Hannah Morgan

Thank You Goes A Long Way

I had a job seeker ask yesterday if he should send a thank you letter for his first interview, even though he has a second interview lined up.  Anyone want to guess what my answer was? 

ALWAYS send a thank you.  Even if you get a rejection.  Thank you goes a long way. Remember, managing your career is about managing relationships.  Do you think you would want to know this person who makes hiring decisions to remember you?

Three simple paragraphs are all you need:

Opening

The opening can be where you initially say thank you.  Try and grab them by saying something nice about them or their company or the people you met or the job.  Flattery, when sincere, is a good thing.

Relevant Points

This paragraph can be used to connect the dots for the employer about why you are a great fit for the job, be specific but precise.  Use intelligence you gathered from the interview.   If you fumbled a question or you think you could give a better answer, this should be where you tackle it.

Closing

Your closing paragraph will thank them again and make reference to the next steps.

Will you email this or send it snail mail?  That depends on the time frame for the next steps and who you are sending it to.  There is nothing wrong with sending a brief email and then following it up with a hard copy in the mail.

Most Hiring Managers or recruiters will tell you that they receive very few thank you letters.  Some say fewer than 5% of job seekers send thank yous.  It is an easy way to set yourself apart and sell your interest in the position. 

I know you want to see samples so here are two resources I respect:

Quintessential Careers Sample Thank You Letters

Alison Doyle's About.com Thank You Letter Samples

Do You Miss the Windows of Opportunity?

It's been said one million times that networking is about building relationships. Period.  The more people we actually know, the bigger our sphere of influence and the odds are greater of finding the information we are looking for. 

Don't be blind to potential opportunities to meet new people or acquire new information.  If someone has a name they are willing to provide, ask how they know the person, why they think it would be helpful for you to speak with them and either ask for an introduction or contact information.  Then, follow up!

In workshops, I have had to stop on occasion to educate someone on how to do this.  Here are some open doors that were missed, until I stepped in:

• My wife works at that company you are interviewing with. No response. (slap goes Hannah)
• I used to work at the company you are interested in. No response. (Slap from Hannah)
• Have you looked into jobs at XYZ company? "No".  (Slap again from Hannah)
• I know someone at that company. "I do too". (Slap)
• There is a job over at XYZ company you might be interested in.  "I've already applied there, they have my resume".  (Slap)
• End of workshop.  All leave.  No conversation/connection.  (Slap)

It is easy to get tunnel vision and I know how important focus is, however, if a window or door opens, don't ignore it. 

25 Signs That You Need Serious Help with Your Search

Perhaps it takes an innocent by-stander or someone with outside perspective to see what might possibly be the problem with your job search.  Here's a checklist of signs that your search needs help:

1. You've been attending a networking group for over a month and you still don't know the names of people.
2. You have had more than 10 first interviews and zero second interviews.
3. When people offer suggestions, you tell them why they won't work for you.
4. You don't have a LinkedIn account.
5. You believe and state out loud the reason you aren't getting a job is because you are too old or too inexperienced.
6. Your father tells you that the Hess Mart is hiring.
7. When people ask what you are looking for you say "A JOB".
8. Your resume has been sent to over 20 job postings and no one has called you.
9. It has been recommended that you change your elevator pitch, but you don't.
10. You believe that the job market is the reason you can't find a job.
11. You've said more than once, there aren't any good paying jobs.
12. You keep applying for jobs at the same company and aren't getting interviews.
13. You believe that recruiters are looking for jobs for you.
14. You've been told your salary requirements are too high more than once.
15. 20 hours a week is all you can spend looking for a job.
16. You've got a collection of business cards but can't remember where you met the people.
17. You've been given a contact name and don't follow up immediately.
18. You believe you are entitled to collect unemployment for as long as the benefits last.
19. You can only name 2-3 companies you would like to work for next.
20. You believe in being perfectly honest.
21. You believe the best time to apply for jobs on-line is between 9-5.
22. You can't network because you don't know anyone.
23. You've run out of people to talk to about your search
24. You don't want anyone to know you are looking for a job.
25. You know who'll be on Oprah tomorrow afternoon.

All of these are real answers I've heard.  Some I share to make you laugh, some are meant to make you mad and some are meant to make you think.

There's No Magic Bullet for Finding a Job

Job Search is a process that requires discipline, persistence and hard work.  There is no single magic solution to finding a job.  Engaging in a series of productive activities is your best bet.

My hunch is that people think being on Twitter, LinkedIn or Facebook will net them a job.  These tools alone won't land you a job.  I just read that a huge number of people quit Twittering after a month.  Why?  It doesn't result in a job? It takes weeks to break and develop a habit.  Create a new habit of pro-actively promoting your talents.

Discipline for job search:

Commit to spending at least 35 hours (but not more than 50 hours) a week in these activities:

• Applying for jobs on-line

• Developing relationships with recruiters
• Directly approaching employers from your target list
• Networking

Persistence is Required:

Not only is it important to follow-up with each job posting and contact you make, it is also critical that you maintain your momentum in the above-listed activities.  In the world of sales, there is a ramp up time, usually three months.  So, you probably aren't going to see immediate results from your Twittering, or other activities.  Maybe recalibrating what you are expecting will make this easier.  Don't give up. 

Hard Work:

Hard work means developing a strategy for how you will consistently and constantly get your name out there. If you already had a huge and active network, job search wouldn't be as hard.  You see, if you knew a lot of people and they knew you, it would be easy to pick up the phone and start calling your network who would begin spreading the news of your availability. Even those people with a large network are having a hard time of it today.    Cultivating and nurturing your network is one of the most important career management principles.  Never stop, especially after you land a job.

Follow-up Tactics

After you have applied for a job you must place a phone call to follow-up.  There is no waiting period required because the purpose of your call is to find out where they are in the review process and what the time-frame is for bringing someone on-board.   Once you have this really important information and you have shown a little empathy towards them, they will be much more likely to help you when you ask if they received your resume. I did business to business telemarketing for several years and learned how to work my way around tough "gatekeepers" and voicemail. Here are some reminders:

• Please don't leave voicemail message after voicemail message.
  That's very passive.  You may feel you have done your part, however, to the person receiving these messages, you become an annoyance.
• Try calling at different times of the day.
  If they are not answering their phone, which many people do not,then try calling around 8 am, 12 pm and/or 5 pm.  These are typically times of day when people will be at their desk or at least not in a meeting. 
• Ask for help.
  If you continue to go into voicemail, try hitting "0" or "#" to speak with a warm body who can help you. Ask for their help and find out when your contact may be reached.  Are they even in the office today?  Ask nice questions in a nice way and usually people will assist.
• If all else fails, let them know you called.
  Once you have tried all these different approaches and still aren't getting the person live, then, leave a very short message with your name, briefly stated reason for calling, telephone number and state that you will call back tomorrow.

I know this is difficult.  You need to keep the control in your hands as much as possible.  Waiting for someone to return your call is frustrating.  That's why you won't ever ask them to call you back.  They don't have to or need to.  You are the one looking for a job, therefore, it is your responsibility to try and reach them.