You might get nervous and stressed before a job interview, so when it’s over, and you’ve shaken all hands, you breathe a sigh of relief. Now, you just have to be patient and wait for them to call you back. The ball is in their court, right? Not at all.

While it’s up to the hiring manager to decide if you’re the right fit for the job, you aren’t completely off the hook. Even if you’ve presented yourself well during the interview, there’s work to be done afterwards. Here are 21 things you should do immediately after an interview and within the next few days:

1. Thank the potential employer for their time 
2. State your interest in the position and company
3. Be as specific as possible: say what parts of the job excite you and why
4. Ask about next steps (before you leave the interview)
5. Ask if you can connect via LinkedIn
6. Be brief, friendly, and conversational
7. Show gratitude 
8. If possible, collect business cards from everyone you meet during your interview
9. Send a thank you note within 24 hours to show that you’re interested in the position
10. Add to the thank you note any significant information that you feel may be appropriate
11. Refer to a topic discussed in the interview
12. Write everything down and include names, titles and what you discussed
13. Evaluate what went right and what went wrong
14. Learn from your mistakes and successes for next time
15. Start thinking about the next round
16. Research things that came up in your first interview
17. Don’t stalk
18. Wait 2 weeks before you check in with a polite email
19. Keep searching
20. Continue to network
21. Don’t burn bridges

These actions will show the potential employer that you’re engaged, motivated and  interested in the job. Just remember, you shouldn’t bombard the person with multiple emails or calls. Remain proactive and professional without appearing desperate or pushy. If you haven’t found the perfect job yet and want to hone your interview skills even further, sign up for our online video course “How To Ace A Job Interview.”

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