Page 221 - 201 Killer Cover Letters

08 6/27/03 9:21 AM Page 208
Chapter 7
The Thank-You Letter

T
H
A
N Note: Before you proceed any further into this chapter than this paragraph, be sure you are
K
- reading the appropriate material. The Thank-You Letter and the Follow-Up Letter are en-
Y tirely different from each other. Each is written and sent under completely different cir-
O cumstances. If you have just concluded an interview and wish to send a letter to promote
U
your candidacy further, turn back to Chapter 6 for instructions on how to compose a Fol-
L low- Up Letter. If you wish to send a brief, yet sincere, note of appreciation—and have no
E hidden agenda—read on.
T
T Thank-You Letters are honest and straightforward, with a simple, singular
E message. Your only reason for writing is to say “thank you,” and nothing else. You
R may be expressing your gratitude to someone for an introduction, advice, a refer-
S
ral, or serving as a reference for you. You may have interviewed for a job, which
you do not intend to pursue, but wish to thank your interviewer for seeing you.
These are the circumstances that occa-
sion writing and sending a Thank-You
RECRUITER’S TIP
Letter, and effective jobhunters never
BERATE THE BELATED overlook them. In fact, you should active-
ly seek opportunities to send Thank-You
Thank-you letters should be notes. The reason is simple: people like to
short, direct, and easier to com- be appreciated. Doing something for
pose than other jobhunting let- someone else involves going out of our
ters—so there’s no excuse to way, and we feel (rightly) that we deserve
delay sending them. acknowledgment for it. If we give nothing
Always send your letter more than our time, we’ve given a great
within one or two days of what- deal, as time is, invariably, in short supply
ever occasion you’re acknowl- in the business world. When you satisfy
edging. this need to be appreciated, you help ce-
If you can’t meet this ment a positive image of yourself in your
deadline, send one whenever reader’s mind—one that will serve you
you can, even weeks after the well should you ever approach this per-
fact. It’s never too late to thank son with another request. And in today’s
someone for a kindness. complex, interactive business environ-
ment, you will. Not only are you highly

208
Copyright 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Click Here for Terms of Use.