Setting Up an Informational Interview
The first step is to identify people who have jobs that you find intriguing and inspiring. Be resourceful. Scour the Internet and read local newspapers and business publications. Tell your family, friends, neighbors, colleagues, former teachers and classmates about your interviewing endeavor and ask them for names of people with whom you should speak.
As you develop your list of potential contacts, send each person an introductory letter explaining your background, career goals, interests and what you hope to gain from the interview. Request 20 to 30 minutes of the person's time at their convenience. Be clear that you are seeking information only -- not a job. If the person is receptive to your request, ask for a face-to-face meeting at his or her workplace. While getting together for lunch or talking on the phone is fine, visiting the person's office will give you a better feel for the job.
Interview Thank You Letters
Make sure you have the correct names, titles and contact details of the person or people who interviewed you.
Write individual letters to each person who interviewed you, keeping the essentials the same but briefly personalizing each one. You can also include anyone who helped you with setting up the interview.
Send the thank you letter within 24 hours of the job interview. Find out the best way to reach the recipient- e-mail, post, hand delivery etc. You can get this information from the receptionist or human resources. The faster the letter gets to its destination the greater the chance of creating a positive impression. You can use an express postal service rather than regular mail to ensure speedy delivery.
If you are concerned about the time the post may take you can e-mail a short, simple thank-you message and follow up with a more formal letter in the post. E-mailing your thanks is usually not as impressive as a formal, posted letter. However, if the company tends to do business by e-mail and if most of your contact has been through e-mail, then it is probably an acceptable form of communication. Faxing should be a last resort.
Hand-write the letter only if you have legible handwriting. Typing and signing the thank you letter is usually a better option. Use good quality paper and envelopes. Avoid colored stationary - it looks unprofessional. If you have letterhead stationary use it.
Spell check and proof read all your correspondence. You can also ask someone else to proof it for you. That way you will be sure it's all correct. Spelling and grammatical errors are the easiest way to make a bad impression.
Thank You Letter Tips
It's always important to say thank you after a job interview and after a second interview, as well. It's also important to thank everyone you interviewed with and everyone who assisted with your job search. Here are some tips on who you should thank and the best way to thank them.
Short and Simple - Keep your thank you letters short and simple, but, do use the letter to reiterate your interest in the job, your enthusiasm for the company and to sell yourself as the ideal candidate.
Proof Your Letter - Spell check and proof your thank you letter. Then ask someone else to proof it for you. That way you will be sure it's perfect.
More Employment Thank You Letters - In addition to thanking your interviewers, thank everyone else who assists with your job search, including references, people who refer you to a job opening and any other employment contacts whose help you have appreciated and who you want to develop a good relationship with.
What You Didn't Say - If there was something that you wish you had mentioned during the interview, here's your chance to say it by including it in your thank you letter.
Thank You Letter Basics - Thank you letters can be handwritten, typed or sent via email. Each thank you letter should include a thank you for the interview, your interest in the jobs, your qualifications and skills, and a final thank you.
Make an Impression - According to the York Technical Institute less than 4% of applicants send thank you notes, so, use your letter as a way to stand out from the crowd and make a good impression.
A Simple ‘Thank You’ Can Land the Job Interview
Here are some tips to remember the next time you compose a thank-you note following an employment interview:
Write more than one if necessary. Many employers now involve multiple people in the hiring process to get a well-rounded view of applicants. If you interviewed with more than one hiring manager, send a thank-you note to each person. Address every letter to a specific individual, even if you have to do some research to uncover the spelling of someone's name or locate his or her contact information. Also make sure the content of each letter differs, at least slightly; hiring managers often compare notes -- literally.
Send a handwritten note. It's best to send a thank-you note within 24 hours of your interview. Consider sending a quick e-mail message as soon as you return home in order to meet this "deadline." But don't stop there. Follow up with a letter sent through the regular mail. Use high-quality stationery, and write the message by hand. This personal touch is likely to impress the hiring manager and help you stand out from other candidates, as well as present you with another opportunity to explain why you're right for the job.
Make it specific. To give your letter a personal touch, bring up specifics points from the conversation you had with the hiring manager. For example, if a prospective employer mentioned multiple times that the open position calls for strong knowledge of Microsoft Excel, use the thank-you note as an opportunity to remind the person that you've received a professional certification in this program. Even an offhand remark can serve as good fodder. If you discovered the hiring manager attended the same university as you, referencing this commonality could make for an interesting opening or close to your letter.
Don't lose hope. Even if you doubt the interview went well, it's still wise to send a thank-you note. For one thing, the hiring manager may have felt the interview was more successful than you did. In addition, your display of courtesy and professionalism could work in your favor if you cross paths with the person again or another opening arises within the firm.
