Career Tips

Help with a mistake...


So I had an interview on Friday and everything went really well... at least it seemed that way to me. It was the first of a two interview process and I'll know sometime this week if I get a call back for a second interview.

So here is my mistake.... I didn't send a thank you letter and I forgot to get business cards from the two interviewers. I have one of their email addresses but not the others.

Did I just ruin my chances for a call back?

Call the receptionist and just say "I interviewed with John Smith last Friday but didn't get his email address. Could you give it to me?" then send two separate, unique email thank-you notes.

The thing is I guess my nerves got to me and one of the interviewers names slipped my mind. I think it's late to send a thank you at this point and I'll just chalk this one up to experience. I have to remember next time to ask for the interviewers business cards.

Btw, in case anyone was wondering I'm a recent college grad and this is my second interview. So I don't have much experience... like you guys couldn't tell ; )

Also, since it's a two interview process would you normally send a thank you after both interviews?

Even if you forgot the name of the interviewer, the receptionist would most likely know. And if she didn't, a good receptionist would politley ask you to hold and would then ask someone. Even if it meant contacting John Smith and asking him who was doing the interviews with him.

If it is too late, there is nothing you can do but, as you said, chalk it up to experience. Here is a suggestion,:

  1. make a list of what you feel you need to ask the interviewers and what you believe you should do to increase your chances of receiving an offer.
  2. Make sure that you arrive at the interview at least 15 minutes early and before you walk into the lobby, review your list. Or open your binder or portfolio in the lobby as you are waiting for the interviewer.
  3. When you leave the interview and get to your car, before you start your engines and zoom away, review you list to determine if there is anything that you forgot, such as business cards.
  4. Wite down the names of the people you just met with so that you can address the thank you note with the proper name.

And, yes, you should write an individual thank you note to each person you interviewed with after every interview. 1st, 2nd, etc.

It's not really that big a deal since they told you that they'll be contacting you sometime this week.  If more time was going to pass, then I would suggest contacting them.  But in your case, I wouldn't.

If you don't hear anything, you can contact them and find out whether or not you're still in the running for it.

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