One of the most serious misconceptions about job hunting is the idea that after an interview is over, there’s nothing else you can do to help you secure the position of your dreams. In fact, a lot of that final decision can still be swayed if you take the time to follow up properly with your potential employer.

Neglecting to do one or two small things could easily mean the difference between a job offer and just missing the mark. To make sure that this doesn’t happen to you, here are five easy things you can do after the job interview is over that will help pave the way for your eventual employment.

• Send a thank you note. While it may seem old fashioned in this day and age, a nicely worded thank you note sent to the right people a few days after the interview accomplishes one key thing: it keeps you fresh in the interviewer’s mind. They might be seeing a dozen other people for the position, but receiving a thank you note from just one really separates you from the pack.
• Call to follow up. Whereas the note should be sent no more than three days after the interview, you usually want to wait a week or two to call. Be polite, professional, and just use the opportunity to express your continued interest in the company and the position. You may feel pushy, but they’ll hear a person who is invested not just in a job, but in their job.
• Alert your references. If an interview went well and you think references might be called, alerting your references makes certain that they aren’t blindsided by a call. They can expect it, know what the job is about, and thus, better know what to say to make you sound great. For an interviewer, it can make for a smoother checking process.
• Ask for feedback. So, worse case scenario has happened: you didn’t get the job. Be courteous and professional about this, because it’s not a personal decision. It’s a professional one. You can still make the most of the experience by asking an interviewer if there’s anything that you might improve on in future interviews. This makes them feel helpful and actually does provide you with some valuable insight before you start the whole process over again.

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