After the Engineering Interview:
Feedback and Review

After the Engineering Interview

After the interview there are a number of activities you can do to continue to improve and round off the process.

Once you get the result, request feedback from the interviewer. Ask how you did. What were your strongest and weakest areas? This applies whether you got the job or not. Everybody can improve and become more polished. If you were successful, consider using the feedback for a future interview, maybe for promotion within the company. You now have an insight into how they operate within the business. Use this to your advantage.

If unsuccessful, the feedback provides you with an accurate starting point to begin planning improvements. Although naturally disappointing, take heart from the fact you made it to the interview stage. You may also be placed on a short list for future positions. If you are fortunate you may be first reserve and may yet be offered the position if the lead candidate turns down the post. If they are that good they are likely to have options. Try to be optimistic. You are far more likely to succeed with a positive outlook.

Again, regardless of the result, take time to reflect on how you think the whole process went.

• Was your research and preparation adequate?
• Were there any specific areas where you could have made significant improvements?
• How did you perform answering questions?
• How do your skills and experiences measure up to what the market demands?
• Now you know what you know, do the position and company culture correspond with your own career objectives?
• Was it a lucky escape?!

This will have been a valuable experience because it provides you with precious insight into something you don’t do everyday. Reflection provides an excellent method of learning and improvement for future opportunities.

After the Engineering Interview 

Interview Options

You may want to give yourself options by going for a range of jobs at the same time. In so doing, you may have a series of interviews to attend. Giving yourself options in this way is a useful way of hedging your bets and greatly increasing your chances of getting a job.

At interview you may or may not want to disclose the fact you have other options. Some people are uncomfortable doing this. Others see it as being upfront and honest. Also if the other interviews or even job offers are with competitors it may provide you with additional leverage.

After the Engineering Interview 

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