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Cover letters
make a great first impression
One of the most underutilized job-hunting tools, the thank you letter when
properly wielded packs a mean wallop.
So you
thought you’ve done all you can, after going through the interview, and all you
can do now is sit and wait.
Not so. You still have one potent weapon in your marketing arsenal to help tilt
the odds in your favor: The thank you letter. According to the experts, less
than 10 percent of interviewees bother to send one after the interview, not
knowing what a great sales opportunity they’ve missed.
The thank you letter serves an array of purposes, all intending to make you look
good. Among these are:
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To portray you as
courteous and professional.
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To help you stand above
the crowd.
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To give you an
opportunity to restate your good points.
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To allow you to state
important facts not said during the interview.
Points
to Remember
So if you haven’t moved beyond first base in the interview process, the thank
you letter may just be the missing key. In writing the letter, it is best to
keep these guidelines in mind:
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Send your letter
promptly-preferably within the first couple of days and no later than a week
after the interview.
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Address it to a specific
person, and make sure you got the name right.
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Keep it brief: A short
page of two or three paragraphs will do.
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Preferably, type your
letter, following the standard business letter format.
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Use the letter to
reiterate your interest in the job and give a summary of your related skills
and qualifications.
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Leverage this opportunity
to mention important information left out during the interview. This is your
chance to make up if you flubbed your answers.
-
Customize your letter.
You don’t need to draft a different letter for each company, but do tailor the
content to the interviewer’s particular interests and concerns.
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Proofread for
misspellings, typos and grammatical boo-boos.
Parts
of a Thank You Letter
A thank you letter should contain the following:
First paragraph. Convey how much you enjoyed and appreciated the meeting,
and make some positive remarks about the company.
Second paragraph. Let the interviewer know you’re still keen on getting
the position. Reiterate your strengths and mention pertinent or new information
that you failed to bring up during the interview.
Closing paragraph. Inform the interviewer that you would appreciate
hearing from him or her again, and indicate your willingness to come in for a
second interview.
Thank You by E-mail
Ideally, thank you letters should be typewritten on clean, high-quality bond
paper and delivered by post or courier. But most experts agree that e-mailed
thank you letters are now also acceptable. E-mail enables you to send your
message instantaneously, which could play a big role if the employer needs to
make a quick hiring decision. If possible, follow up your e-mail with a hard
copy.
Just like the printed letter, the e-mail version should be short and to the
point -- ideally one screen length. It should also adhere to professional
business letter standards. In particular, steer clear of informal language
devices such as:
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