56. Thanks is not
enough.
Don't let anyone convince you that employers don't care about
thank-you notes after job interviews. Good business people value courtesy
and follow-up. But you can take a thank-you note a step
further: fill it with help and expertise.
For example:
"Thanks for the
stimulating discussion. Each time we talk, I'm more intrigued and
excited about the prospect of working with you. I thought you
might be interested in this article I ran across. It's on the
subject of xyz, and I think some of these ideas could be applied
to the challenge you're facing that we discussed in our meeting.
Best regards."
On the clipping,
handwrite "To: [manager's first and last name]" and
"From: [your first and last name and phone number]".
Mark up two or three relevant passages in the article, and include
one or two short notes in the margin. Be careful: your comments must
be relevant to the discussions you had, and they must
provide useful information to the manager. This must not
appear mindless.
Thank-you notes from
other candidates will get tossed out. Your clipping will likely
stay on the manager's desk. It may even get routed to others on
the manager's team, if it's really useful.
Including a relevant
clipping emphasizes your focus on something you and the employer
have in common -- the work you both do. And, it points out that
you're in touch with the issues. The tone of your note emphasizes
that you're a peer, not just some job hunter who dropped in off
the street. Be respectful but not overly formal. Address the
manager as though he's your boss, not an interviewer.
Like your boss, an
employer wants your expertise and your help. Thanks is not enough.
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