After the Interview

The final step in the interviewing process is the thank you letter. Thank you letters are used to express appreciation and strengthen your candidacy. Don't underestimate how important they can be, as many candidates do not send them. A thank you letter is a great way to influence your interviewer after you have left the interview. If the employer is not sure about hiring you or someone else, a good thank you letter can help sway them in your direction. It can also solidify their decision by reaffirming they have made the right choice.

The thank you letter lets the employer know that you really want the position, which is important because employers believe a person will perform better if they really want the job. It also shows that you are courteous and professional, and gives you a chance to sell yourself once again and emphasize your good points.

Thank you letters should be sent immediately after your interview by mail, email, or fax. If mailed, they should be sent within 24 hours after your interview, or ideally on the same day if possible. They should be sent to each person that interviewed you, or at least the primary interviewers.

All thank you letters should be written in a way to reaffirm your interest in the position. Thank you letters can be either formal or informal. Email and Fax are the quickest ways to get thank you letters to your interviewers. These means of sending the letter is acceptable in these high tech times, but often adding a personal touch by sending a handwritten note can go a long way. Informal hand-written notes help create a personal connection with the interviewer. Formal letters that are typed do not have the same impact as the personal handwritten letters, but they can allow you to "sell yourself" even more by summarizing why you are right for the job, and list any additional qualification you may not have cited during the interview.

Informal thank you notes should be handwritten on appropriate stationary and sent via mail. This could be a simple note card with the words "Thank You" on the front, or a nice piece of plain stationary. Keep in mind that the paper should still be professional. When writing the letter, use good handwriting. If your cursive writing is not legible, then printing is fine.

Formal thank you notes should be typed in a professional style and can be mailed, faxed, or emailed. These letters are typically a little longer, and you can reiterate why you are perfect for the job.

No matter which type of thank you letter you choose, you should always continue to follow professional business standards. Do not use shorthand or emoticons. Do remember to follow grammatical rules, use proper spelling, and formal your letter appropriately. At the end of your interview, make sure that you have the interviewer's contact information by verifying it with them or asking for a business card.

What to Ask After the Offer

All job hunters are waiting for that call -- the one that says they've landed the job. But as eager as you may be to escape either your current job or the unemployment ranks, don't abdicate your power position once the offer comes in. Now it's your turn to sit in the interviewer's seat and ask the company and yourself some tough questions -- the answers to which could mean the difference between career bliss and disaster.

Will the actual work and job responsibilities provide gratification, fulfillment and challenge?
This question is often overlooked, because applicants get hung up on job titles, salary and benefits. Try to get a clear sense of what an actual day would be like. What will you spend the majority of your time doing? Is the work in line with your values? Will you likely learn this job quickly and become bored and unchallenged?

What are the boss's strengths and weaknesses?
This question can be tough to answer, and it's best saved for after the job offer has been extended. You'll want to get a good idea for your potential boss's management style. Speak to your potential boss as much as possible to get a feel for his personality and what you can live with. Does he micromanage? Will you get consistent feedback and reviews? Does he make small talk, or is every conversation strictly business?

How much change is in the works at your prospective company, and what kind?
Constant change at work can mean constant stress. Find out if there are any big changes coming, such as new processing systems or management, impending retirements or adoption of new procedures that still need to be ironed out. At the same time, remember that some of these transitions will have less effect on your position than others.

How many of my skills and experiences will I be able to use and learn?
Make sure your unique skills and talents will be used and that training and promotion are open in the future. When you decide to move on, you'll want to have a new crop of experiences to sell to your next employer. Your goal is to perform well at work while constantly growing and learning.

How many people have held the position in the past several years?
Knowing how many people have been in your job and why they left can offer you great insights. You'll want to know if they were promoted or quit altogether. A steady stream of resignations may be a sign you could be reentering the job market soon.

While many of the reasons positions eventually become unfulfilling are unavoidable, such as hitting a plateau after repeatedly performing the same duties, job seekers should consider the ways a new position will advance them