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After the interview

In this article, you will learn what you should do after the interview and how to handle rejection.
A person with a lightbulb above their head sits down on a bench writing something down using pen and paper.

There are a few things to think about after the interview as well.

  • At the end of the interview, find out when you will hear about whether you got the job or not or if you will be taken in for a second interview.
  • Consider sending a thank you email to everyone who participated in the interview. It’s always polite to say thank you and it can give you another chance to remind them of your suitability for the position.
  • Reflect on whether you are still interested in the job. Sometimes you can interview a company, and afterwards think to yourself “I am not interested in this job anymore.” And that’s okay, too. Be sure to inform the recruiter if you are no longer interested.
  • If you are still interested, it’s good to keep updated about the company through TV, radio, newspaper, social media, etc.

Start researching salaries that would reflect the level of responsibility you will have based on what you learned about the job in the interview. Sometimes the job descriptions are vague, so you find out more about what you will actually be doing during the interview. Your level of responsibility could be higher or lower than your expectation, so it’s good to find out what salary level you think should have before you go on to the salary negotiation.

If you didn’t land the job

If you do get rejected, don’t feel discouraged. Every CV and cover letter you send and every interview you attend will increase your experience in job seeking which will help you throughout your whole life. Eventually, you will land the right job if you keep trying.

It’s okay to feel disappointed, just know that it will pass. There are always things that are out of our control. Once you feel ready, think objectively about whether there was something that you could have done differently.

Know that there is the right opportunity for you out there and this just wasn’t the one. Part of navigating a career path successfully is allowing it to go in the direction it was meant to go.

Never stop yourself or block yourself from opportunities because you doubt yourself. If you see a job that you would like, apply!

© Luleå University of Technology
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