Land a Suitable Job: Part Three

I've told you what you need to know about putting yourself on a potential employer's radar, and now it's time to learn how to stay there. This is a step that many people skip. These people don't have the jobs that they wanted most.

When you're in a one-on-one interview, it's hard to gain a perspective of the sheer volume of applicants an interviewer has to screen, especially when seeking candidates for more than one position at a time. Names, faces, conversations and qualifications will start to blur together in no time, and the fact that you made a good impression might mean nothing in a matter of hours if the interviewer isn't especially organized.

I'm more likely to fight someone for a card 

like this than throw it away. 

directabilidad.blogspot.com 

Don't take it for granted that you will be remembered, or that your application and resume won't just be tossed by accident with the rejects. Make it your responsibility to get yourself hired. Assume that your interviewer is one of those people who has to conduct everyday life according to little reminders on post-its because of chronic amnesia. Make sure those post-its all refer to giving you the job.

The first step is to thank the interviewer for his/her time, express interest in the job, and leave a business card. If you're applying to only a few places and are willing to dish out the cash, it will do you an incredible amount of good to opt for a designer card that is highly tailored to the particular job. MOO is an excellent resource with gorgeous designs, and they'll even offer NFC cards in the future that interact with smart phones, prompting them to play a video, open a website, download contact information, etc. at a touch. Talk about unforgettable!

Another way to make sure you're never forgotten is to send a handwritten thank-you note. You could make a phone call to check in with the interviewer and reiterate interest in the job, but these are sometimes intrusive, and forgotten easily. Handwritten cards are so rare that your interviewer could hold onto it for years. Even when purging outdated documents, there's something about personalized notes that makes them impossible to throw away. When writing the note, be sure to request notification if the position has been filled by someone else. Rejection is better than silence.

If you still haven't heard anything within a reasonable period of time, it's totally acceptable to make a phone call and ask if the position has been filled. If it has, don't give up hope. This is a great time to ask for a referral to another position (either at the same company or elsewhere) while you have someone important on the line. If the interviewer was impressed by your qualifications, your interview, and your business card/note combo, he or she will likely be more than happy to give you information about another job.

That's the end of our Land a Suitable Job series. The things you should remember above all are:
1) Make a good first impression by being the best version of yourself.
2) Be honest with yourself about your limitations, and if you can, work to improve them.
3) Be unforgettable. But not in a weird way.

Happy job hunting! Let us know in the comments if you have other job search concerns you'd like us to address.


If you missed the first two posts or need a refresher, you're in luck:

Part One: How to Write a Great Resume

Part Two: Interview Success Tips