| If you are offered the interviewers hand, end | | | | you may have mentioned numerous, valid and |
| with a firm, confident handshake (ensure you | | | | relevant points and hit on the main |
| don't grip too hard) and a self-assured | | | | acceptable answers and these are the positive |
| smile. Even if you feel you could have | | | | aspects that you should dwell upon. Just |
| improved on some aspects of the interview, a | | | | take a note of the plus points of your |
| self-confident exit could go some way to | | | | interview, for example, how well you |
| salvaging the interview for you. Whether you | | | | prepared, your interview technique, positive |
| think it or not you will convey this | | | | answers you delivered and how you could |
| confidence to the interviewer and you will | | | | improve in the future. By doing this you |
| leave a positive lasting impression. | | | | have reflected this on paper and ensures that |
| | | | you don't forget these aspects for any future |
| Remain as professional as possible; remember | | | | interviews |
| the job is not yours until you have been | | | | |
| offered the post and signed your return copy | | | | Waiting to hear about the job - The long wait |
| of the contract! Thank the interviewer for | | | | |
| the time that they have afforded to you, say | | | | It's all over! All the hard work is |
| goodbye in a friendly manner and leave the | | | | completed and any nerves and tension of the |
| room. Leave the interview as if it was an | | | | whole process begin to drift away. After you |
| absolute success. | | | | have made and received those well wishing |
| | | | calls from your family and friends to find |
| Whether or not you feel that the interview | | | | out how it went you begin to relax and you |
| was a success or not, I suggest that you put | | | | are glad it is all over. |
| it completely out of your mind when you leave | | | | |
| the room and only reflect on your performance | | | | Well it is not. You have one final task to |
| at a later date. I've done this myself and | | | | complete and then it's all over. |
| when you occupy your mind too much on what | | | | |
| you said or could have said it can have a | | | | Write your thank you note to the employer |
| destructive impact on later job interviews | | | | outlining your thanks for their time and |
| you may have. At the very least you should | | | | effort. I suggest you do this as quickly as |
| be confident that it has provided you with | | | | possible for three reasons. It shows you |
| tremendous preparation for the next one. Like | | | | are professional, well mannered and shows |
| all interviews I suggest you prepare in | | | | that the job is important to you. While these |
| exactly the same way for any further | | | | are all admirable qualities that the employer |
| interviews to follow. | | | | will look for, in most cases, it will not |
| | | | influence the final interview decision, but |
| I suggest that you go back and reflect on the | | | | you never know. On a more practical level the |
| interview a few days later to determine how | | | | purpose of writing a thank you letter is that |
| you performed on the day. I always went over | | | | you may be the only one who has made the |
| the particular areas where I felt I mentioned | | | | effort to do so and therefore raise your |
| the wrong thing, gave an incomplete answer or | | | | profile within that organization. |
| there were things I wished I had said but | | | | |
| left out. | | | | In turn, your name will unquestionably leave |
| | | | a long-lasting impact in the interviewers |
| Don't worry about this, many people do this | | | | mind and give you a potential competitive |
| after the interview and needlessly beat | | | | edge over others in the future. So, take |
| themselves up and over analyze every aspect | | | | the time to write a short thank you letter |
| of what was said, or what was not. Remember | | | | the advantages for you are obvious. |