We’ve had some great job search advice posts lately on the Purple Ink blog like “Before the Interview” and “What Do Recruiters Really Look for on Your Social Profiles.”

Here are some more tidbits that will hopefully give you a leg up on your competition after your next interview.

1. Say Thank You

This piece of advice is for Before, During, and After the interview, actually! Gratitude is appealing to the interviewer, and gratitude exudes enthusiasm for the opportunity. A thank you note after your interview never goes out of style. My preference is for it to come via email – it’s more efficient and the interviewer gets it the next day. A handwritten note is still good, though, but it will take longer to be received.

Use your thank you note as a time to highlight what specifically makes you a good candidate for the role. I think a well thought out thank you note has more impact than a generic, throwaway cover letter. Save time on your applications, skip the cover letters, and craft amazing thank you notes after your interviews.

2. Be Patient

This doesn’t really require you to DO anything – but may be the hardest part of the process! It’s difficult to wait to find out feedback from your interview, but I’ve learned that recruiting always seems to take longer when you’re the candidate being considered. Issues inevitably come up for the hiring manager at work and this may get pushed lower on their list of “to dos”. Remember – they’re probably trying to cover for this position so they may be even more busy than normal! Try to relax, and keep job searching and interviewing to stay “fresh” – never assume you have the job until you have the job! It’s harder to re-start a job search then to keep one going.

3. Follow Up

Yes – if you had an interview, and you want the job, you should follow up with the interviewer. My rule of thumb is to follow up a week after your interview, or after whatever time frame they tell you. We shared some helpful tips about following up a few weeks ago.

How have you made a good impression after an interview?