Job Interview Letters
After an interview, you might wish to send some follow-up
correspondence in order to solve a problem or to present a
proposal. We have already shown you some examples of
thank-you letters and notes that were sent following an
interview. In some cases, a longer or more detailed letter
would be appropriate. The objective of this type of letter
is to provide additional information or to present a
proposal.
In some cases, you could submit a comprehensive proposal
that would essentially justify your job. If there were
already a job opening available, you could submit an outline
of what you would do if hire. If no job were available, you
could submit a proposal that would create a job and state
what you would do to make hiring you pay off.
How to Use Email and Regular Mail for Follow-up
Letters
Many hiring managers prefer correspondence via email.
It's easy, free and instantaneous. Therefore, if the
timeline on hiring is short, email would have an advantage
over regular mail.
When you are interviewed and the employer gives you his
or her card with an email address, corresponding via email
is generally acceptable. However, if you have a formal cover
letter or thank-you note template and send these as email
attachments, make sure they are in a universal format such
as Microsoft Word, WordPerfect, Rich Text, Adobe PDF or
HTML. Always mention the format of your letter in your email
message. If you are ever in doubt about whether an employer
can open your attachments, you should directly type or copy
the follow-up letters into the body of your email.
In writing such a proposal, you must be specific in
telling the hiring manager what you would do and what
results these actions would bring. For example, if you
proposed you could increase sales, how would you do it and
how much might profits increase? Tell employers what you
could accomplish and they may just create a new position for
you. It happens more often than you probably realize.
Whatever the situations, your post-interview letter
should present any concerns the employer may have had with
you during the interview in a positive light. For example,
if the employer voiced concern over a lack of specific
experience, you would address his or her concern by stating
that you are a quick study, self-motivated, and
detail-oriented. Once you have put the employer's concerns
to rest, reinforce your interest in the job (if your are
sending a post-interview letter). Include a statement like,
"After hearing more about the job, I am even more certain my
skills and education will be beneficial to your company. I
am eager to begin working for you and will call next Monday
to inquire about the hiring decision."
Sample Letters
March 12, 2005
Ms. Veronica Jennings
ABC Company
123 Aspen Avenue
Laurel, Maryland 20708
Dear Ms. Jennings:
Thank you for meeting with me last Friday to discuss the
position of project manager with your company. The position
sounds interesting and challenging. I believe my knowledge
of financial operations will prove to be an asset to your
marketing department. I also appreciated the tour of your
company. It gave me valuable insight into the workings of
your company and further increased my desire to become a
part of your organization.
Our discussion has strengthened my interest in this
position, and I would welcome the opportunity to proceed to
the next step. Again, thank you for the time and courtesy
extended to me. I look forward to meeting with you again.
Sincerely,
(Signature)
Michael Kennedy
March 12, 2005
Mr. Brian Andersen
Andersen and Collins
246 Walker Road
Cleveland, Ohio 44111
Dear Mr. Andersen:
Thank you for the opportunity to discuss the opening for a
sales representative in your company. I enjoyed meeting with
you and learning more about your company and its products.
My education, as well as my experience working as a customer
service representative during my summer internship with the
Coleman Company, will allow me to make a significant
contribution to your company over time. My enthusiasm and
interest in this position have increased and strengthened
after our interview.
I want to reiterate my strong interest in the sales position
and in working with you and your staff. Please contact me if
you have any additional questions. Again, thank you for the
interview and your consideration.
Sincerely,
(Signature)
Thomas Ramirez
|
