Lesson 15: After the Interview

Completing the interview does not mean you are finished. There are several things you should do afterwards to make the most out of your interview.

Thank You Letter
Most hiring managers will tell you that only a small number of interviewees follow up with a thank-you letter. This is a technique that is rarely used, but it is quite effective and always appreciated. Although an e-mail thank you is appropriate, if you really want to impress the interviewer send an “old school” handwritten, thank-you note within 24-48 hours of your interview. Thank the interviewer for the opportunity to speak with him or her and reiterate your interest in the position. This is also your last opportunity to (briefly) include any relevant information that you forgot to mention in the interview.

The Waiting Game
I think waiting for a response about a job, once you have been interviewed, is the toughest part of the job search. Remember that an employer’s time is not your time. They are not nervously waiting by the phone for a job offer-they have meetings, deadlines, and a host of other issues that may take precedence over filling a position. There are many things that can end up delaying the search-all of which are unbeknownst to the job seeker. If you were told that the process will be completed in two weeks, and three weeks have gone by without a response, then contact the employer and inquire about the status. It could be that something came up and they haven’t had time to complete the search. Normally, I advise students to follow up every two to three weeks and continue to do so until the position is no longer open.

Questions to Ask Yourself After the Interview
1. Can you picture yourself performing the job duties?
2. Do you feel that you could handle the job that you learned about in this interview? Why?
3. What else did you learn about the job, about the employer, and about the organization?
4. Do you feel comfortable with the work setting?
5. What is the entry level salary or hourly rate? Can you live on this?
6. If you were offered the job, would you accept?

Salary Negotiation
The fact that you’re a new graduate with limited work experience doesn’t mean you do not have the right to be paid what you’re worth. Generally speaking, salary should not be discussed until after you have been offered a job. If the employer brings up the subject during the initial interview, that’s fine, but you should not be the first to bring it up.

When asked about salary, it is always best to state a range. This means you will need to know the current salary range in your profession for your level and in your hometown (or the city or town you plan in which you plan to work). Then you can respond, “I understand that an entry-level salary for this position is between A and B and I would expect to come in within that average.”

To be able to intelligently provide a salary range or to begin any negotiating, you will need to know what the going salary rate is for your field and geographic location. Sites like Salary.com or JobStar.org can help you gather this information.

Researching the company, and knowing the high, low, and average salary for your job will put you in a better bargaining position. It also helps to know what you want in a job before you begin negotiating and determine the lowest salary that you are willing to accept.

Although most college graduates will not have the work experience or the technical expertise to warrant a higher salary, there are some exceptions:

• You have relevant work experience (such as an internship, summer job).
• You have a technical expertise that is highly in demand.
• You are an adult student and have previous work experience, such as management experience, from a former career.
• You have a written job offer from another employer that offers a higher salary.

Conduct your negotiations respectfully, but don’t push the issue if there’s no room to budge. In a tight economy, sometimes a job is better than no job. If you’re considering a position in another state, remember that the cost of living varies considerably in different parts of the country so make sure you factor in those costs.

Remember that your salary is not always the only item that’s negotiable. Other negotiable items include the starting date, signing bonus, moving expenses, paid association memberships, dates of performance reviews, performance bonus, retirement plan, medical insurance, profit sharing, and tuition reimbursement. Evaluate each item on the table and decide where you’re willing to compromise before starting negotiations

Evaluating a Job Offer
When you are offered a position, how do you know it’s one that you should accept? Sometimes the answer is easy, especially if there is only one job offer. But more than one job offer can become difficult. Use this chart to help you make a good decision: Evaluating Your Job Offer.

Here are some ethical guidelines to use when accepting a job:

• If offered a position, do not keep the employer waiting. Accept (or decline) immediately. If you need more time to consider the offer, ask for it.
• In some situations a verbal agreement is considered as good as signing a contract so don’t accept an offer without careful consideration.
• Do not accept an offer if you are not sure you want the position. Ask the employer more questions or ask for more time.
• When you accept or decline an offer, do so in writing and be professional in your communication style.
• When you accept an offer, notify all other employers with which you had interviewed and withdraw any outstanding applications.
• If you face circumstances that force you to renege on an acceptance (e.g., critically ill parent, marriage), you should notify your employer immediately and withdraw the acceptance. If you have accepted a signing bonus, you should return it.

Once you've decided to accept or decline a job offer, you should notify the employer. Here are examples of those letters: Sample Accept or Decline Letter.

Assignment 15a

Directions: Go to career services, located in Bldg 14, room 124 and fill out a blue Career Services Registration card. You will then receive major appropriate job notices (called “job leads”) for two years. You may opt out at any time, or extend your registration.

Assignment 15b

You’re almost finished with Module II. Please go to Module II Summary and Survey.