The job application process can be tedious, and a successful search has several components not only for the security professional, but for every job applicant. First, you must submit a clear and concise resume. Once an employer has received it, and is impressed by your credentials, they will call you in for a formal interview. You go in for the interview, and it goes well, and the person who you met with gives you their business card, and says they will be in touch. Now, you will simply have to wait for the phone to ring and hear their decision, but is there anything else you can do to leave a good impression?
There is a lot of conflicting advice on the post-interview process and what can be done, if anything, to increase your chances of getting hired, and this is perhaps the most challenging tight-rope to walk for everyone.
On the one hand, you don't want to come across as annoying by constantly contacting the interviewer, and on the other hand, you don't want to seem disinterested. While you may hear a lot of different advice, the one universal helpful tip, that transcends all methods, is etiquette. Send a polite, brief, and clear thank you note to the person who interviewed y
Within a day or two of your interview, you should send a thank you note. Use the information available on the business card you were given (you should always ask for a business card during your interview) and make sure you have the correct spelling. Express genuine gratitude for the opportunity to interview with them, and that you appreciate their time and consideration. As this blog has said before, the time to thoroughly research a company is BEFORE you interview with a company, not after. So you should not have to say in your thank you note that you finally did your homework. However, if something came up in the interview that did pique your interest, it is ok to mention it, but don't throw in any advice for the interviewer about it, as it would be inappropriate for a new employee to offer unsolicited advice, let alone someone who hasn't even been hired yet.ou for their time.
Keep your note brief and concise, and let them know you look forward to hearing from them. You are not trying to gain an advantage over your competition; you are trying to show that you are polite, and not overly aggressive. Unfortunately, being "aggressive" is more often than not perceived as being annoying in the eyes of the interviewer. You are looking for work in Private Security, not sales. It is safe to assume the employer knows you want the job, because, after all, you took the time to interview for it. With that in mind, don't panic if you do not hear back from them within a few days, as there are many different factors that could be delaying the hiring process. For example, the person in human resources who handles the hiring process could be on vacation, or several other unforeseen circumstances could be happening that temporarily distracts the company from hiring you.
Of course, nobody likes waiting, and it is understandable that you would like to know as soon as possible if they have the job. However, you must accept that this is mostly out of your control. The best thing to do is be optimistic, and polite. Hopefully, you will get the job, but if not, remaining positive and polite can go a long way. Someone from the company may take notice, and while there may not be a position for you right now, there may be future opportunities, or they may know someone at another organization that may be interested in your services. Never underestimate the power of kindness and optimism, because it will always pay off.
