Now that your interview is over you can breathe a sigh of relief. But don’t completely switch off just yet. While the interview itself is the most important part of the recruitment process, there’s still a few small steps you can take to really cement the impression you made and boost your chances of landing the role. 

What to do straight after your interview?

While its a nice relief to have finished the interview, especially if you participated in a short form interview as well as a technical interview on the same day, try to remember to take a little time to process it before you completely relax. 
You may want to jot down some crucial points to follow up on or things you might want to include in the thank you letter. And its best to do that straight away while the conversations are still fresh in your mind. If you have any more questions about the position that you weren’t able to clarify in the interview, make notes so you can ask them at a later time. 

Should you write a thank you note?

Although you might think this seems a bit old fashioned, sending a thankyou note is very much appreciated by hiring managers. In fact, sending a thank you note has been known to be a defining factor in the hiring process for some managers.
You should send a thank you note to whoever conducted your interview, whether that be the hiring manager, head of HR, or the CEO. If you were interviewed by more than one person, send it to the most senior person/the primary interviewer but be sure to ask that the thank you be passed to the other people present in the interview also. 
If you are wondering how the thank you note should be sent, 95% of the time the most appropriate method is simply an email. The exception to this may be if you are applying for a role with a very traditional business where a typed letter may be more appropriate. 
You should begin by thanking the interviewers for their time and giving you the opportunity to interview for the position. From there you can briefly touch on some of the responsibilities of the role and why you are the right candidate to fill the position and execute those responsibilities.

When should you follow up after the interview?

Your thank you note should be sent within 24 hours of you leaving the interview. Not only will the hiring manager know that you respect their time and are grateful for the opportunity, but it also means you will be getting your name and skills in front of them one more time. And that can never hurt, especially when competing for sought after roles where there may be dozens of candidates. 
Download our IT Interview Guide here for an easy to follow guide for your next IT interview or view our current vacancies here.

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