When it comes to your interview performance, you have to focus on more than just what you say, but also how you say it. In fact, you could give all the right answers, yet if your body language says otherwise, it’s not going to make a favorable impression. What are some bad habits to avoid? Here’s a look. (more…)
When a hiring manager first meets you, they’ll evaluate you within a few short seconds. This first impression they get from you will form the basis of their overall opinion. It’s therefore difficult to undo if it’s negative. To make the most favorable impression, here are a few tips to follow:
If you’re running even a few minutes behind, it’s going to impact the impression you’re making on the hiring manager. It’s therefore important to know where you’re going ahead of time, so you’re not late. Also, give yourself some extra time in case of an accident or traffic jam.
The clothes you’re wearing will have a big impact on the impression you’re making. You, therefore, don’t want to look sloppy or underdressed. Instead, don a business suit or, if more appropriate, business casual clothing. Whatever you wear, make sure it’s cleaned and pressed ahead of time, so you’re not left scrambling right before your interview.
When you first meet the hiring manager, make sure you’re smiling, making eye contact and shaking hands firmly with them. You want to come across as confident and friendly. If this is difficult for you to pull off, practice ahead of time with a family member or friend.
The hiring manager will be taking in everything you do, so avoid any nervous ticks, like twirling your hair or tapping your feet. This will immediately send the message that you’re not at ease and can impact the way the hiring manager perceives you. Instead, keep your body language in check by sitting up straight and keeping your hands still in your lap.
Depending on your personality, you might love or loathe small talk. However, you should follow the hiring manager’s lead on this. If they seem like they want to chat for a few minutes about the weather or another topic ahead of the interview, engage with them. If they’re ready to get right down to business, then don’t hold them back with small talk.
In everything you do, be polite and professional. This includes any interactions you might have while waiting in the reception area. These are the people who will often report back to the hiring manager about how they were treated. So make sure you are professional and courteous with everyone you come in contact with.
At ResumeSpice, we offer an interview preparation service that will ensure you’re ready to ace your next conversation with a hiring manager. We can help you get everything right, from your body language to what you say, so you make the best impression. If you’re ready to learn more, call 832.930.7378 or contact us online.
Once you make it through the interview process, you need to be ready to provide a list of references. But whom should you ask and how can you best prepare them? Here’s everything you need to know about choosing references and increasing your chances of getting the job. (more…)
You just successfully completed a job interview. Good work!
The next step is to send a polished thank you email to your interviewer and further demonstrate your enthusiasm (and competency!) for the position.
It’s tempting to simply copy/paste an email template that you find online. However, to truly come across as a unique candidate, personalization is key.
Interviewers can sense a cookie-cutter message a mile away and a copied email suggests laziness on your part. We’re going to provide templates here, but we highly recommend that you customize them to your interview / interviewer.
Below are three customizable interview follow-up email templates.
This thank you email is appropriate for an entry-level to mid-level position interview or a more informal email (such as with a startup).
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Subject Line: Thank you for your time, <Interviewer Name>! Dear <Interviewer Name>: Thank you for meeting with me on <Day>. I enjoyed learning more about the <Position Name> and <Company Name>. What I found particularly interesting was <something unique about the position.> I believe that my skill set in <x,y,z> would lend itself well to this responsibility. At <Previous Company Name>, I approached a similar task and I took <x,y,z steps> to achieve <provide quantifiable results>. On a personal note, I enjoyed discussing <sports team, home town, or your shared love of dogs>. <Add a personal note about it> If you need additional information about my experience or skill set, please feel free to contact me. I look forward to hearing from you by <follow up date discussed in the interview>. Thank you again! Best regards, <Your Name> |
This thank you email has a formal tone which makes it more appropriate to send after an interview for a corporate position (e.g. director or C-Suite level).
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Subject Line: Follow-up regarding <Position Name> Dear Mr./Mrs. <Interviewer’s Last Name>, I want to formally thank you for meeting with me on <Day> regarding <Position Name>. I enjoyed discussing <specifics from your conversation> and learning about <Company Name>. Your vision for <x,y,z> and insights about <topic discussed> were compelling and aligned with my personal and professional values. I believe that my experience and skillset with <specific business activity> are a perfect fit for <Company Name>. Regarding the challenges you mentioned with the position, I approached similar challenges with positive results at <Previous Company Name>. I took <x,y,z steps> to achieve <provide quantifiable results>. I was also interested to learn about <specific project within the position>. Please find attached a document with preliminary ideas and their projected impact on the company. In summary, this document includes:
If you need additional information, please don’t hesitate to contact me. I look forward to our follow-up conversation on <date discussed>. Thank you again for your time. Best regards, <Your Name> |
Not sure what to say after a 2nd interview? Here’s a template that can be adapted after an additional conversation with a company.
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Subject Line: Thank you again for your time! Dear <Interviewer Name>: Thank you again for your time! I enjoyed our 2nd interview and learning about specific projects for <Position Name>. As discussed, the position’s responsibilities align closely with my previous experience and skill set of <x,y,z>. I am confident that I can achieve the results that <Company Name> desires. I’ve attached a <document that includes ideas that relate to your conversation> for your review. In summary, this document includes:
Please let me know if you need additional information. I look forward to hearing from you by <follow-up date discussed in the interview). Best regards, <Your Name> |
As mentioned previously, we don’t recommend copying/pasting an email template for your thank you email.
It’s important that the email is unique to you. You also want to avoid the interviewer receiving the same thank you email from 15 other candidates.
Use one of these templates as the starting point for writing the perfect interview thank you email!
Check out our article about writing effective interview thank you emails for more great tips. For additional interview guidance and career coaching, you can also check out our top-rated services here at ResumeSpice. Contact us today!
Before you head to a job interview in person, you’ll likely have to go through a phone screen. Employers rely on these because they’re an efficient way to filter out applicants that are a weak fit and schedule face-to-face interviews with those that are the best fit.
But when it comes to preparing for one, you need to approach it just as seriously as you would a regular, in-person interview. To help you in the process, here are the top phone interview questions to get ready to answer. (more…)
Most job candidates (57%) don’t send thank-you notes after an interview.
Here’s why that’s good news for you.
According to a recent Murray Resources survey, 85% of hiring managers, executives and HR professionals say that a candidate’s follow-up after an interview makes a positive difference.
Another study found that 1 in 5 recruiters and hiring managers will automatically dismiss a candidate if they haven’t sent an interview thank you email.
The upshot? Sending a thank you note can differentiate your candidacy in a crowded job market – and help you land the job.
But how should you follow-up? Is a handwritten card best or are emails or phone calls preferred?
Email is the clear winner.
According to the Murray Resources survey, 69% of hiring managers prefer receiving an email, a distant favorite over handwritten cards (25%) and phone calls (6%).
Here are our best tips on how to write a thank you email after an interview.
Write a subject line that simply and clearly lets the interviewer know what the email is about.
Include words such as “Thank you” or “Follow-up” and the interviewer’s name. Here are a few ideas:
Also consider including the position name within the subject line to immediately provide context.
For example, you could say, “Follow-up regarding Junior Sales Rep position.” Just keep the subject line short and sweet. It’s recommended to not go over 9 words or 60 characters.
If you Google “thank you email templates,” you’ll find hundreds of examples. But don’t simply copy/paste a template.
Instead, personalize the email.
Here are five steps for personalizing and writing your email:
1. Provide an appropriate greeting. Include the interviewer’s name in the email. In a business email, it’s appropriate to use “Dear” followed by the interviewer’s first name and a comma (you can use a colon for increased formality).
2. Thank the interviewer. Quickly and sincerely express how much you appreciated the interviewer’s time. This can be as simple as “Thank you again for meeting with me today.”
3. Reiterate that you’re interested. Summarize why you’re a good fit for the position and share something about the position or the company that stood out during the interview. You could also share ideas for solving a particular problem or results you’ve had in the past.
4. Build rapport. Consider referencing something personal you talked about in your interview such as a sports team, hometown, or your shared love of dogs.
5. Close the email. Let the interviewer know that you’re available for questions and that you look forward to next steps. Close with a professional sign-off such as “Best regards.”
Analyze your audience before writing your email so that you can hit the right tone. For example, was the interviewer more formal during your interview? Use a formal, polished tone in your email. Try to match the tone of the interviewer and the culture of the company.
Read More: 3 Interview Thank You Email Templates You Can Customize
It’s important to send your email quickly so your candidacy is fresh on the interviewer’s mind. However, you have to balance speed with quality.
According to the Murray Resources survey, 87% of hiring managers, executives, and HR professionals report that poorly written or unprofessional communication removed a candidate from consideration.
Carefully proofread your email to ensure that there are no mistakes.
Run your email through a free writing service like Grammarly. This tool can help you spot typos and grammar issues.
In addition, read your email out loud before sending. This practice often helps us catch errors and clunky sentences. You can also use a free tool like Hemingway to create short, effective copy.
58% of hiring managers reported conducting three or more rounds of interviews per role, so it’s likely you’ll interview with more than one person.
While you should send a thank you email to each interviewer, you don’t have to completely rewrite each email. However, they should be adapted. Try to reference something you individually discussed.
If you only have one email address, thank the group. Here’s a great resource on how to properly greet multiple people via email.
Timing is crucial at this point of the interview stage. Show that you’re truly interested in the position by following up with a thank you email within 24 hours.
A well-crafted, timely email following a successful job interview could be the tipping point that catapults you to the top of the finalist pool.
Stand out from the crowd. Write a carefully-worded thank you email that helps you get that next interview (and hopefully the job!).
If you need interview prep or career coaching, check out our top-rated services at ResumeSpice. Contact us at 832-930-7378. We’d love to work with you!
