Job search and application: The right things to do after the job interview

Analyze the interview

Once the interview has ended, for a lot of people that means breathing easy. However, you should deal with the interview again shortly afterwards: on the one hand to scrutinize your own behaviour and to learn from it for future interviews, and on the other hand ultimately to determine whether the company is a good fit for you. The following questions can help you:

• Did I have enough information beforehand?

• Which of my own questions should I ask right away next time?

• How did I feel when answering the questions? What questions should I be better prepared for?

• Can I picture myself working at this company in the next few years?

• Do I have all the information I need?

• Do the responsibilities and duties suit me?

• Do I agree to the general conditions?

By analyzing, you can better assess your chances and also know whether the company is among your top choices.

Thank them after the interview

If, after the interview, you still think that the company is a good fit and you’d like to work there, you can thank them once again for the interview the next day. This practice is not very widespread, which is why you’ll leave a big impression on the HR manager or other people in charge. Just write a short email in which you thank them for the pleasant interview and emphasize once more that you would be glad to support the company in the future.

Actively ask about the state of affairs

Oftentimes, already during the interview, you’ll find out when you can expect to hear from the company. Once that deadline has passed without you having heard back, however, you can go ahead and actively ask about it. You should definitely do that personally. In the best case, call the interviewer directly who spoke with you and politely inquire how far along they are in their selection process.

Rejection? There’s still something to do

You don’t always get lucky; you might be rejected. In these cases, you can again get into contact and ask about the reasons for the rejection. Not every company will want to comment on it, but you certainly have the chance to collect valuable feedback.

Keep on the lookout

Regardless of whether you have a good feeling or expect to be turned down: Keep looking for alternatives. If you put all your eggs into one basket, you may waste valuable time during your job search. So keep up the initiative and don’t stop looking.