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Being proactive after an unsuccessful interview

The last two editions of my blogs dealt with the preparation for an interview and what to do during the interview, in this blog you will get some valuable advice on what to do when you are not offered the job you applied for and were interviewed for.

In today’s time, we are always connected, yet we seldom connect with people so that we leave an impression that last. The way you conduct yourself when you get the terrible news that you were not given the job.

What to do when you leave the interview

Always remember that every experience is an opportunity to learn something. As you walk out of the interview, get a place to sit and have a coffee, to relax a little bit after the adrenaline rush you experienced. During this time, take a piece of paper and jot down all the questions you were asked, especially those you thought were a bit tricky.

These questions will help you prepare for your next interview. This falls in line with our approach to roleplaying the questions before you go to an interview. These questions are real-life scenarios and are invaluable as you prepare for future job interviews.

What to do when you get home

Draft a short email to the people who interviewed you. Hopefully, you took their business cards when you left the interview and had their email addresses. In this email, thank them for the invite, and reiterate why you think you are a perfect match for the position they interviewed you for.

The purpose of the email is to stay top of mind while they are contemplating their decision.

What to do when you are informed that you were not successful

Please mention to the person who contacts you that you would like constructive feedback and that it is imperative for you to use this experience as an opportunity to grow. Ask them if they could indicate whether you lacked qualifications or specific skills that you could work towards for future opportunities.

Ask the person if there was anything negative that you could have said that impacted your chances. You must use this call to gauge as much information as possible to gain value from it.

Also, ask if they would be willing to keep your resume in their database for future reference. The chances are that they would not, but this interaction may contribute to you making an impression. If their candidate of choice decides against their offer, their communication with you may be the deciding factor in why they give you a second call.

Job hunting is not easy. It can sometimes be quite demoralising. I hope that the blogs were helpful and allowed you to use some or all of the suggestions in your strategy of preparing and having an interview.

If you have any suggestions about what to do after an unsuccessful interview, please comment below.

These job interview tips are by no means exhaustive and do not guarantee that you will be successful during the interview. Please also share your tips for having a successful job interview, in the comments below.

If you require help with creating a resume that highlights your Australian value proposition, or assistance with recruitment or setting up your LinkedIn profile, please feel free to contact me. Don’t hesitate to connect with me on LinkedIn and keep up with my frequent updates on both LinkedIn and  Facebook. You can easily reach me through a LinkedIn message or by finding my contact information here.