Regrouping after a job interview: what to do to improve your profile

It’s nerve-wracking enough to go through an interview, but one can agree that waiting for the outcome is even more aggravating. Even if you walk out of a potential employer’s office feeling confident that he’s made it, there’s still a period of uncertainty that stretches out each day that the phone doesn’t ring. You know HR is interviewing other people and needs to gather a good pool of candidates before they can make an informed decision. Also, continue to look for other open positions. How do you deal with the days when nobody calls you?

Anxiety during your job search is perfectly normal. You feel pressured to find a good job to ease financial burdens, and the sooner you get hired, the better. This time between the interview and the call should be well spent on improving your profile, so that subsequent interviews, if necessary, will result in a quicker response. Not only that, but staying busy can help calm your nerves while you wait for employers to contact you.

Here are some things you can do between interviews to help improve your standing in the eyes of those hiring:

1) Review your resume. Take a look at your work history and skills. You may want to highlight certain points and achievements that will impress an employer. If you’ve learned something new, like computer language or coding skills, include it in a new version before you ship it with your apps.

2) Change your references. It’s great to have two or three people you can always rely on to talk nice. Don’t stop there, though. Try to have a few people “in reserve” who can offer a more unique image of you as a worker.

3) Look at the real thing. After soccer games, coaches often watch team videos to see what worked and what didn’t. You won’t be able to record your interview, but if you’re worried about your appearance and performance, you can sit down with a friend and recap. A new set of eyes can signal tics and mannerisms that could put off employers.

4) Rethink your wardrobe. You dress better when you meet potential employers, but you should also keep in mind that colors and style vary by job. The general rule among employment experts is to wear a dark neutral color, black or navy, in a conservative style.

Changes in your presentation, attitude, and style can make all the difference after the interview. Assess how an employer sees you and enhance that image to get the phones ringing.