Writing A Cover Letter That Gets Results

Transcription

1

2 The United States Department of Labor occupational trends chart (See Why Consider Further Education [p. 18]) shows the trends over the past thirty years. According to the statistics released by the Department of Labor, occupational trends are moving away from unskilled labor, jobs requiring only a high school diploma, to more skilled training, or requiring more than a high school diploma but less than a four year degree. While it is impossible to cover every possible option to college, we will explore some of the more common options that Westmont Hilltop students pursue. A Community College offers vocational programs as well as the first two years of a four-year college program. The student in the vocational program earns either a certification or Associates Degree, and usually goes directly into a vocation after graduation. Additionally, students enrolled in an academic program will graduate with an Associate s degree after two years, and will transfer to a four-year college. Pennsylvania Highlands Community College (PHCC) is one of many Community Colleges in the state of Pennsylvania. Tuition at a community college is relatively economical, with the overall goal of offering the opportunity for education to any resident in the community. Westmont Hilltop students are eligible for admission to PHCC, as well as other community colleges throughout the country, upon successful graduation from High School. For further information or to search for Community Colleges nationwide, visit Students who are interested in scholarships, financial aid, legal or medical programs should apply early due to limited opportunities and special requirements. While entrance testing is not a requirement for Community College admission, students planning to enter an academic track with the plan of enrollment into a 4-year program should take the SAT or ACT by June of their senior year. There are over 1,000 public and private technical institutes in the United States. These institutes offer post-secondary occupational education. Training is available for cosmetology, automotive/airplane repair, data processing, and many other fields. If you are considering a private business or technical school, do not be rushed or high pressured into signing a contract or placing deposits until every detail is clear to you and your parents, and you have thoroughly investigated all of your options. Many of these institutions lack accreditation, meaning credits taken will not be transferrable to a 4-year college or university.

3 There are additional opportunities in education and training for men and women in all branches of the Armed Services. In peace time, the major job of the Armed Services is training. All branches of the services now take young adults who are high-school graduates for specialized training. A variety of programs to provide funds for college study are available, including ROTC. Representatives of the Armed Services schedule regular visits to explain options. Visit the Armed Services recruiting offices inside of the Johnstown Galleria or see your counselor for additional information. Unions offer training or pay for training opportunities that will upgrade their members skills. Besides training for job skills, some unions offer courses in academic subjects. For information on apprentice programs in Western Pennsylvania, programs that pay you while providing training and for entry into the union of a specific field, visit The amount of money spent by business and industry in training and educating workers exceeds that spent by all formal schools and colleges combined. Usually the training lasts only a few days or a few weeks. For other occupations, it might take a year with frequent retraining as the employee advances in the company. Many companies will finance all or part of the training for students who want to take job related courses. As a result, increasing numbers of employees are getting college degrees with financial assistance from their employers.

4 The mission of Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is to provide quality, affordable, comprehensive educational opportunities for all in a supportive, community-oriented environment. PHCC currently has two campus locations, their main campus in Richland Township in Johnstown, and a branch location in Ebensburg. PHCC offers admission to individuals who have successfully earned a high school diploma. Each year one student from Westmont Hilltop who has a cumulative GPA of an 83% or better is awarded the Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Board of Trustees Scholarship, a full tuition scholarship to PHCC. PHCC academic programs are as follows: Associate of Applied Science Degree Programs Programs Accounting Biotechnology Building Systems Technology Business Management Computer Information & Communications Technology Court Reporting Principals and Technology Early Childhood Education/Inclusion Electric Utility Technology Electronics Technology Environmental Technology Health Care Management Hospitality Management Human Services Manufacturing Technology Medical Transcription Paraprofessional Educator/Teacher Assistant Secretarial Technology Web Site Developer Associate of Arts Degree Communication General Studies/Arts/Transfer Pre-Communications Media Teacher Education Diploma Programs Medical Coding Specialist Medical Office Specialist Scopist Certificate Programs Court Reporting Technician Dietary Manager Hotel Front Office Management Manufacturing Technology Microcomputer Applications Pharmacy Technician Survivability and Information Assurance Institute (SIA)

5 Pennsylvania College of Technology in Williamsport, PA, is an affiliate institute of Penn State University. Penn College offers bachelor and associate degrees as well as certificate majors. Degrees representing more than 100 different career fields are offered in a variety of areas that include: Business & Computer Technologies, Construction & Design Technologies, Health Sciences, Hospitality, Industrial and Engineering Technologies, and Natural Resources Management. Students enrolled at Penn College have the opportunity to complete their bachelor s degree at the Penn State University Park Campus. Business & Computer Technologies Health Science Bachelor s Degrees Bachelor s Degrees Accounting Applied Health Science Business Administration Dental Hygiene Information Technology Nursing Legal Assistant/Paralegal Studies Physician Assistant Technology Management Associate s Degrees Associate s Degrees Dental Hygiene Accounting Emergency Medical Services Business Management Health Arts Health Information Technology Nursing Information Technology Occupational Therapy Assistant Legal Assistant/Paralegal Physical Fitness Specialist Office Information Technology Radiography Surgical Technology Construction & Design Technology Bachelor s Degrees Industrial & Engineering Technology Building Automation Technology Bachelor s Degrees Construction Management Civil Engineering Technology HVAC Technology Computer Aided Product Design Residential Construction Technology Electronics & Computer Engineering Associate s Degrees Manufacturing Engineering Architectural Technology Plastics & Polymer Engineering Building Construction Technology Welding & Fabrication Engineering Electrical Technology Associate s Degrees Electromechanical Maintenance Technology Automated Manufacturing HVAC Air Conditioning or Plumbing Civil Engineering Technology Transmission & Distribution Technology Computer Aided Drafting Technology Electronics & Computer Engineering Hospitality Plastics & Polymer Technology Bachelor s Degree Surveying Technology Culinary Arts Toolmaking Technology Associate s Degrees Welding Technology Baking & Pastry Arts Culinary Arts Technology Natural Resource Management Hospitality Management Bachelor Degrees Environmental Technology Management Integrated Studies Associate s Degrees Bachelor s Degree Diesel Technology Applied Human Services Electric Power Generation Technology Graphic Communications Environmental Technology Graphic Design Forest Technology Associate s Degrees Heavy Construction Equipment Technology Advertising Art Landscape/Nursery Technology Early Childhood Education Graphic Communications Technology Transportation Technology Human Services Bachelor s Degree Individual Studies Automotive Technology Management Mass Media Communication Aviation maintenance Technology Studio Arts Associates Degree Automotive Technology/Service Sales & Management Aviation Technology Collision Repair Technology

6 Numerous resources exist to assist individuals with finding employment, including career assistance. A simple Google search of finding employment has hundreds of hits. If you are interested in career assistance (finding a job, looking for a better job, improving job skills) or seeking vocational rehabilitation services, the Commonwealth Workforce Development Services enables individuals to search for job openings, create a résumé, apply for jobs online, research career information or request vocational rehabilitation services. * The following resources are provided by the Westmont Hilltop Guidance and English Departments as a guide to assist you in development of a resume, cover letter and/or preparation for an interview. A resume is a one or two page summary of your education, skills, accomplishments, and experience. Your resume s purpose is to get your foot in the door. A resume does its job successfully if it does not exclude you from consideration. To prepare a successful resume, you need to know how to review, summarize, and present your experiences and achievements on one page. Unless you have considerable experience, you don't need two pages. Outline your achievements briefly and concisely. Your resume is your ticket to an interview where you can sell yourself! 1. Resume Essentials Before you write, take time to do a self-assessment on paper. Outline your skills and abilities as well as your work experience and extracurricular activities. This will make it easier to prepare a thorough resume.

7 2. The Content of Your Resume Name, address, telephone, address, web site address All your contact information should go at the top of your resume. Avoid nicknames. Use a permanent address. Use your parents' address, a friend's address, or the address you plan to use after graduation. Use a permanent telephone number and include the area code. If you have an answering machine, record a neutral greeting. Add your address. Many employers will find it useful. (Note: Choose an address that sounds professional.) Include your web site address only if the web page reflects your professional ambitions. Objective or Summary An objective tells potential employers the sort of work you're hoping to do. Education Be specific about the job you want. For example: To obtain an entry-level position within a financial institution requiring strong analytical and organizational skills. Tailor your objective to each employer you target/every job you seek. New graduates without a lot of work experience should list their educational information first. Alumni can list it after the work experience section. Your most recent educational information is listed first. Include your degree (A.S., B.S., B.A., etc.), major, institution attended, minor/concentration. Add your grade point average (GPA) if it is higher than 3.0. Mention academic honors. Work Experience Briefly give the employer an overview of work that has taught you skills. Use action words to describe your job duties. Include your work experience in reverse chronological order that is, put your last job first and work backward to your first, relevant job. Include: Title of position, Name of organization Location of work (town, state) Dates of employment Describe your work responsibilities with emphasis on specific skills and achievements.

8 Other information You may want to add: References Key or special skills or competencies, Leadership experience in volunteer organizations, Participation in sports. Ask people if they are willing to serve as references before you give their names to a potential employer. Do not include your reference information on your resume. You may note at the bottom of your resume: "References furnished on request." 3. Resume Checkup You've written your resume. It's time to have it reviewed and critiqued by a teacher or your counselor. You can also take the following steps to ensure quality: Content: Design: Run a spell check on your computer before anyone sees your resume. Get a friend to do a grammar review. Ask another friend to proofread. The more people who see your resume, the more likely that misspelled words and awkward phrases will be seen (and corrected). These tips will make your resume easier to read and/or scan into an employer's data base. Use white or off-white paper. Use 8-1/2- x 11-inch paper. Print on one side of the paper. Use a font size of 10 to 14 points. Use nondecorative typefaces. Choose one typeface and stick to it. Avoid italics, script, and underlined words. Do not use horizontal or vertical lines, graphics, or shading. Do not fold or staple your resume. If you must mail your resume, put it in a large envelope.

9 Use action words to describe your experience and accomplishments. Here are some actions words to use: achieved acquired adapted addressed administered analyzed anticipated assembled assisted audited budgeted calculated centralized changed collaborated composed condensed conducted constructed contracted converted coordinated created cultivated demonstrated designed developed devised discovered doubled drafted edited eliminated enforced established evaluated expanded explained forecasted formed founded generated guided hired implemented improved informed insured interpreted interviewed launched maintained managed marketed minimized motivated negotiated obtained operated organized originated oversaw performed planned prevented produced programmed promoted provided publicized published recruited reorganized reported researched resolved reviewed selected separated set up simplified solved surveyed staffed supervise taught tested trained used

10 Joseph A. Student 200 Fair Oaks Drive Johnstown, PA (814) OBJECTIVE: To secure a position as a lifeguard for experience related to Emergency Management. EDUCATION: Westmont Hilltop High School, Johnstown, PA Currently ranked 11 of 176 students GPA percent Member of the Westmont Hilltop Key Club Planning to study Health Administration. Current WORK EXPERIENCE: City View Restaurant Bus Boy June-Aug Bussed tables and set up buffets for City View Restaurant. Giant Eagle Clerk June-Aug Assisted customers; operated cash register; took phone orders. INTEREST/ACTIVITIES: Yearbook Football Foreign Language Club Key Club Basketball AWARDS RECEIVED: Honor Roll National Honor Society REFERENCES: Available on request

11 Here are the keys to writing successful (and dynamic) cover letters. Follow these simple rules and you should achieve success in this important phase of job-hunting. Don t ever send your resume without a cover letter. Do address your letter to a named individual. Don t use a sexist salutation, such as Gentlemen when answering a blind ad. Don t waste your first paragraph by writing a boring introduction. Use the first paragraph to grab the employer's attention; give the employer the reasons you are qualified for the position. Do send an original letter to each employer. Don t use such clichés as Enclosed please find my resume or As you can see on my resume enclosed herewith. Employers can see that your resume is enclosed; they don t need you to tell them. Such trite phrases just waste precious space. And don't use pleonasms (wordy phrases), which also waste space. Don t depend on the employer to take action. Request action. Request an interview, and tell the employer when you will follow up to arrange it. Then, Do So. It is imperative that you follow up. You will greatly increase your chances of getting interviews if you call the employer after writing instead of sitting back and waiting for a call. Those who wait for the employer to call them will generally have a long wait indeed. Don t send a cover letter that contains any typos, misspellings, incorrect grammar or punctuation, smudges, or grease from yesterday s lunch. Do use simple language and uncomplicated sentence structure. Ruthlessly eliminate all unnecessary words. Follow the journalist s credo: Write tight! Do write cover letters that are unique and specific to you. Do speak to the requirements of the job, especially when responding to an ad. Do keep your letter brief. Never, Never more than one page, and it s best to keep it well under a full page. Each paragraph should have no more than one to three sentences. Do tell the employer how you can meet his or her needs and contribute to the company. Do distinguish your cover letter from those of other job-seekers by quantifying and giving examples that amplify and prove the claims you make in your letter. Do try to answer the question that the employer will be asking while reading your letter: Why should I hire this person? Answer with your Unique Selling Proposition. Don t rehash your resume. You can use your cover letter to highlight the aspects of your resume that are relevant to the position, but you re wasting precious space -- and the potential employer s time -- if you simply repeat your resume. Do avoid negativity. Negativity never has a place in a cover letter. Do be sure the potential employer can reach you. Do use action verbs. Don't forget to personally sign the letter, preferably in blue ink. Do use ed cover letters, but keep them shorter and more concise. Note: You have a maximum of 20 seconds to wow the reader with your letter, so you better maximize its impact by making it dynamic!

12 First Paragraph Do not waste this opening paragraph of your cover letter. It is essential that your first paragraph sparks the employer s interest, provides information about the benefits the employer will receive from you, and helps you stand out from all the other job-seekers who want the job. Focus on your Unique Selling Proposition (USP) -- the one thing that makes you different from all the other job-seekers -- and identifying two or three benefits you can offer the employer. Weak opening paragraph: I am writing today to apply for the account manager position you have posted on your company Website. Better opening paragraph: I have increased the size and sales levels of my client base in every position I have held, which in turn has increased the revenues and profits of my employers. I want to bring this same success to the account position you have posted on your Website. Second Paragraph Provide more detail about your professional and/or academic qualifications. Provide more information about how you can provide the benefits you mention in the first paragraph. Be sure to stress accomplishments and achievements rather than job duties and responsibilities. Expand on specific items from your resume that are relevant to the job you are seeking. Use solid action verbs to describe your accomplishments and achievements. If you do not have a lot of solid experience in the field you are trying to enter, remember to focus on key skills that can easily transfer from your previous work experience to the job at hand. And if responding to a job posting or ad, be sure to tailor this paragraph to the needs described in the ad. Third Paragraph Relate yourself to the company, giving details why you should be considered for the position. Continue expanding on your qualifications while showing knowledge of the company. You need to do your homework -- show that you know something about the organization. Use the resources in our Guide to Researching Companies. Fourth Paragraph The final paragraph of your cover letter must be proactive -- and request action. You must ask for the job interview (or a meeting) in this paragraph. You must express your confidence that you are a perfect fit for the job. You must also put the employer on notice that you plan to follow-up within a specified time.

13 Weak closing paragraph: I hope you will review my resume, and if you agree with what I have stated here, consider me for the position. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Better closing paragraph: I am eager to help advance the success of your company, and I am convinced that we should arrange a time to meet. I will call your office in the next week to schedule an appointment. One last piece of advice: Follow-up is key, so plan on making some phone calls or sending some s. 1. Why is a cover letter necessary? A cover letter should always accompany your resume. Few employers will seriously consider a resume without a letter. A cover letter tells the employer exactly what kind of job you want to do and tailors your qualifications to that job. Frequently the job-seeker will see this line in a rejection letter: "We chose the candidate who provided the best fit with our needs." The cover letter is the way to show an employer how you fit the company's needs. Given the screening process, a cover letter may have as few as 20 seconds to grab an employer's attention. A well-written, interesting cover letter that opens a window on your personality has a much better chance of enticing the employer to interview you than a boring, formulaic one. 2. What are the biggest mistakes cover-letter writers make? Addressing the letter to "Dear Personnel Director," "To Whom It May Concern," "Dear Sir or Madam" (or worse, "Dear Sirs") instead of a named individual. The largest employer in Central Florida tosses cover letters in the circular file if they are not addressed to him personally. "To Whom It May Concern" shows the employer that you were not concerned enough to find out the name of the person with the hiring power. Telling the employer what the company can do for you instead of what you can do for the company. This mistake is particularly common among new college graduates and other inexperienced job-seekers. In most cases, employers are in business to make a profit. They want to know what you can do for their bottom line, not what they can do to fulfill your career dreams. Leaving the ball in the employer's court. Too many cover letters end with a line like this: "If you are interested in my qualifications, please call me." Proactive cover letters, in which the job-seeker requests an interview and promises to follow up with a phone call, are far more effective. 3. Which kind of cover letter will work best for me? The invited cover letter is a response to a want ad and can be tailored to the job requirements listed in the ad. This kind of cover letter is effective for the 20 percent of jobs that are publicly advertised.

14 The uninvited or cold-contact cover letter is usually part of a mass mailing and requires the job-seeker to do some homework to find out about each prospective recipient company. The uninvited letter is the best way to tap the "hidden" job market, where 80 percent of the jobs lurk. The referral cover letter, which uses name-dropping to get the employer's attention, is another excellent way to tap the hidden job market. When a mutual acquaintance tips you off to a job, you can use his or her name to your advantage in a cover letter: "Joseph Burns suggested I contact you about the opening you have in sales." 4. Can't I just mass-produce the same letter to all the companies for which I'm interested in working? Never -- unless you use word-processing equipment that enables you to personalize each letter and include at least one paragraph specifically revealing your knowledge about each company and how you can meet its needs. Nothing turns off an employer faster than getting a letter that looks like the same one everyone else is getting. Why bother to do a cover letter if you don't tailor it to the company and position you want? 5. What's the most important thing to include in the body of the letter? Your Unique Selling Proposition (USP). An advertising term, the USP is the one thing that makes you better qualified to do the job than anyone else. The USP should answer the question: "Why should I hire this person?" Want more? 6. What other approaches make a cover letter dynamic? You can visually call attention to your qualifications by underlining them, boldfacing them, or indenting them in a list with bullets. You can quantify to tell the employer how many employers you supervised, how many customers you handled, how much money you saved the company, and most importantly, by what percentage you increased sales or profits. You can demonstrate your creativity and potential for innovation by revealing one or two ideas for how you would improve the employer's operation or bottom line. 7. Should I include references in my cover letter? Unless an ad specifically requests references, they belong in the interview phase of the job search. Most companies won't check references until they become seriously interested in hiring a candidate. 8. How long should the letter be? Only in the rarest of circumstances should your letter be longer than a page, and considerably less than a page is best. About four paragraphs should do the trick. The first should grab attention, tell why you're writing, and reveal what you want to do for the

15 company. The second should introduce your Unique Selling Proposition. The third should further amplify your qualifications (without rehashing your resume). The last paragraph should ask for an interview, tell how you plan to follow up, and thank the employer for considering you. Answering an ad may require another paragraph or two to tailor your qualifications to the job requirements. Your letter should be not only fairly short, but also concise and pithy. Edit your letter mercilessly. Follow the journalist's credo: Write tight! Cut out all unnecessary words and jargon. Then go back and do it again. 9. What's the best way to make sure my cover letter is well-written and on target? If your time frame will allow it, put your cover letter down, and then pick it up a day or two later as though you were the prospective employer. Does it grab and hold your attention? Is it concise? Is it free of typos, misspellings, and grammatical errors? Is it interesting? If you were the employer, would you know what this job-seeker wants to do and why he or she is the best person to do it? Would you invite this job-seeker for an interview?

16 930 Highland Ave. State College, PA November 15, 2007 Mr. Gerard Berger Manager of Human Resources Allen Investments Inc Collins Ave. Philadelphia, PA Dear Mr. Berger: I am applying for the position of client account coordinator, which was advertised Aug. 4 with the career services center at The Pennsylvania State University. The position seems to fit very well with my education, experience, and career interests. According to the advertisement, your position requires excellent communication skills, computer literacy, and a B.S. degree in business, economics, or finance. I will be graduating from Penn State University this month with a B.S. degree in finance. My studies have included courses in computer science, management information systems, speech communications, and business writing. I understand the position also requires a candidate who is team- and detail-oriented, works well under pressure, and is able to deal with people in departments throughout the firm. These are skills I developed both in my course work and in my recent internship at Hunter & Katchur Finance Inc. in Boalsburg, Pa. My background and goals seem to match your requirements well. I am confident that I can perform the job effectively, and I am excited about the idea of working for a dynamic, nationally recognized investment management firm. If you would like to schedule an interview or otherwise discuss my interest in this position, please call me at (814) I will be available at your convenience. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Joseph A. Student

17 Here are the keys to successful interviewing. Follow these simple rules and you should achieve success. Do take a practice run to the location where you are having the interview -- or be sure you know exactly where it is and how long it takes to get there. Do your research and know the type of job interview you will be encountering. (See types of job interviews.) And do prepare and practice for the interview, but don't memorize or overrehearse your answers. (See some of the best collections of interview questions.) Do dress the part for the job, the company, the industry. And do err on the side of conservatism. If you're not sure, you should consider reading the article, When Job-Hunting: Dress for Success. Do plan to arrive about 10 minutes early. Late arrival for a job interview is never excusable. If you are running late, do phone the company. Do greet the receptionist or assistant with courtesy and respect. This is where you make your first impression. Don't chew gum during the interview. If presented with a job application, do fill it out neatly, completely, and accurately. Do bring extra resumes to the interview. (Even better, if you have a job skills portfolio, do bring that with you to the interview.) Don't rely on your application or resume to do the selling for you. No matter how qualified you are for the position, you will need to sell yourself to the interviewer. Do greet the interviewer(s) by title (Ms., Mr., Dr.) and last name if you are sure of the pronunciation. (If you're not sure, do ask the receptionist about the pronunciation before going into the interview. Do shake hands firmly. Don't have a limp or clammy handshake! Do wait until you are offered a chair before sitting. And do remember body language and posture: sit upright and look alert and interested at all times. Don't fidget or slouch. Don't tell jokes during the interview. Do make good eye contact with your interviewer(s). Do show enthusiasm in the position and the company. Don't smoke, even if the interviewer does and offers you a cigarette. And don't smoke beforehand so that you smell like smoke. And do brush your teeth, use mouthwash, or have a breath mint before the interview. Do avoid using poor language, slang, and pause words (such as "like," "uh," and "um"). Don't be soft-spoken. A forceful voice projects confidence. Do have a high confidence and energy level, but don't be overly aggressive. Don't act as though you would take any job or are desperate for employment. Do avoid controversial topics. Don't say anything negative about former colleagues, supervisors, or employers. Do make sure that your good points come across to the interviewer in a factual, sincere manner. Don't ever lie. Answer questions truthfully, frankly and succinctly. And don't over-answer questions.

18 Do stress your achievements. And don't offer any negative information about yourself. Don't answer questions with a simple "yes" or "no." Explain whenever possible. Describe those things about yourself that showcase your talents, skills, and determination. Give examples. Do show off the research you have done on the company and industry when responding to questions. (See the Guide to Researching Companies.) Don't bring up or discuss personal issues or family problems. Do remember that the interview is also an important time for you to evaluate the interviewer and the company she represents. Don't respond to an unexpected question with an extended pause or by saying something like, "boy, that's a good question." And do repeat the question out loud or ask for the question to be repeated to give you a little more time to think about an answer. Also, a short pause before responding is okay. Do always conduct yourself as if you are determined to get the job you are discussing. Never close the door on an opportunity until you are sure about it. Don't answer cell phone calls during the interview, and do turn off (or set to silent ring) your cell phone and/or pager. Do show what you can do for the company rather than what the company can do for you. Don't inquire about salary, vacations, bonuses, retirement, or other benefits until after you've received an offer. Be prepared for a question about your salary requirements, but do try and delay salary talk until you have an offer. (See salary tutorial for more tips and strategies.) Do ask intelligent questions about the job, company, or industry. Don't ever not ask any questions -- it shows a lack of interest. Do close the interview by telling the interviewer(s) that you want the job and asking about the next step in the process. (Some experts even say you should close the interview by asking for the job.) Do try and get business cards from each person you interviewed with -- or at least the correct spelling of their first and last names. And don't make assumptions about simple names -- was it Jon or John -- get the spelling. Do immediately take down notes after the interview concludes so you don't forget crucial details. Do write thank you letters within 24 hours to each person who interviewed you. (See sample thank-you letters.) And do know all the rules of following up after the interview. Appropriate attire is a must. The clothing you wear to your interview should make you look like you will fit in at your prospective employer. When in doubt, err on the side of conservatism, suggest the experts. Even if the company has a "business casual" dress policy, you're better off dressing a bit on the stuffy side than in taking a gamble only to find that your idea of casual doesn't match that of your prospective employer.

19 For Men Traditional business attire means a dark, conservative suit and a white, long-sleeved (even in summer), pressed dress shirt. Ties should be silk and coordinate well with the suit. Avoid flashy patterns on ties-the job interview isn't the time to prove how much of an individualist you are. If you wear an earring (or several), remove it before the interview. Face should be clean-shaven; facial hair should be neatly trimmed. Use cologne or aftershave sparingly. For Women Traditional business attire is a conservative suit or dress; those thigh-high skirt lengths won't cut it in the real business world. Avoid wearing jewelry and makeup that are showy or distracting. Forget the excessively long fingernails-they, too, are distracting. If you wear nail polish, make sure it's a subtle color and neatly done. Be moderate with perfume. Wear shoes you can walk in. For Everyone Avoid wearing too much cologne or perfume. Your hair should be clean and well-groomed. Shoes should be polished and coordinate with your suit or dress. An interview isn't a beauty contest, but how you dress and your overall appearance almost always get noticed by the interviewer. Don't give the interviewer a chance to rule you out because you didn't feel like ironing your shirt or polishing your shoes.

20 Are thank-you letters necessary? Given the fact that almost all job-hunting books advise sending a thank-you note after an interview, it is surprising how few job-seekers do so. A thank-you letter probably will not make the difference between getting the job and not getting the job, but if the employer is weighing two equally qualified candidates, the one who sends a thank-you note just might have the edge over the one who doesn't. It's common courtesy to thank the employer for taking time to interview you. The thank-you letter also enables you to amplify the positive aspects of your interview and, perhaps correct any negative aspects. Doesn't it come off as wimpy or even desperate to send a thank-you letter? Won't the employer think I'm sucking up? No. It's a very rare employer who isn't pleased to get a thank-you letter. Most consider it just common courtesy, a way to differentiate you from the pack, proof that you're really interested in the position, and a way to keep your name in front of them. Will a thank-you note make or break my chances of getting a job? Well, probably not in most cases, but it could. Why take the chance? One of my former students told me that after he was hired for his first job out of college, his boss told him that he had wavered between my student and another finalist for the position. But then the boss got a thank-you letter from my student, and it made all the difference. Because of that simple gesture, my student got the job. Should it be a typed business letter or a handwritten social note? Studies show it doesn't matter. The important thing is doing it. Tailor your letter to the culture of the company and the relationship you established with the person who interviewed you. If you feel the interviewer and the company call for a formal business letter, send that. If your rapport with the interviewer dictates a more personal touch, send a handwritten note. What about an ed thank you? Career experts are not in total agreement about the propriety of ing a thank you, but again, the company's culture should guide you. If people in the company use heavily, your ed thank you will seem right in step. It's also a fast solution if you know the company will be making its

21 hiring decision quickly. Even if fits in with the company culture, however, it's a good idea to follow up your ed thank you with a hard-copy version. So, if "just do it" is the byword, I don't have to put that much effort into it, right? Wrong. We've heard of candidates on the verge of being hired getting suddenly discounted from consideration because they sent sloppy, poorly written thank-you letters, riddled with typos, misspellings, and grammatical errors. Writing skills are important in many jobs, and employers don't want to have to teach candidates remedial skills. Spell-check, proofread, and have someone else read over your letter before you send it. Can I just borrow a sample thank-you letter from a book and adapt it to my interviewer? Well, "borrowing" is one thing. In fact I ve provided a sample letter to show what thank-you letters should look like. But be sure to borrow just the basic structure, and perhaps a few key phrases; don't plagiarize the whole thing. If I interview with several people, do I have to send a thank you to each one? That's the best approach. You can make it essentially the same letter to each, but vary a sentence or two to individualize the letters in case your recipients compare notes. How soon after your interview should you send a thank-you? The rule of thumb is to send it within 24 hours of the interview. Should I bother with a thank-you note if I know the hiring decision will probably be made sooner than I can mail a thank-you letter? The key word here is "mail." If mail is too slow for the hiring decision, find a faster way: , fax, air-express, or hand-delivery. In fact, if the interview was local, hand-delivery of the thank-you letter can make a super impression. What if I do receive an offer faster than I can send a thank you? Send it anyway to thank the employer for the interview and the offer. Your letter can also accept or decline the offer. An acceptance letter can re-state your understanding or the terms of the offer (salary, benefits, vacations days, starting date, paid training, etc.); that way any discrepancies can be red-flagged by the employer and straightened out before you start. Is there anything you can do to make an even better impression with your thank you? Find a way to personalize it. If you notice that the interviewer collects elephant figurines, for example, write your thank-you note on a note card with an elephant picture on it. Or send a clipping of an article you think the interviewer would be interested in.

22 Joseph A. Student 930 Highland Ave. State College, PA (814) Dr. Joan Nagle Technical Design Group Director Casey Engineering Systems Inc Gulick Road Charlotte, NC November 15, 2007 Dear Dr. Nagle: I want to thank you very much for interviewing me yesterday for the associate engineer position. I enjoyed meeting you and learning more about your research and design work. The interview strengthened my enthusiasm for the position and interest in working for Casey. I believe my education and cooperative education experiences fit nicely with the job requirements, and I'm certain I could make a significant contribution to the firm over time. I would like to reiterate my strong interest in the position and in working with you and your staff. You provide the kind of opportunity I seek. Please feel free to call me at the telephone number listed above if I can provide you with any additional information. Again, thank you for the interview and for your consideration. Sincerely, Joseph A. Student