February 19, 2023 • 10 mins
In this episode Helen McCabe and Jamila Rizvi are doing a post game analysis. In other words, how to assess the success of the interview and what you should do next. Let’s figure out when, how and if you should get in touch again after your interview.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Shortlisted is brought to you by Future Women's Jobs Academy.
Getting back to work after a career break isn't easy.
Future Women's Jobs Academy is a free online programme supported
by the Australian government. It's proven to increase confidence and
connect women with meaningful and flexible jobs. Apply today at jobsacademy.uwomen.com.
(00:23):
We'll support you to find the right job and thrive.
Nothing makes a person go weak at the knees quite
like a job interview. Enter shortlisted. A podcast by future
women where Helen McCabe and I hold your virtual hand,
walking with you every step of the way, right to
(00:43):
the interview door and straight onto the shortlist.
In this episode, we are doing some post-game analysis. In
other words, how do you assess the success of the
interview you just had? And what should you do next?
Let's figure out when and how you should follow up
after your interview.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
Jamila, you've had your interview. It's gone really well. You're
very excited by the job. What next? Do you call
or email, or just, do you just wait?
Speaker 1 (01:17):
I hate this particular problem because I'm an anxious, nervous,
enthusiastic person who wants to call immediately. The challenge here, folks,
is striking the right balance, I think, between being interested
and attentive on the one hand,
But not being overwhelming or obtrusive or pushy on the other.
So I think there's a few things you could do, Helen.
(01:39):
So firstly, you can confirm the time frames in the interview. So,
if they don't confirm the timeframe themselves, like, if they
don't say we'll be in touch within a couple of days,
or we'll be doing this, it's OK to ask at
the end, when can I expect to hear some feedback
and who will be in touch. And often I think
it's quite, without being over the top, it's quite a
nice way to mention that of course this isn't the
(02:00):
only job that you're looking at.
You can always just say, obviously I'm job hunting at
the moment and I'm having a few conversations. I'm really
excited about this role. Would you be able to tell
me when I might expect to hear feedback? And that
again reinforces that you're enthusiastic while quietly reminding them that
other people might want you to.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
Excellent advice. The other point to consider is your tone.
You've already met at this point, so it's OK to
use your authentic voice in any follow-up communications. Be polite
and be friendly. Try to personalise it and keep it light.
Speaker 1 (02:34):
Yeah, you don't need to email with to whom it
may concern once you've done an interview.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
Send a thank you note within 24 hours. Now this
is not something in modern life that is necessarily popular
or
Speaker 1 (02:48):
common. My grandma sent a lot of thank you notes
when she was alive.
Yes, and I don't know if anyone in her family
Speaker 2 (02:54):
has since. And I think I should do it, and
then I never get around to it. So, it's common,
in fact, advisable to thank the hiring manager for their
time and to reassert your interest. Really good thing to do.
If you're concerned, you missed any critical information, this is
also a chance to mention it. So, I didn't answer
this question correctly. Um, this is what I would have
(03:15):
said if I'd had more time to think about it.
You can
Just add a couple of quick points. But a caution,
don't reach out to the interview panel. You could perhaps
add them on LinkedIn with a note saying thanks, but
that's all. Again, I'd be a bit cautious about that.
Not necessarily in every case, the right course of action.
(03:37):
So weigh that up. The hiring manager recruiter is your
contact and who is there to assist you. You can
ask them to pass on your thanks to the panel.
Speaker 1 (03:47):
They are really good pieces of advice. I've got a
few more. Make sure that you wait for the agreed
time frame. If you've had a conversation in the interview,
or if the hiring manager has said, for example, we'll
send you an email within a couple of weeks with
next steps. Wait a couple of weeks. Don't be pushy
5 days later saying, hey, just wondering what the next
(04:07):
steps were. Don't do that. Wait the agreed amount of time.
And then, if you haven't heard back, wait another 5 days.
Don't kind of say, hello, it has now been 2 weeks,
and you said it would be 2 weeks, and I
have not heard from you. Don't be that person. Wait
another week, be a little bit more casual, a little
bit less desperate. It's a bit like dating, folks. If
(04:28):
you don't hear back in the agreed time frame, then
wait another 5 days, and you could send an email
that's something like, Dear Helen, I
I wanted to follow up on my interview on Tuesday
of 4 weeks ago. I wondered if you had any
updates you might be able to share. I'm so excited
by the opportunity to work with you at Future Women.
Please let me know if you have any other questions.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
And one thing to add there is that if it's
a big organisation, if it's a Commonwealth Bank or Qantas,
there's a really big organisation, they think they're gonna get
back to you in 5 days. They're big organisations. They
just get,
Delayed. It's really common for big organisations to, for the
time to blow out. So, yeah, if the time's blowing out,
don't beat yourself up about it. It's, it can just
(05:11):
be the structures of organisations that have a lot of processes.
If it's a small organisation and super small, it could
just forget to call you or contact you. You didn't
get the job and they forget to tell you. So again, you,
you can send that.
Um, politely worded email going hello, just wondering what's going on.
Speaker 1 (05:28):
And if you've clicked onto this episode to have a
listen because you are currently sitting there waiting to hear
back after a job interview.
Be patient. Just remember that there are so many different
reasons that a delay might be taking place. It doesn't
mean you didn't get the job. Do not assume that.
There are lots of different reasons that delay recruitment periods.
(05:51):
So remember that interviews might still be in progress. Maybe
you were the first cab off the rank and this
is a competitive role and they're talking to a whole
bunch of people.
Remember that personal disruptions happen to those who are hiring
as well as those who might be hired. So maybe
someone's needed to take unexpected leave and they're a key
decision maker in this process.
Speaker 2 (06:10):
It does sound like dating about now. It really does. Yeah,
my mum died or my
Speaker 1 (06:14):
cat died. I know, and I would say in dating,
if they don't get back in touch with you in
a few days, strike them off, cut them off the list. organisations, however,
are different. This is about work, it's not about love.
So capacity is relevant. Think about the fact that an
organisation might be running low on resources. The search could
just have been paused. This is something that's happened in
(06:34):
my working life, where we've been looking for a role.
And for whatever reason, there's been a different resignation, or
there's been a change in funding availability, or there's been
a process question. In government, there's a million different things
that can intervene in terms of government and ministerial priorities
that affect the whole public service, and often something will
just be paused, and they haven't got around to updating you,
(06:57):
or they're hoping that things will resolve quickly and they'll
get back to you soon enough. That doesn't mean it's
anything personal.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
Can you send a second follow-up? So if you followed
up and you don't hear back, continue to be patient.
Wait at least 5 to 10 business days between emails.
If you send more than 1 follow-up and several weeks
have passed, it's OK to check if there is another
person you can chase in case you have the wrong contact.
Most organisations are completely OK with that. They do understand
(07:26):
that this is a big thing for you, that if
you're waiting on a job, it is highly disruptive to
not know one way or another.
Help, I made a mistake in the interview. Interviews are stressful.
We all make
Speaker 1 (07:37):
mistakes. Yes. The number of times I have had a
friend call me in tears after an interview saying that
they'd blown it or they'd done something wrong. I think
the first thing to do is to try and take
a step back, pause for a moment.
And question yourself if you are being overly critical, or
if you actually did make a mistake, because if you're
(07:59):
just having a kind of general worried response that's driven
from an anxiety because you're excited about this job, there's
no reason to do anything about that. It's probably.
In your head, I bet you were great. However, if
you can think of a particular instance, and you can
name when it was when you were really unhappy about
what you said, or you were unable to answer something
(08:19):
in particular, or that you walked out of that interview
and you know it just didn't go well, then there's
nothing wrong with sending an email. I think sending an
email to clarify, uh, trying to make up for that
potential make or break mistake or provide additional information.
It is a really good thing to do. If you
are going to send that email though, make sure it's good.
(08:42):
Make sure it's concise and to the point, make sure
it is polite and thank them for their time and consideration,
and flesh out your answer without writing us a giant
long essay. We won't read
Speaker 2 (08:52):
it.
Speaker 1 (08:54):
No, we won't read it. We won't read. Keep it short.
Speaker 2 (08:56):
Keep it short. Um, but it is a really good
opportunity and a thank you note to say, um, I
don't feel I fully answered the question about X and Y,
and I'd just like to clarify. So don't hesitate doing that.
Keep it concise, thank them for the time and their consideration,
and then cross fingers.
Speaker 1 (09:10):
And if you're unsuccessful, and I'm sure you won't be,
but if you are unsuccessful,
I think all of our immediate instinct is to just
run away and hate that organisation, and go to someone
we love and care about who will always be on
our side and bitch about them as long as we can,
and you should totally do that. But you should also
ask for some feedback. It's really hard to ask for
(09:32):
feedback when you feel like you've been rejected, but feedback
is invaluable.
It will help you improve your interviewing skills for the
next time. It will help you to solidify your relationship
with that hiring manager, in case they are hiring other
positions in the future. And it might even just put
your mind at ease. If you don't know the reason
someone said no, then your brain can take you to
(09:54):
all sorts of silly places. But
And it will just be, oh, there was someone who
had 5 years more experience, and they were a better
fit for the role as a result, but we'd love
to have you back another time.
Speaker 2 (10:04):
And quite often it's line ball, you know, quite often
it's like, oh, this person's great at this, this, this
person's great at that. If that's the case, and you've
just missed out on the flip of a coin, it's
good to know because you are closer to getting your
next job.
Speaker 1 (10:20):
Shortlisted is produced by Future Women's Jobs Academy. To apply
to join, head to jobsacademy.uwomen.com or go to Futurewomen.com to
become a future women member today.
Shortlisted is brought to you by Future Women's Jobs Academy.
Getting back to work after a career break isn't easy.
Future Women's Jobs Academy is a free online programme supported
by the Australian government. It's proven to increase confidence and
connect women with meaningful and flexible jobs. Apply today at jobsacademy.uwomen.com.
(00:23):
We'll support you to find the right job and thrive.
Nothing makes a person go weak at the knees quite
like a job interview. Enter shortlisted. A podcast by future
women where Helen McCabe and I hold your virtual hand,
walking with you every step of the way, right to
(00:43):
the interview door and straight onto the shortlist.
In this episode, we are doing some post-game analysis. In
other words, how do you assess the success of the
interview you just had? And what should you do next?
Let's figure out when and how you should follow up
after your interview.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
Jamila, you've had your interview. It's gone really well. You're
very excited by the job. What next? Do you call
or email, or just, do you just wait?
Speaker 1 (01:17):
I hate this particular problem because I'm an anxious, nervous,
enthusiastic person who wants to call immediately. The challenge here, folks,
is striking the right balance, I think, between being interested
and attentive on the one hand,
But not being overwhelming or obtrusive or pushy on the other.
So I think there's a few things you could do, Helen.
(01:39):
So firstly, you can confirm the time frames in the interview. So,
if they don't confirm the timeframe themselves, like, if they
don't say we'll be in touch within a couple of days,
or we'll be doing this, it's OK to ask at
the end, when can I expect to hear some feedback
and who will be in touch. And often I think
it's quite, without being over the top, it's quite a
nice way to mention that of course this isn't the
(02:00):
only job that you're looking at.
You can always just say, obviously I'm job hunting at
the moment and I'm having a few conversations. I'm really
excited about this role. Would you be able to tell
me when I might expect to hear feedback? And that
again reinforces that you're enthusiastic while quietly reminding them that
other people might want you to.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
Excellent advice. The other point to consider is your tone.
You've already met at this point, so it's OK to
use your authentic voice in any follow-up communications. Be polite
and be friendly. Try to personalise it and keep it light.
Speaker 1 (02:34):
Yeah, you don't need to email with to whom it
may concern once you've done an interview.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
Send a thank you note within 24 hours. Now this
is not something in modern life that is necessarily popular
or
Speaker 1 (02:48):
common. My grandma sent a lot of thank you notes
when she was alive.
Yes, and I don't know if anyone in her family
Speaker 2 (02:54):
has since. And I think I should do it, and
then I never get around to it. So, it's common,
in fact, advisable to thank the hiring manager for their
time and to reassert your interest. Really good thing to do.
If you're concerned, you missed any critical information, this is
also a chance to mention it. So, I didn't answer
this question correctly. Um, this is what I would have
(03:15):
said if I'd had more time to think about it.
You can
Just add a couple of quick points. But a caution,
don't reach out to the interview panel. You could perhaps
add them on LinkedIn with a note saying thanks, but
that's all. Again, I'd be a bit cautious about that.
Not necessarily in every case, the right course of action.
(03:37):
So weigh that up. The hiring manager recruiter is your
contact and who is there to assist you. You can
ask them to pass on your thanks to the panel.
Speaker 1 (03:47):
They are really good pieces of advice. I've got a
few more. Make sure that you wait for the agreed
time frame. If you've had a conversation in the interview,
or if the hiring manager has said, for example, we'll
send you an email within a couple of weeks with
next steps. Wait a couple of weeks. Don't be pushy
5 days later saying, hey, just wondering what the next
(04:07):
steps were. Don't do that. Wait the agreed amount of time.
And then, if you haven't heard back, wait another 5 days.
Don't kind of say, hello, it has now been 2 weeks,
and you said it would be 2 weeks, and I
have not heard from you. Don't be that person. Wait
another week, be a little bit more casual, a little
bit less desperate. It's a bit like dating, folks. If
(04:28):
you don't hear back in the agreed time frame, then
wait another 5 days, and you could send an email
that's something like, Dear Helen, I
I wanted to follow up on my interview on Tuesday
of 4 weeks ago. I wondered if you had any
updates you might be able to share. I'm so excited
by the opportunity to work with you at Future Women.
Please let me know if you have any other questions.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
And one thing to add there is that if it's
a big organisation, if it's a Commonwealth Bank or Qantas,
there's a really big organisation, they think they're gonna get
back to you in 5 days. They're big organisations. They
just get,
Delayed. It's really common for big organisations to, for the
time to blow out. So, yeah, if the time's blowing out,
don't beat yourself up about it. It's, it can just
(05:11):
be the structures of organisations that have a lot of processes.
If it's a small organisation and super small, it could
just forget to call you or contact you. You didn't
get the job and they forget to tell you. So again, you,
you can send that.
Um, politely worded email going hello, just wondering what's going on.
Speaker 1 (05:28):
And if you've clicked onto this episode to have a
listen because you are currently sitting there waiting to hear
back after a job interview.
Be patient. Just remember that there are so many different
reasons that a delay might be taking place. It doesn't
mean you didn't get the job. Do not assume that.
There are lots of different reasons that delay recruitment periods.
(05:51):
So remember that interviews might still be in progress. Maybe
you were the first cab off the rank and this
is a competitive role and they're talking to a whole
bunch of people.
Remember that personal disruptions happen to those who are hiring
as well as those who might be hired. So maybe
someone's needed to take unexpected leave and they're a key
decision maker in this process.
Speaker 2 (06:10):
It does sound like dating about now. It really does. Yeah,
my mum died or my
Speaker 1 (06:14):
cat died. I know, and I would say in dating,
if they don't get back in touch with you in
a few days, strike them off, cut them off the list. organisations, however,
are different. This is about work, it's not about love.
So capacity is relevant. Think about the fact that an
organisation might be running low on resources. The search could
just have been paused. This is something that's happened in
(06:34):
my working life, where we've been looking for a role.
And for whatever reason, there's been a different resignation, or
there's been a change in funding availability, or there's been
a process question. In government, there's a million different things
that can intervene in terms of government and ministerial priorities
that affect the whole public service, and often something will
just be paused, and they haven't got around to updating you,
(06:57):
or they're hoping that things will resolve quickly and they'll
get back to you soon enough. That doesn't mean it's
anything personal.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
Can you send a second follow-up? So if you followed
up and you don't hear back, continue to be patient.
Wait at least 5 to 10 business days between emails.
If you send more than 1 follow-up and several weeks
have passed, it's OK to check if there is another
person you can chase in case you have the wrong contact.
Most organisations are completely OK with that. They do understand
(07:26):
that this is a big thing for you, that if
you're waiting on a job, it is highly disruptive to
not know one way or another.
Help, I made a mistake in the interview. Interviews are stressful.
We all make
Speaker 1 (07:37):
mistakes. Yes. The number of times I have had a
friend call me in tears after an interview saying that
they'd blown it or they'd done something wrong. I think
the first thing to do is to try and take
a step back, pause for a moment.
And question yourself if you are being overly critical, or
if you actually did make a mistake, because if you're
(07:59):
just having a kind of general worried response that's driven
from an anxiety because you're excited about this job, there's
no reason to do anything about that. It's probably.
In your head, I bet you were great. However, if
you can think of a particular instance, and you can
name when it was when you were really unhappy about
what you said, or you were unable to answer something
(08:19):
in particular, or that you walked out of that interview
and you know it just didn't go well, then there's
nothing wrong with sending an email. I think sending an
email to clarify, uh, trying to make up for that
potential make or break mistake or provide additional information.
It is a really good thing to do. If you
are going to send that email though, make sure it's good.
(08:42):
Make sure it's concise and to the point, make sure
it is polite and thank them for their time and consideration,
and flesh out your answer without writing us a giant
long essay. We won't read
Speaker 2 (08:52):
it.
Speaker 1 (08:54):
No, we won't read it. We won't read. Keep it short.
Speaker 2 (08:56):
Keep it short. Um, but it is a really good
opportunity and a thank you note to say, um, I
don't feel I fully answered the question about X and Y,
and I'd just like to clarify. So don't hesitate doing that.
Keep it concise, thank them for the time and their consideration,
and then cross fingers.
Speaker 1 (09:10):
And if you're unsuccessful, and I'm sure you won't be,
but if you are unsuccessful,
I think all of our immediate instinct is to just
run away and hate that organisation, and go to someone
we love and care about who will always be on
our side and bitch about them as long as we can,
and you should totally do that. But you should also
ask for some feedback. It's really hard to ask for
(09:32):
feedback when you feel like you've been rejected, but feedback
is invaluable.
It will help you improve your interviewing skills for the
next time. It will help you to solidify your relationship
with that hiring manager, in case they are hiring other
positions in the future. And it might even just put
your mind at ease. If you don't know the reason
someone said no, then your brain can take you to
(09:54):
all sorts of silly places. But
And it will just be, oh, there was someone who
had 5 years more experience, and they were a better
fit for the role as a result, but we'd love
to have you back another time.
Speaker 2 (10:04):
And quite often it's line ball, you know, quite often
it's like, oh, this person's great at this, this, this
person's great at that. If that's the case, and you've
just missed out on the flip of a coin, it's
good to know because you are closer to getting your
next job.
Speaker 1 (10:20):
Shortlisted is produced by Future Women's Jobs Academy. To apply
to join, head to jobsacademy.uwomen.com or go to Futurewomen.com to
become a future women member today.
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