it.]

[Wrap it up with another thanks for the interview. Offer to provide more information. Say that you look forward to hearing from the interviewer again.]

Sincerely,

[Sign here]

[Your name]
[Your title]


Adopted From: http://jobsearchtech.about.com/library/weekly/aa041398-smp1.htm