Always Follow Up, Always
Always follow up an interview.
Sometimes you may have not been the applicant they would choose first,
but your ambition and the determination of a follow up telephone call, thank
you note, or even a surprise visit could make them see you in a whole new
light!
During your conversation, ask questions that follow up with a previous
conversation, proving your interest, and good memory.
Remember:
"Familiar Faces Attract Attention"
Thank-you / follow-up letters
Thank you letters are critical to your job search success, and interviews
are not the only occasions to send thank-you and follow-up letters. If you've
ever experienced helping or doing something for someone, and not receiving
a thank-you, you understand how employers view this lack of courtesy on
the part of job seekers. They may also gauge your motivation on the
level of your follow up activities.
On this page:
When to write thank-you letters:
A thank-you letter should be written after:
- An interview; (See
interview
follow-up / thank-you letters)
- A contact is helpful to you in a telephone conversation or e-mail;
- Someone provides / sends information to you at your request;
- A contact was particularly helpful to you at a career fair;
- You visit a contact at their work site; and
- Any other contact for which you want to express thanks and develop
a good relationship.
Hard copy, handwritten or e-mail:
Thank-you letters can be hard copy typed, handwritten or e-mailed. Hard
copy are most formal and are always appropriate after an interview. Handwritten
are more personal, and can be appropriate for brief notes to a variety of
individuals you may have met during on on-site interview or who may have
helped you in other ways. E-mail is appropriate when that has been your
means of contact with the person you want to thank, or if your contact has
expressed a preference for e-mail, or if you want to send a quick thank-you
to be followed up by hard copy.
Samples (below):
Sample 1: Follow-up to telephone call
12345 Your Street
City, State, ZipCode
(XXX) XXX-XXXX
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Mr. Robert Anderson
Company Name
12345 Company Street
City, State, ZipCode
Dear Mr. Anderson:
Thank you for talking with me on Wednesday in response to
my inquiry about the open [Job Title] position in the [City
name] area. After speaking with you and some of the Career Counselors
at Avjobs, I think I am much better prepared to pursue
this opportunity.
On your advice, I have updated my resume, emphasizing my
recent volunteer activities. A copy is enclosed for you. I also
plan to contact [Contact Name] as you suggested, and appreciate
your giving me their name.
Thank you for inviting me to visit your office. I will be
in [City] during the week of [Date Range], so I will call your
office two weeks prior to see if it would be convenient to schedule
a visit.
Again, thank you so much for your help and advice. I look
forward to meeting with you in [Month].
Sincerely,
(your handwritten signature)
Your Name
Enclosure
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Sample 2: Follow-up letter to information seeking
meeting
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12345 Your Street
City, State, ZipCode
(XXX) XXX-XXXX
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Mr. Robert Anderson
Company Name
12345 Company Street
City, State, ZipCode
Dear Mr. Anderson:
Thank you so much for taking time from your busy schedule
to meet with me last Tuesday. It was very helpful to me to learn
so much about the current projects of [Company Name] and the
career paths of several of your staff. I appreciate your reviewing
my portfolio and encouraging my career plans. I also enjoyed
meeting [Another Person You met], and am glad to have Their
suggestions on how I can make the most productive use of my
experience.
Based on what I learned from my visit to your company and
other research I have done, I am very interested in being considered
for employment with you in the future. I will be available to
begin work after [Date]. As you saw from my portfolio, I have
developed strong skills in the area of [Your Strengths] and
this is a good match for the types of projects in which your
company specializes. I have enclosed a copy of my resume to
serve as a reminder of my background and experience, some of
which I discussed with you when we met.
During the next few months I will stay in contact with you
in hopes that there may be an opportunity to join your team.
Thank you again for your generous help.
Sincerely,
(handwritten signature)
Your Name
Enclosure
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Sample 3: Follow-up to personal contact
12345 Your Street
City, State, ZipCode
(XXX) XXX-XXXXThursday, August 24, 2006
Mr. Robert Anderson
Company Name
12345 Company Street
City, State, ZipCode
Dear Mr. Anderson:
Thank you so much for your time and advice during my visit
to your office last week. I very much appreciate your inviting
me to visit since this was my first experience seeing the hands-on
work which takes place in a [Department Name] department. I
learned a great deal, and hope to put this experience to work
with your company as a productive team member.
After [Month], I will be in contact with you again to explore
the possibility of arranging a permanent position with your
company. As I mentioned to you when we met, [Recall some
significant event that you discussed with this person in the
past, and how it relates to your new job with this company].
I believe my skills would make me an asset to an organization
like yours which often must produce excellent work under tight
time constraints.
Thank you again for all your help, and I look forward to
talking with you in the coming months.
Sincerely,
(handwritten signature)
Your Name
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Always Follow
Up, Always