Follow Up Mistakes
By Chris Hansen
If you miss any of these things you may miss out on the job you want. It’s a shame to come all the way through an interview and not get an offer. Make this into a checklist and include it on your job search worksheet:
Don’t take the first offer. If possible, try to get three offers at the same time. Then select the one that positions you best for the long run.
Make sure to re-contact your contacts. If you have been in search a while, the most important action you can take to develop new momentum is to re-contact those with whom you have already met—perhaps every two to three months. You increase the chances they'll think of you when they come across news that may help you in your search.
Tell them, "It's been awhile since we've met, and I am having a very interesting time. My search has taken a slightly different direction, and I now find there is a lot of activity in the market for systems analysts, which I am currently exploring. You were such a help to me before that I wanted to call you again to find out what is going on at your end, and to tell you a little about what I've been doing."
However you do it, recontact your contacts. Your small group (Virtual or physical branch) is excellent at helping with this kind of brainstorming.
Study the books. The process of follow-up is covered in great detail in the many job search books. Study them and spend the time it takes to think through what you can do to move your search along. While those you have networked with should be contacted every few months, interview follow-up is more complicated.
Don’t state your salary requirements too soon. Salary negotiation starts with the way you position yourself at the very first meeting. The one who names a dollar figure first is at a serious disadvantage. The trick is to postpone the discussion of salary until you get an offer. For example, you might say, "I'd prefer to postpone talking about the salary until I'm more clear about the job I'll be doing. When we come to some agreement on the job, I know that salary won't be a problem."
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