Question:

I just interviewed with a company that is looking to hire three people for the same position. The hiring manager told me that so far only three people have applied and I'm the only one that is qualified. They plan to continue to look for other candidates for another couple of weeks. What should I do during those two weeks that will help me get this job?

First Answer:

Why not ask the hiring manager that? Enthusiasm is a very compelling trait - one that companies say they are crying out for right now. Don't harrass this person but send them a polite email saying how much you enjoyed the opportunity to be interviewed by them. Given that they didn't offer you the job on the spot, was there anything that is holding them back from doing so - and if so, would they please let you know what that is as there may be additional information you could supply that would secure this job for you.

Tell them how much you want to work for them, but qualify this by saying why (rather than offering bland platitudes!). Think about what was discussed during the interview and compose a one paragraph overview that outlines why you believe you would be a great asset to their company. (Note: always talk about what you can do for them, rather than what you want from them). Invite the hiring manager to let you know what more you can do to convince them to give you that job - asking directly is always better than operating from assumptions. And it shows initiative and good communication skills.

-- Liz Simpson, motivational speaker, workshop leader, author, journalist, and forum panelist

Second Answer:

Dazzle them!!! Prepare a proposal illustrating how you will approach the job, what you see as major opportunities and challenges and how you will resolve them, deal with them. Show the employer that you can DO the JOB by describing sample assignments and how you will be handling them. Give the employer a sample of your work to convince them that you are the ONE.

-- Debra Feldman, founder of JobWhiz, creator of the JOBWHIZQUIZ, and specialist in cyber savvy strategic job search consultations

Third Answer:

If you have not already done so, send thank you notes to everyone who was part of the interview process. A personal handwritten note is acceptable. In this note thank them for the interview and emphasize the fact that you are very interested. For example:

Thank you so much for taking the time to interview me from the postion of _______________________ last Friday. I am very interested in this position and believe that I possess the necessary __________ skills that a person in this position needs. I will be contacting you at the end of next week to see what the status of this position is.

Sincerely.

At the end of the two week period I would call back and speak the main interviewer and ask about the status of this position. If it is still not filled, I would again emphasize my interest and qualifications for the postion.

-- Linda Wyatt, Career Center Director, Kansas City Kansas Community College

Fourth Answer:

You're in a strong position here, to be told frankly that you are the only qualified candidate in a very small pool. You want to further your candidacy without pushing the hiring manager to doubt his or her original judgment.

If you just wrote a "thank you for your time, I'm really interested in the job" thank you letter after your interview, craft a second letter that says you want to keep your candidacy fresh in his or her mind until they complete the first round of interviews. You have given additional thought to how your qualifications meet the requirements for this position. Then, highlight each of the critical factors for the successful candidate that you elicited in the interview (or, if you did not do that, the first and most important specifications listed in the job posting/ideal candidate profile), and give DIFFERENT EXAMPLES THAN YOU GAVE IN THE INTERVIEW of how you meet those specifications, and have applied the sought after skills to real situations in the past. Also in this letter, you want to convey the idea that you are "already thinking like an employee," and make a suggestion on how you'd tackle a project that is coming up in this job, or offer a relevant article on a topic you discussed. Each of these actions should help to distinguish you from your competition.

But be wary of overkill; don't seem so eager to provide additional proof of your already established competency that what comes across instead is insecurity. This is a fine line, so show your proposed letter to your university career services office, a professional adult whom you trust, or a former professor-or all three-to get some feedback on how your letter might be perceived.

If you haven't heard anything after two weeks, call the manager with whom you interviewed to ask the status of their search, and reiterate your eagerness to join his or her team in this role. Leave no more than two voice messages if you don't reach the manager personally. With a persuasive letter and a phone call, you've done all you can.

-- Carol Anderson, Career Development and Placement Office, Robert J. Milano Graduate School of Management and Urban Policy at New School University in New York City

Fifth Answer:

Congratulations! You've made it over the interview hurdle. It sounds like you really want this job; the objective now is to make sure the interviewer remembers that. The best thing to do to remain fresh in the interviewer's mind is a follow-up letter. Use the following as guidelines:

  • Whom did you meet? (Names and titles)
  • What does the job entail?
  • What are the first projects/biggest challenges?
  • Why can you do the job?
  • What aspects of the interview went poorly? Why?
  • What is the agreed-upon next step?
  • What was said during the last few minutes of the interview?

The fifth bullet is for you! You may have a second chance to correct something by revisiting it in the follow-up letter or further interviews. Type the letter or e-mail it, and send one to each person you met/interviewed with, make sure everybody remembers you when it comes time on deciding who to hire. Using the above guidelines, the letter should make four points clear:

  • You paid attention to what was being said.
  • You understand the importance of the interviewer's comments.
  • You are excited about the job, can do it, and want it.
  • You can contribute to those first major projects.

Draw attention to one of the topics that was important interest to the interviewer, and keep it short, less than one page. It can be normal to not hear anything, but after a week be proactive and call the interviewer making the hiring decision. Reiterate the points made in the letter saying that you want the job (or next interview), and finish your statement with a question: Mr. X, I feel confident about my ability to contribute to your department's efforts, and I really want the job. Could you tell me what I have to do to be hired? Let him then tell you your next step. If you are still wondering, work with a professional coach who can guide you through the process easier and faster. I am offering a 20% discount on one month of coaching to anyone who mentions this newsletter article.

-- Janine A. Schindler, Professional Coach and owner of the Jas Coaching Company



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