You probably wouldn't be surprised to learn nearly all job seekers fail to re-contact the company upon being rejected. Before you join the ranks of the rejected don't give up so easily. Beating out your competition means doing those things your competitors fail to do.
Of course, I'm not speaking of pie-in-the-sky things, but rather practical, down-to-earth activities that can sometimes produce surprising results. I'm also referring to activities that take up very little of your time; activities whose rewards far exceed the effort required to do them.
Think about giving the interviewer a call after you've been rejected. You may rest assured he or she won't be expecting one. There are a number of very good, logical reasons why you should employ this tactic. Get in the habit of calling after you've been rejected. It only takes a few minutes, but the results can be great.
When you call following an unsuccessful interview, guess whose name will be foremost in the decision maker's mind if:
- The person selected rejects the offer?
- The person selected doesn't work out?
- Another similar opening should suddenly surface?
- The employer receives a call from a business acquaintance or recruiter looking for someone with your type of experience?
Don't forget to ask the employer if he or she:
- Would be kind enough to suggest another company or person you should be contacting?
- Minds if you use his or her name?
- Would be willing to call ahead to pave your way?
Believe me, no matter what reason an employer has to unexpectedly fill an opening, the employer does all he or she can to avoid the bother associated with interviewing. You have got to be right there in the wings waiting, and he or she has to know that you are there.
You must make every effort to be Johnny-on-the-Spot. You won't be Johnny-on-the-Spot if you don't try to place yourself in the spotlight.
Use the phone to make the initial contact. Then, follow up with a brief letter. Thank the employer for her time, courtesy, and valuable suggestions. Tell her:
- You hope she will keep you in mind for future openings.
- You hope she won't mind should you re-contact her somewhere "down the line."
- You will let her know how your search is going.
- You have contacted someone she suggested might help you.
- You have updated your resume and would appreciate her critique of it.
Finally, wait a couple of weeks and call back yet again "just in case" there might have been an unexpected development.
Guidelines for Writing Great Cover Letters
Follow these guidelines and you will greatly increase your ability to write successful cover letters. Refer to them-especially when you are writing your first dozen or so letters. Make them second nature. Even when you become good at it, look them over now and then to be certain you're maintaining high standards.
- Keep it brief. Three to five short paragraphs. No more than one page. (Except perhaps for mini-proposals.)
- Be concise. Use the twenty-to-ten rule. "Never say in twenty words what can be said in ten." Use as few multi-syllable words as possible.
- Write as you normally speak, but delete "that" whenever possible. See if "that" is really needed. Also strive to minimize the "you's." Be direct. Use plain English.
- Be targeted. Direct your attention to the decision maker by name and title. Strive to meet the given or perceived job requirements. When you cannot meet a requirement, either ignore it or cite a suitable replacement.
- No "weasel" words. Do not "think", "feel", "hope", or "believe" that you can do the job. Be positive. Be assertive. Say, "I can...", "I have...", "I am...", "I will..." Omit "however", "although", "but", "while" and "nevertheless".
- Use correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
- Minimize the "I's"-especially as paragraph lead-ins. Also, for appearance's sake, don't end a line with a lonely hanging letter such as an "I" or an "a."
- Use an attractive format. Invite reading. Leave plenty of white space. Use bullets if possible, but avoid using so many that you "machine gun" the reader.
- Use nice paper-off-white is suggested. Use the same letterhead for your cover letter that you do for your resume. Match your resume, cover letter, and envelope.
- Use clean type. No erasures. No type-overs. No white-outs.
- Follow the W3SP formula: Introductory Paragraph-WHO you are writing the letter to. Paragraph one-WHY you are writing. Paragraph two and possibly three-SALES PITCH. Paragraph four-state WHAT you would like to happen, or what the reader can expect to happen, next.
- Sleep on it. If you can, put it away for a day or two, and then read it again. Try to be objective. Would you be motivated to act if you received this letter?
- Read it aloud to a third party. Does he or she understand what you are saying? Are questions raised? Does it flow? Does it sound like you talking?
- Sell. Sell. Sell. Use quantifiers if possible: dollars, numbers, and percentages. Tell what you can do to appreciably enhance the bottom line, to make life easier for your prospective boss. And, if possible, how soon you will make this contribution.
Summary
The cover letter introduces the resume. It is the appetizer before the entree. Can your appetizer be devoured, pleasurably, within five to seven seconds? That's about how much time busy supervisors devote to such mail. This is especially true if they haven't advertised an opening. Will your letter make the reader look forward to the delicacies that await him or her?
Don't overlook using motivating letters to spur reluctant "hot" prospects into action. Just be careful to be diplomatic. No one likes to be backed into a corner and faced with an "or else" situation. If your letter projects such a tone, your goose is cooked; better not to have written.
Don't be afraid to create a letter to meet a particular need or situation. You just have to remember to keep it short, to the point, and to sell yourself. If you have given a position your best shot without obtaining results, isn't it better to try for it just one more time before giving up? What have you got to lose?
