Page 308 - Marky Stein - Get a Great Job When You Don't Have a Job-McGraw-Hill (2009)

Fearless Interviewing

• Winning an award or distinction
• Earning a place as a leader in the industry
• Changing the company image
• Outsmarting the competition
• Inventing new products, ideas, and services
• Bettering the skills of employees and managers
• Providing healthier workplaces
• Complying with government regulations
• Accurately accounting for revenue, taxes, expendi-
tures, personnel, or inventory
• Keeping current customers happy
• Encouraging word-of-mouth referrals
• Revamping existing products or services

2. Decide on one or more strategies, based on your proven
skills or your Q statements, that illustrate to the inter-
viewer that you could be instrumental in helping the
company solve its problems and reach one or more of its
goals.

The Format of Your Focus Letter
• First paragraph. Begin with a pleasant, but not too per-
sonal, greeting stating that you enjoyed the interview
and/or appreciated the interviewer’s time.
• Second and possibly third paragraphs. Introduce the prob-
lem and establish for the employer that you have solved
similar problems in the past. Mention that, if hired, you
would like to get to work on helping the employer reach
his or her goals.
• Final paragraph. Close with polite thank you. You might
also mention that you will be calling to follow up in two
or three days.

Tips to Remember about Focus Letters
1. Always double and triple check the spelling of the per-
son’s name and job title.

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