Interviews: Remembering names

One of the things to remember in an interview is to thank your interviewer by name at the end of the interview.

Sometimes easier said than done.

If you are like most people, you may have trouble remembering names, especially when you are nervous as most people are in an interview.

When you have a panel interview, with more than one person asking the questions, the problem becomes even greater.

One of the tricks often cited it to repeat back the person's name when they introduce themselves.

If they say "I'm John Smith" you would respond "Pleasure to meet you Mr. Smith" (or John, as the case may be)

This may then install the name "John Smith" in the memory of some interviewees, but for the majority, the name gets forgotten in the focus and stress of trying to answer the interview questions in the best possible way.

So you are at the end of the interview, about to leave, and you cannot remember the name of the interviewer, so you can't say "Thank you, John."

What do you do?

You say "Do you think I could have one of your business cards, please?"

Your interviewer is a business person and should have a business card.

Manners dictate that when you receive a business card from anyone, you read it.

So you receive Mr. (or Ms) Inteviewer's business card, look at it, and say "Thank you very much John (or Jane), I hope to hear from you soon."

You now have the name and correct title of your interviewer for the thank you letter you are going to send them within the next 24 hours.

If by any chance that doesn't work out, and your interviewer doesn't have a business card handy, get through the farewells without using a name. Then as you leave (assuming the interviewer has not followed you out of the room to see you out) ask the receptionist for the "correct spelling" of your interviewer's name. Even if it's John Smith this is a valid request - after all it could be Jon Smythe.

If the interviewer does see you out, wait till the next day, then phone the receptionist. Explain you were in for an interview and want to write a thank you letter, could she please give you the correct spelling of the name of your interviewer.

Now you haven't said their name to them in person, but at least your thank you letter shows you knew their name!

Now keep that name somewhere safe, so when you get the call to a second interview, you know the person's name!

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