Post-Interview Etiquette for an Employer
For job candidates, the waiting period following an interview is often a stressful experience that can be exacerbated by interviewers who practice poor post-interview etiquette. The steps an interviewer takes following the interview can reflect poorly or positively on the organization as a whole and affect the job candidate's feelings about the position. Practicing good post-interview etiquette requires employers to keep job candidates in the loop throughout the various stages of the hiring process.
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Immediately After the Interview
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As the interview draws to a close, the employer should give the candidate a timeframe within which a hiring decision will be made. As some places of employment only contact candidates if they've been chosen for the job, the interviewer should clarify whether the selected candidate will be notified exclusively, or all interviewed candidates will be notified. The interviewer should personally see the candidate to the door after the interview, as this is a good opportunity for cordial small talk.
In the Interim
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If the timeframe for making a hiring decision has been extended or if a major change has been made to the structure of the position, all job candidates who were interviewed should be notified. Otherwise, interviewers don't need to contact candidates during the hiring timeframe they initially established.
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Offer of Employment
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After employers have reached a hiring decision, they should notify the selected candidate first by phone and then follow up with a formal letter of offer. A letter of offer serves as a written confirmation of the most salient details of the position, whether or not they were previously discussed during the interview. The letter of offer should address the candidate personally and include the title of the position, its salary, benefits such as bonuses, stock options or health plan, start date and a signature line to indicate acceptance of the offer.
Rejected Candidates
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While some employers only notify the selected job candidate of their hiring decision, others notify each interviewee via a phone call, email or formal letter of rejection. Rejection letters should address each candidate personally and begin by thanking the candidate for interviewing for the position. The letter should then mention that another candidate has been selected for the position. If the interviewee was a strong candidate that the interviewer would like to consider for another position in the future, that should be stated in the letter. The letter should then close by wishing the candidate luck with the job search.
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