It’s the Money, Honey!
The appropriate place to discuss money is always after you’ve been offered a job but this, of course, is an overriding concern of any employer. Here again preparation is very important. You must have done your research to find out what the industry pays and what this particular business pays. Sometimes this may seem very difficult and almost impossible. There is no harm in asking what range the position pays, but it depends on the employer how much information he is willing to reveal. The less a job pays, however, the most likely the interviewer will tell you what the salary rate is. If you should be asked about your desires, being able to give a reasonable salary range is best. Say the pay range for that particular position is $15,000 to $20,000 in your area. If you ask for $20,000, that particular employer who may normally only pay $18,000 will think you are too expensive. If, on the other hand, you ask for $15,000, he might wonder why you are undervaluing yourself. Instead, say "I’m looking for something in the $16,000 to $18,000 range." Give yourself and your employer room to negotiate.
Ask for the job! "Mr. Smith, I’m really impressed with your company and what I’ve heard about this job. I do feel that I am the right person and I hope you will give me the chance to prove myself."
Make sure that you set yourself up for follow-up. Try to find out when they are expecting to hire. Ask permission to call back at a later date. Then thank the interviewer for the opportunity of interviewing. "I really enjoyed talking with you, Mrs. Allen; thanks so much for your interest."
Evaluate your performance. Was your dress up to standard? Were you warm and enthusiastic? Were you really nervous and did you talk too fast? Do you wish now you had answered some questions differently? A post-interview assessment may help you to learn from the experience. Don’t be afraid to discuss what you said and did with an instructor, business associate, or friend. Someone who knows you may have some interesting observations for you. Also, write down your pertinent observations or comments.
The absolute best way to make a lasting impression is to send a thank you note to the interviewer. This gives you an opportunity to thank him and to reaffirm that you are interested in the job. This actually can make a major difference to an employer. Once, after interviewing 4 or 5 applicants, I was leaning towards one candidate but was not ready or willing to commit myself. About 2 days later I received a thank you letter from him. I hired him the next day. That letter with his message that he was still interested in the job tipped the scales in his favor. I also never regretted hiring him. A short note is all that is necessary.
Dear Mr. Interviewer,
I really enjoyed getting to know you and finding out more about your company during my interview on Monday. I’ve had time to think about the position and have reached the conclusion that this job is right for me right now. I’m sure that you will be more than satisfied with my job performance. Thanks again for your time.
Sincerely,
Mr. Applicant
You might comment on something that the interviewer said. "After thinking about it, I believe that you were right about…." You might mention that you will call him by a certain date if you haven’t heard from him. You could mention that even if you don’t get this particular position that you want to be considered for future openings because you like the company so much. You can mention again the reasons that you would be the best choice for the job. Your letter must be confident, pleasant, positive and to the point.
Since so few people take advantage of a thank you note, you cannot fail to further impress the employer!
If you have told the interviewer that you will call later, be sure to do so. Taking charge of the wait time after an interview is a positive mental activity. Just sitting and waiting can be emotionally difficult, so don’t do it. If you are told that you haven’t gotten the job, try to get feedback from the interviewer. "May I ask if I was lacking any experience you wanted?" "Would you happen to know of any other positions in the community that I might be interested in?" Pick his/her brains; learn from the experience and be aware that not getting job is no reflection on you. The job seeker never knows the real story, so never make the assumption that you have failed. Chance, unfortunately, can play a major role in an interview. What if the interviewer skipped his breakfast, is 2 hours late for lunch, or just got off the phone after an argument with his wife? There are simply too many factors beyond your control. Go on to the next possibility: continue your job hunt. Remember practice makes perfect!