11 Things to do After a Pharma Job Interview
When attending your next pharma job interview, remember that interviewers aren’t only assessing you during the interview, but also throughout the entire process. How you act after your job interview – regardless of whether it’s your first, second or final round – can have a big impact on the impression you make on interviewers.
In this article, we outline 11 things you can do after your next pharma job interview to prove your strength as a candidate…
Confirm the Next Steps
At the end of your interview, confirm with your interviewer what the next steps are, and when you should expect to hear from them next. Make sure you know who to follow-up with and when, and that you’re given a realistic time frame for them to give you a decision by.
Send a Thank You Note
Always aim to send a thank you note or email within 24 hours after the interview. Personalise your note to make it memorable by mentioning some of the key things you took away from the interview or commenting on something that you and the interviewer found common ground on. This will help them to remember their time with you, so remember to use your note to express gratitude rather than as another way of selling yourself as a candidate.
Send Supporting Documents in a Timely Manner
If you’ve been asked to send over any supporting documents including references, certificates, examples of your work or an online portfolio, make sure you do this as soon as possible. This will help to keep your name fresh in the interviewer’s mind and will prove that you’re organised and well-prepared.
Evaluate Your Performance
As soon as you can, take the time to sit down and make some notes on how well you think you did in the interview. Think about what you did and didn’t answer well, and anything you wish you’d mentioned but didn’t. Make a list of the questions you were asked and the questions that you asked and use these notes to prepare for your next interview.
Take Notes on What You Learned
You should also make some notes on what you learned in your interview. This could be information about the company, your interviewers, or the physical working environment. If this was your first interview and you’re invited for a second, being able to demonstrate a more in-depth understanding of the company and the way they work will help present yourself as a candidate well-suited to them.
Keep Your Experience to Yourself
It might seem obvious but talking negatively about your interview on social media isn’t a good idea – especially if you haven’t had an update yet. Don’t talk negatively about your experience in your current workplace either, as you never know who your colleagues might have connections with.
Respect the Interviewer’s Instructions
It can be tempting to reach out to your interviewer for an update on your application before the timeframe they’ve given you has passed, but it’s important to respect their instructions. Only contact them once the timeframe has passed, and only get in touch with the contact you were given to follow-up with.
Use Your Waiting Time Wisely
Don’t waste time after your interview fretting about what you did or didn’t say, and don’t put a complete stop to your job search, even if you think things went really well. Use your time proactively by staying up to date with industry and company news or work on developing a new or existing skill. You don’t need to start firing off more applications immediately after the interview but do use your time wisely.
Send a Professional Follow-Up
Once your given timeframe has passed, send a succinct, professional follow-up to your interviewer. Instead of outright asking ‘Can I have an update on my application?’ ask if there’s anything else they need from you, and express that you’re still interested in the position.
Ask for Feedback
If you’re not successful, always ask for a bit of feedback, but don’t bombard your interviewer with questions. They might give you one sentence or a few paragraphs, but any advice you receive will help you prepare for your next job interview.
Be Professional
If you do get a rejection email, don’t just file it away straight away without sending a response. Send an email thanking them for their time and tell them that you enjoyed meeting them and learning more about the company. You might not know if you were their 2nd or 10th choice, so being professional here will put you in good stead if the person they offer the role to declines.
Always Aim to Make a Good Impression…
Remember that your opportunity to make a good impression on your interviewer doesn’t end once you’ve left the room. Regardless of if you’re offered the job or not, the people you meet during the interview process could be really great additions to your professional network, so making a good impression is important as you never know when you might cross paths with them again.
Visit PharmiWeb.Jobs for more careers advice or to start searching for your next pharma job.
