You’ve landed a job interview with your dream company. While the time spent preparing for this event is no doubt important, the days following your interview can be just as important for your success. There are plenty of articles out there explaining what you should do before a job interview, but what about after?
What Should I Do After an Interview for a Job in Events?
What steps can you take to make sure that you leave the interviewing panel with a good impression? And how can you be sure that the role is right for you? In this article, we’ll run through some of the essential steps you need to take following an interview for a job in events to make sure your job hunt stays on track.
Check how to follow up
Before leaving the interview, confirm with the hiring manager what is the best way to follow up with them. A common mistake that people make is that they assume that the interview went poorly and then don’t bother to find out how to follow up. If you leave without checking the next steps in the process, it can seem like you’re not really interested. Your perception of the interview can often be skewed by your nerves, so never assume that you aren’t going to be taken to the next step in the process.
Clarify any questions you might have
It’s common to leave the interview and then be overwhelmed by questions that you wish you had asked. If you have been given a direct contact with the company, follow up with them in order to answer any burning questions you might have. Otherwise, ask the recruiter to follow up to get answers to your questions. This will show that you are proactive in your job search and that you are seriously considering a role with the company.
Find some distance
Job interviews take a lot out of you, so it’s important to get some distance and give your brain a chance to catch up. Go for a walk, switch off your phone, or just relax with a good book. Never make any big decisions without putting some distance between yourself and the job interview. Otherwise, you will just end up self-sabotaging by focusing on the aspects of the interview where you believe you performed poorly.
Assess your performance
After every interview, you should think about what you believe went well and what you believe went poorly. If this opportunity doesn't work out, you need to be ready to start the job search again, and assessing your performance is a great place to start. If you are working with a recruiter, they might have some feedback from the interviewing panel that will help you to prepare for future interviews.
Analyse your thoughts on the company, and the job
Remember that an interview is a two-way street. You are interviewing them just as much as they are interviewing them, even if it rarely feels this way. When you are looking for a job, outside pressures such as financial commitments can make you idealise situations. You might hype up a mediocre job just because you need a job. If you want to build your career in events, it’s important to focus on finding roles that excite you and that you are passionate about. So, after the interview, take some time to be honest with yourself. Make a list of pros and cons of the job and the company. Sharing this with your recruiter can help to refine your job search.
Connect on LinkedIn
Interviews are a great way to expand your network. After you have interviewed with a company, make sure you follow up by sending a personalised LinkedIn invitation to the people on your interview panel. If you aren’t successful this time, they may be able to put in a good word for you with another company or for the next role that crops up. A strong LinkedIn network can also be hugely beneficial to your work in events.
Keep up with the search
Job interviews are like buses, you wait around for one and then three usually come along at once. However, this can only happen if you keep up with the search. Even if you have your heart set on a job, it’s important to keep attending interviews. Firstly, it’s good practice. Secondly, it’s always good to have a plan b if you aren’t offered a position. And thirdly, having additional offers on the table can help you to negotiate a better deal on your starting salary.
We understand that it’s easy to fall in love with one company, but meeting with others might help you to gain a better understanding of the wider industry. Unless you are given an offer on the spot, you should never assume anything, even if your interview went well.
If you are working with a recruiter, they can help you to navigate many of the intricacies of post-interview etiquette. The most important thing to remember after an interview is that not getting a job offer doesn’t mean that you should give up. It just means that, on this occasion, someone else was better qualified for the job. When you finally get your job offer, there will be other applicants who are similarly disappointed. Keep going in your search and remain positive and you will eventually find the right events job for you.