Creating a good impression to
a potential new employer can be a stressful process. We all know the importance
of first impressions, but the do’s and don’ts of leaving a lasting impression are not quite so clear.
So when you’ve attended an
interview and come away knowing that you will be devastated if you don’t secure
the role, it’s natural to start worrying about whether there’s more you could
have done during the meeting and if there’s something else you can do now to
increase your chances.
Maybe I should have said this? Maybe I
shouldn’t have said that? Perhaps I should connect with her on LinkedIn and
stress again how keen I am? Or maybe send an email?
Now, when you’ve arranged the
interview directly with the employer (with no third party/recruiter involved)
this may well be wise. It should in fact have been actively encouraged by the
employer. They need to know if the role appeals to you and whether you would
like to progress to the next stage if invited.
However, if you’ve been
introduced to the employer by a recruiter, they have intentionally appointed a
third party to help with the process and will anticipate feedback to be
collected and passed through via the appointed recruiter. Very rarely in this
circumstance will it be encouraged or expected to make contact directly.
Contrary to some advice I’ve read online!
This needn’t take away the
level of influence you can still have on the process however. Firstly, be quick
in debriefing your recruiter on how the interview went. The quicker you can
provide feedback to them, the quicker they can pass this through to their
client, which will be appreciated. It’s also important to be specific in what
appealed to you about the opportunity and how and where you feel your experience/skills
will be well utilised.
It may also be worthwhile
putting together a carefully composed email to your recruiter as a follow-up,
expressing your interest in the position. Discuss it with
them and see if they feel it could help for them to forward the email on
themselves. This won’t come across as pushy as sending it direct, but will
still give you the opportunity to get your message through.
