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MAKING IT COUNT!

You are on tenterhooks! The interview was a day or two ago and you are anxious to know the results. Sitting beside the phone or the computer you ask yourself the question: "Should I contact them?" A few finger nails later, you make the decision that you just have to know what's going on. So before you blow it, here are a few dos and don'ts to make sure you capitalize on the opportunity instead of burn your chances.

The Do's
1. Make a follow up phone call or email if you haven't heard from them within the time frame they stated and ensure on the call that they have your correct contact details.

2. Thank them for the opportunity and express how keen you are to start work if you are the successful applicant.

3. Keep your tone conversational and friendly and let them know it is just a courtesty call as this will alleviate any feeling that you may be trying to pressure them.

4. Keep them informed of your other job opportunities. If they are still deliberating and you've been made another offer that is less attractive, phone them and let them know so that if they want you they can make a counter offer.

5. Keep a diary of all contacts with the employer to make sure that you remember when you last spoke to them and what was discussed. When you are waiting for something a day can seem like a week!

The Don'ts
1. Phone or email them before the time frame they indicated for making a decision.

2. Harass the employer by calling every day.

3. Sound too pushy - it could tip the scales and not in your favor.

4. Try to sell yourself in this call. You've already had the interview. This is simply a courtesy follow-up call.

In my work as an employment consultant, I have made thousands of follow up phone calls on the behalf of my clients and many of these have resulted in a positive outcome. Sometimes an employer may be having difficulty deciding on the right person for the job and your attention to detail and enthusiasm may catch their eye.

In my own life, there was one particular job that I went for an interview and they gave me a time frame but I didn't hear anything from them. As I was in the practice of following up on all my applications, I phoned them. As it turns out I was the successful candidate and they were experiencing some delays due to staff turnover. Had I not phoned, I would have continued to look for work elsewhere and missed out on the well paying job that was literally 2 minutes from home, in the position of my dreams and allowed me to bring my children to work when I needed to! You don't find many jobs as good as that one, so I can only emphasize that an opportunity can go begging if you don't follow up because sometimes others are not as efficient as they should be.

At the end of the day, if the job has your name on it, then it will be yours. Just make sure it keeps your name on it by observing these tips.

Learn more about this author, Hayley Solich.
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