Don’t necessarily give an answer immediately if the employer makes an offer. Ask for a few
days to think about it.
•
Do ask about the next step in the process if you don’t receive an offer. How soon will a
decision be made, and how will they let you know?
•
Do try to collect the business card of everyone you meet with.
Keep a small notepad handy
to write down names in case there’s someone from whom you can’t get a card.
•
Don’t forget to send a thank-you note or e-mail to everyone you meet with. That’s right for
every single person. Aren’t you glad you collected those business cards?
You can write the
same basic message to all, but vary it a bit in case they compare notes.
•
Do realize that you have some degree of control if the interview process drags on.
A job-
seeker who had gone on six interviews with one employer and still had not heard a decision
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recently sought advice from asks the Head-hunter columnist Nick Crocodiles. Crocodile’s
first-choice response was to simply ignore the indecisive company and pursue other
opportunities. But he also noted that the job-seeker could offer a polite ultimatum: “I
appreciate that you have internal reasons for this taking so long. However,
I need to make
decisions about some other commitments I’m facing. I’d like to set a deadline for us both,
say, two weeks? If your team can’t
make a decision by that point, I need to withdraw my
candidacy for the job and move on. I want you to know how much I’ve
looked forward to
working with you. I know I can do this job profitably for you, and I want to join your team.”
•
Do remember that most of the guidelines that apply to first interviews
also relate to second
interviews.
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