THANK YOU LETTERS: WHO SHOULD YOU THANK?
No one grows tired of being thanked. Always send thank you notes to employers after interviews. Warm thanks should also be sent to anyone who has been helpful with your work search in any way. WHY SEND A THANK YOU LETTER? In today's "entrepreneurial job market" it has become critical for job candidates to use every avenue they can to get noticed and sell themselves effectively. A thank you letter can easily become an effective sales tool. Advantages of Thank You Letters 1. It's just common courtesy. 2. It's a way to keep your name in front of the employer. 3. It's a way to build on the strengths of the interview and emphasize the match between you and the company. 4. It's a way to bring up anything you thought of after the interview that is pertinent to the employer's concerns. 5. If you are extremely careful, you may be able to address anything that went badly in the interview and try t correct it. 6. If the employer has asked for additional materials that you didn't bring to the interview (references, writing samples, etc.) you can send a thank-you letter with the items. 7. It's a way to restate your understanding of the next step in the process: "I look forward to meeting with your vice president sometime next week." 8.It's an opportunity to restate your interest in and enthusiasm for the job. 9.It's another chance to show how well you express yourself. 10.Even though virtually every book on job-hunting advises sending a thank-you letter, surprisingly few jobseekers do so. Those who do will stand out. WHAT FORM SHOULD THE LETTER TAKE? A thank you letter is often a sales letter in disguise, so don't be afraid to put some "sell" into it. The form of the letter doesn't matter as long as its legible and professional looking: Letter Note Typed Handwritten card (very brief) Fax E-mail
Brief thank you cards and notes may be written using the following "Five-line formula": Line #1--Thank them for the _____ (interview/meeting/assistance). Be specific. Lines #2 and #3--Mention how their efforts were helpful, say what you have learned, or provide clarification of an issue. Line #4--Confirm your on-going interest or desire to meet/speak again. Line #5--Leave a lasting impression and/or say thank you one last time.
Dear Ms. Smith: Thank you for taking the time to meet with me yesterday about employment opportunities with the ABC Company. I am impressed by your innovative use of technology to manage inventory and am confident that my up-to-date database management skills and business training would make me a valuable asset to your warehouse team. I hope to have the opportunity to discuss the Assistant Manager position with you in more detail very soon. Thank you again for your time, Ms. Smith. Sincerely,
(signature)Jeff Jackson WHEN SHOULD YOU SEND A THANK YOU NOTE? A thank-you or follow-up letter should be sent within 24 hours of an interview, and a follow-up phone call should be made approximately 10 days to 2 weeks after the interview or after the follow-up letter has been sent (if you haven't heard from the employer yet, of course). SURVEY OF EMPLOYERS ABOUT THANK YOU LETTERS 1. What percentage of applicants that you interview within your company writes thank-you or follow-up letters? Responses ranged from "almost zero" to "80-90% at the professional level". Most said less than 5%. 2. What percentage of applicants that you interview within your company, follow-up by telephone within two weeks? Responses ranged from "less than 1%" to "25%". 3.Does writing a thank-you letter make any difference in the hiring decision? "Yes. I save letters even when the person is not hired to possibly call at a later time for other positions." "They're very nice, professional and caring, but others don't see it as a big deal in technical fields." "Candidates who write thank you notes really do stand out, but unless the notes are well written, they don't make a difference." "It's an asset. After the interview, another point can be made and it might be used to some damage control. It must be succinct." "Letters stick in your mind because they're rarely done. It makes me more comfortable with the applicant as a person." "It makes all the difference. You have to follow up. Customer service skills are essential." BOOKS TO READ Who's Hiring Who by Richard Lathrop 200 Letters for Job Hunters by William S. Frank Dynamic Cover Letters by Katharine Hansen. Job Search Letters That Get Results: 201 Great Examples! by Ronald Krannich High Impact Resumes and Letters by Ronald Krannich