Building on an Unsuccessful Interview
So you’ve sweated out an interview for a great job, sat by the phone waiting and wondering, and now you find out that it was all for nothing. You didn’t get the job. You have two choices. You can sulk and call it a complete waste of time, or you can make lemonade from the lemons of your day by tallying up the benefits of the experience. I know which I would choose! Here are some places to look for those benefits if you’re having trouble seeing them:
- You gained experience in interviewing. No matter how it turned out, you have one more interview under your belt. No doubt you saw places where your presentation could use a bit of polishing, but at least now you know about them. Take this chance to practice some mock interviews with family or friends so that you can do even better next time.
- You’ve had some face time with the person who does some hiring. Now you’re a known entity, and you might have a foot in the door for the next position that opens up at that company. Take a few moments after your interview to send a follow-up or a thank you. Not only is this the professional, polite thing to do, but it also helps put your name in front of the personnel department one more time. It lets the company representative know that you are still out here, waiting in the wings and that you could still be available if they have a need.
- Since you’ve already familiarized yourself with the company and its business, consider whether you could offer them any freelance or contract-based services. Many companies hire independent contractors to meet their needs. What could you do for the company on this basis, since you know their needs? Put together a proposal and set up another appointment to pitch it.
- You’ve already done the legwork to show that you are the right person for this position. Try applying for similar jobs at other companies, or a different position within this one.
- Plan to follow up not just the once with the standard thank you note, but rather several times, over the course of six to twelve months. Your letter may just cross the boss’ desk when that new hire didn’t work out as well as everyone thought it would.
The key to a successful job search is persistence and being in the right place at the right time. Make it your business to be available and ready for action, and you’ll have a job before you know it!