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The Follow-up Letter
By Edward A. Denison
Another piece of the ?getting hired? puzzle is the follow-up. Of course, in the interview, just before you departed, and thanked them for their time, and again mentioned that you are very interested in the position, you will have asked when the decision will be made re the hiring, and the most convenient time to phone in and get the status of your interview results. Within 24 hours, or sooner, you will have sent a thank you card showing appreciation for them seeing you and the time spent. So, what?s next?
Your follow-up letter. This could be what sets you apart from other candidates. It could give you the edge and land you a job, so put some thought and effort into what you say.
To Send or Not to Send -- does it really make a difference?
A story for your consideration ?
Catherine was looking for a business analyst to fill a position that had been open for weeks. She was eager to hire but wanted the right person for the job. She had narrowed the field to three candidates: Jim, Kelly and Steven.
She had responded to their interest and had promised to call them by Friday. On Wednesday afternoon she was still vacillating. Each had a strength she was looking for, but each also had some issues that made her hesitate.
Jim had held several jobs in the last few years. Would he stick around for the tough times ahead?
Kelly was ambitious but didn't have the necessary experience interacting with difficult people.
Steven was the quiet type who hadn't revealed enough for her to learn what he could offer, particularly in terms of interfacing with other departments and working under pressure.
When Catherine opened her 42 emails that morning, she glanced over them and thought she saw Jim's name, but didn't take the time to read his email.
She also had 17 voice mails. There was one from Kelly, but she only listened long enough to hear that she was thanking her for the interview. She hadn't heard from Steven.
That afternoon, with a good strong cup of tea, and her favorite shortbread cookies, Catherine closed her door. She was going to catch up on the paperwork piles on her desk and on the IN basket before making a decision regarding the business analyst position.
First, she opened her mail.
In the pile was a letter from Steven. It caught her attention because of the obvious thought that had gone into its composition, so she took the time to read on:
Dear Catherine,
Choosing the right candidate is not an easy task. I know, because I have been in your shoes before.
Based on our interview, I have done some thinking about the position and how I could bring added value to your organization and address some of the problems you discussed.
There was a spreadsheet included, containing issues Steven had picked up during the interview. He not only identified problems, but also showed how he could create solutions based on past experience. As Catherine read the letter, she became intrigued and liked what she saw. This guy not only heard the issues, but had also done some thinking and analysis. He looked beyond what was said in the interview, and this was a trait she was seeking. She would want to talk with him again, very soon.
Moral?
Don't assume the interviewer will remember everything that you have said or still has an accurate picture of who you are. When a number of candidates are interviewed and compared, some of the highlights become a blur and what you hoped would be considered and remembered about you may be lost or forgotten.
The follow-up letter is more than a nice way of saying, "Thank you for the interview."
Take advantage of this second chance to promote yourself. It is one more opportunity to tell them what you can do for them, not what they can do for you
Summary
- Follow-up letters can often be a tiebreaker.
- Email and voice-mail are for herds. You want to stand out.
- Get attention by following up the old-fashioned way.
- This is one more chance to market yourself.
