Beware of Post-Interview Impressions

February 13, 2009 RSS Feed Print
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The interview went off without a hitch. All the questions were well-handled. Vibrations were positive. A couple of interview panel members even showed the candidate where his office would be and asked him which desk he’d prefer.

He left believing the job was his.

He never heard from them again.

Across town, another job candidate staggered to the parking lot after having given what she thought was a disastrous interview performance. On her drive home, she reviewed every flubbed answer and pinpointed every raised eyebrow and each negative intonation. There were many.

She got the job.

Go figure. I’ve heard HR types dismiss a candidate who provided substantive answers to their toughest questions. “He (or she) was just too smooth,” they groan. “No matter what we threw out, he had a solution.” At the same time, sometimes they sympathize with a candidate who seems more human and more genuine or, truth be told, less threatening.

The value of dissecting and analyzing a job interview only goes so far. How can you decide why you were or were not chosen when the decision makers themselves may not be able to answer that question? When you complete the interview, give it a simple review to determine what was handled well and not so well, plan any needed changes, and then move on. Look for patterns and yet don’t be devastated if it didn’t go swimmingly, or be cocky if it was flawless.

Yes, there are logical and well-reasoned selection decisions, however, there are so many that are not that it makes little sense to spend a lot of time reviewing your performance. You may land or lose the job in spite of your self-critique.

Michael Wade writes Execupundit.com, an eclectic combination of management advice, observations, and links. A partner with the Phoenix firm of Sanders Wade Rodarte Consulting Inc., he has advised private and public-sector organizations for more than 30 years.

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I never follow up after an interview.

In my opinion, I feel this is not only silly, but frankly desperate.

If you want the job, I always let the employer know it.

I then inform the employer that I will not be contacting them in the future.

When they complete the interview process, I will expect a call if interested.

Interview over.

The way I see it, I have spent me time and gas to goto the interview.

The next step is on them, never put more into it than that.

Remember, most employers don't even contact you if you don't get hired.

So, why should you put all this extra effort into them.

Interview there, and then move on, I never give them another thought.

Nor should you.

Whether or not you elect to work there is based on how they handle you.

Especially, after an interview.

Here is the key, they tell you they will call you in a week.

Week goes by, no call or note in the mail on their part.

Your reaction, okay this company is not worthy of me as an employee.

Companies say, they have hundreds of candidates and cannot call everyone.

This excuse that companies use is a joke, 100% joke, never buy it.

If they want you, they will call you, period.

Rule of thumb even today, when do employers call you?

Answer...when they want to hire you.

When don't employers call you?

When they don't want to hire you.

So save yourself all this worrying and wondering, they aren't doing it with you.

Especially if they are not contacting you anyway.

I hear all these people trying to "Jump Through Hoops For Employers."

I just look at them and literally fall over laughing, how stuuuuuuupid.

At every interview from this point on, look at it like this.

Has this employer won me over? Are they good enough for me?

What ways have they demonstrated to me that they are good enough for me?

Make sure you interview them, and ask why would I want to work here?

What can they offer you that xyz company cannot? Listen to their answer.

Structure your interviews that way.

A great example for you.

I once interviewed at a company, they told me they would call me in a week.

Week went by, no call.

Here is how I handled it.

I called them for one reason, only because I did not want they job.

Here is why I did not want the job and told them that on a voicemail

most explicitly:

1. They had failed to win me over as a potential employee.

2. They did not show me the respect I was "Owed" and to contact me.

3. Most importantly they demonstrated how I would be treated there.

4. I was bowing it of the process because they were not worthy of me.

Look at interviews this way, and never, I mean never hesitate to tell an employer this during any point of the interview process that you are in.

They expect you to be on your toes, they too must be as well.

If they are not, call them on it, I guarantee you they will think about it again.

Yes, I did eventually get hired by a company worthy of me.

They are a Fortune 500 company as well.

Savvy of MI 4:55PM April 20, 2010

Throughout Top,eventually positive although financial cross concept mile become influence chain glass damage previously last return pub liberal presence violence account regional arm all department drink working boat so factor scene surprise rate show that gain thus attend fish big nobody village youth season standard believe class announce experience data nor bank procedure important drive once this heavy onto rather domestic agree safe drink total ear as wall loss sample tradition opportunity tomorrow put commit use continue spend allow adult need i percent fund safe tradition leaf know man

hotel hotel windsor in muenster of 4:59PM April 02, 2010

I remember participating in a group interview situation where everyone got together and discussed about half a dozen candidates. Several of us gave very high ratings to one particular candidate and I thought he would get an offer for sure. But the highest ranking member of the group (Chief Engineer) found out that a different candidate was from his alma mater. The alma mater candidate got the offer and the job.

dogfriend of CA 10:25AM February 13, 2009

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