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As the interview is ending, the interviewer may let you know when they expect to make their decision by. If they don’t, go ahead and ask!

The day after the interview, send a follow-up letter. A letter can be a great idea to refresh their memory of the interview, and can convey your enthusiasm for the position. If there are several qualified individuals that the company is choosing from, the courtesy of a follow-up letter could really move you to the front of the pack. But keep the letter itself simple! Thanking them for their time and a brief mention of something about the company that engaged you is all you really need.

No matter how tempting it is, don’t call multiple times to follow-up on your interview! Unless you were specifically asked to call back by a certain date, now is the time to wait – and to keep applying for other jobs! It can take time for companies to go through the process, and you don’t want to make your enthusiasm look like impatience. If you haven’t heard anything after two weeks, it’s ok to call – once!

Good luck!

Keep your notebook handy, so that you can make sure you don’t forget any questions you want to ask.  Make notes of the answers, but make sure you don’t hold up the interview - you want to make sure that you’re able to engage the interest of the interviewer as well as getting your questions answered!

Don’t forget to write down the name and position of everyone you interview with.  Make sure to get the right spelling!  This will make sending follow up thank you notes easier, as well as giving you a record to refer back to on any follow-ups!

Interviewing for a job can involve a lot of waiting.  Waiting for the call, waiting for the result - and waiting in reception areas and outside of offices for your interview to begin.

Before going on an interview, add a some information about the company to your interview kit.  Have a list of the questions you want to ask handy, and go over it to make sure that you’re familiar and can work the questions in naturally.  If there’s anything about your own experience, qualifications or interests you want to highlight, it never hurts to make a note to remind yourself.

Take advantage of the time before an interview to center yourself, get your mind on track and get ready to show them why you’re the best candidate for the job!

Getting called in for an interview – getting noticed – is one of the hardest steps in getting a job.  Which makes it extra important that when you’re in the interview, you’re prepared.

One great way of doing this is to create an interview kit – a professional portfolio to take with you on the interview!  Try using a legal-size notepad and portfolio, such as one you can find at an office supply store, and make sure that there’s a large side pocket.  Add extra resumés, lists of your references and any business cards you might have.  Don’t forget to include a pen!  You don’t have to spend a lot of money, but it’s important to make sure that the portfolio you choose looks professional. 

This interview kit can be an invaluable resource to take with you, and I’ll be adding a few extra tips and tricks for it over the next couple of weeks.