| Sending a thank you letter is as important as interview | | | | becomes a less odious task. |
| preparation. But they're tough to write, so people either | | | | Â- First paragraph |
| tell themselves that not sending one doesn't matter, or | | | | Open with the obligatory thank you and include how |
| they procrastinate until it's too late and almost pointless | | | | you enjoyed the meeting. Say why. Maybe the people |
| anyway. But anyone who tells themselves that | | | | you met were exceptional. Perhaps their company |
| foregoing a fundamental rule of etiquette doesn't | | | | philosophy was exactly what you had hoped for. Or |
| matter, not only taints themselves in the mind of the | | | | they need to overhaul a department and you can't |
| interviewer, but misses two additional opportunities to | | | | wait to sink your teeth into it because that's what |
| sell. | | | | you've got a stellar track record of doing. It doesn't |
| A thank you letter is an additional sales piece. As I've | | | | matter. Pick something out, and put it down. But make |
| said before, you're selling a product and the product is | | | | it real. |
| you. So beyond the reason of etiquette, the letter sells | | | | Â- Second paragraph |
| you as a polite person who recognizes that the | | | | What took place during your interview? Pull out a |
| interviewer gave them something valuable: time and | | | | piece of information that pleased you, say what it was, |
| consideration. | | | | and tell them why. For instance: I was particularly |
| A fundamental rule of sales is to keep the product in | | | | pleased to find that X company/the opportunity/your |
| front of the buyer and reinforce its benefits. So | | | | management style has/was/is/does whatever. This is |
| beyond the etiquette, the letter gives you ample space | | | | exciting because...... . You can expand on whatever it is |
| to comment on what you liked about the company, | | | | for a few sentences by elaborating: how it relates to |
| why your skills are of benefit to them, and how much | | | | something you've experienced and liked -- or didn't like. |
| you're interested. If something wasn't tied up, or was | | | | Discuss a particular aspect of the job you find |
| left unsatisfactorily, you should use the space to | | | | appealing and reiterate why you'd be successful at it |
| further address the issue. | | | | or how long you've been performing it or how similar it |
| When you miss the opportunity to reinforce your skills | | | | is to something you've done in the past. |
| and tie them to the job requirements, you miss a | | | | Â- Third paragraph |
| chance to sell. When you fail to address a concern or | | | | You can add a similar paragraph if the second was |
| answer a question and leave it to fester in the mind of | | | | fairly short. Or you can wind it up if it was a bit lengthy. |
| the interviewer, you've failed to overcome an | | | | If there was something that came up that needed |
| objection. And if a buyer has an objection to the | | | | clarification or about which they were dubious, address |
| product, if it isn't addressed, the likelihood of the sale is | | | | it and clear it up here. |
| slim. | | | | Â- Fourth paragraph |
| The third opportunity missed by skipping the thank you | | | | Wind it up. Re-iterate your interest. Be enthusiastic! |
| letter is the chance to keep your name in front of the | | | | Leave the job speak behind. If you really want to be |
| buyer. Read newspapers? Watch TV? See the same | | | | hired, let your interest shine through. There's nothing |
| ads over and over and over again? It's somewhat the | | | | wrong with coming right out and saying, "I'd love to |
| same principle - if you keep your name in front of the | | | | work with X company!" |
| hiring authority, they're more likely to remember you. | | | | Caution: Don't start every sentence with "I". It may be |
| Thank you letters are one of the reasons it's important | | | | the easiest way to write the letter but it's not only |
| to take notes during an interview. Not only does it | | | | repetitive, it's a turn off and egotistical. This process is |
| show good attention to detail, it saves you from having | | | | about you getting a job, but it's about what they get |
| to scrunch your face up trying to remember some of | | | | out of it if they hire you. |
| the information you learned about the company and | | | | If you really want the job, the letter will be easy to |
| position during the interview. Because if you met with | | | | write because it will contain genuine impressions and |
| three separate people during one visit to the company, | | | | sentiments. If you choose to skip the letter, perhaps |
| that's three thank you letters....three different thank you | | | | you don't care if you're hired or not. But make that |
| letters. | | | | decision yours and withdraw from the process instead |
| So let's look at how to create one of these so that it | | | | of letting the decision be made for you. |