The call never came. You passed the phone interview, prepared all you could for the job interview, did a great job, but never heard back. Now, someone else has the job you applied for and you’re left wondering what you could have done better.
However, what you did get are several valuable lessons that will help you in the future. So, now what? 1. Don’t blame yourself You didn’t get the job. It happens! Everyone has experienced it at some point in their lives. The worst thing you can do is blame yourself. There are many reasons why you may not have been selected, and all of them are out of your control. Don’t focus on the negative. Instead, remind yourself that the employer liked you enough to consider you for the position and that the interview provided you with valuable experience that will benefit you in future interviews. It’s okay to be disappointed, but don’t let it discourage you. 2. Follow-up and ask for feedback Once you’re in a positive mindset, reach out to the employer and thank them for the opportunity to apply. It never hurts to be polite, especially because they might be hiring in the future. In a phone call or email, state something like the following: “This is ____ calling to follow up about my recent application for the position of ____. I appreciate you getting back to me regarding the role and the opportunity to interview with your organization.” Secondly, make sure you ask for feedback. The interviewer is usually happy to tell you the things you can improve on for success in the future. Example: “If there is anything I can do to improve my candidacy for similar positions, I would value your thoughts.” You may not always get an answer for this, but it never hurts to ask! The interviewer may identify a weak point of your interview (ex. lack of eye contact, mumbling, etc.) that you can be aware of for future positions. Finally, let the company know that you would love to be considered for future opportunities in a similar role. If they really liked you, this might the second chance that leads to a job later down the line when they’re looking for new employees. 3, Think about the interview Once you’ve followed up, it’s time to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the interview. It is always important to reflect on your experience and think about those things you were happy about and those things you would like to improve. The best way to do this is to create a list. Under “Strengths,” things such as “maintain eye contact,” “shake interviewers hand,” etc. can be useful reminders of what you did right. Under “weaknesses” start with the issues the employer identified or things you think you can do better. Did you ramble during your answers to certain questions? Did you rush through other questions without giving a full answer? In-depth reflection and listing these strengths and weaknesses will remind you of what you did right and what you need to improve on in the future. 4. Address the Issues You’ve reached out to the employer and assessed your strengths and weaknesses. Now it’s time to take that information and apply it. With the help of a family member, friend, job coach, or other resource, go through interview preparation steps such as the mock interview and work on those specific issues. Did you have trouble rambling? Work on the length of your answers to keep them short and sweet. Was it difficult for you to make eye contact? Work on it with family, friends, and in daily life to be more comfortable looking at the interviewer. Did you give a specific example if an employer asked for one? If not, try coming up with a few to use in the future. Also, consider attending on the many interview workshops offered by employment agencies in the city (ex. Teamwork, Job Junction, YMCA). If you are not linked to an employment agency, feel free to contact the Employment Support Coordinator at Autism Nova Scotia who will be happy to help! Taking these key steps to address the identified issues will prepare you for any interviews you have in the future and find solutions to problems you’ve been encountering during the hiring process 5. Try Again! When you feel ready, start applying for jobs or employment opportunities! You were an appealing enough candidate to get the first interview, now it’s time to get a second or third! Eventually your hard work will pay off and you’ll find yourself in a job that you enjoy.
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