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winning at interviews
Re-readingtherésuméaswellasthecoveringletterisimportant.
Ensurethatthereisnoerror.
Properly attach your résumé to the covering letter. The letter
shouldbeonthetop.Neverusepaperclipsorpaperpins.Always
neatlystapleitonthetopleft-handside.
Indicate atthe end of yourcoveringletter that the résumé has
beenenclosed,usingtheabbreviationasfollows:Encl:a/a(that
is,asabove)
or
Encl:Résumé
Do not send your application on the same day on which the
advertisement has appeared. It is always better to send the
application three to four days after the advertisement, rstly,
becauseitwillarriveafterthemainoodofapplicationshasbeen
receivedand scanned, and will stand a betterchance of being
short-listed.Secondly,itwillnotgivetheimpressionthatyouare
eagerlylookingforachange.
Alwaysuseanappropriatesizeofenvelopeandensurethatthe
contentsdonottouchthegluedpart.
Ensurethatminimumfoldsaremade.Forthisitisbettertousea
largecommercial-sizeenvelope.

You have had the interview with the prospective employer. One more
short letter, to thank your prospective employer for the interview,
may be the one that proves to be the clincher; it serves as a reminder
of your qualities and the initial impression the interviewer had
formed of you.
MYTH: Use template-driven letters formats
to write the covering letters.
FACT: Personalized letters that tell something
about you and your personality are crucial. Never
send out form letters. Employers can identify form letters as
such. Form letters give a bad impression and can derail a candi-
date’s opportunity. So, when you write a covering letter on paper
or email, just personalize them.
M10_THOR8841_03_XX_C10.indd 236 27/07/11 1:42 PM
237
how to apply for a job?
A follow-up thank-you letter to the interviewer is an important step
in the interviewing process, one that candidates oen forget to take.
Sending such a letter is not only proper business etiquette, but it also
makes you stand out from the other candidates competing for the
same position. Write your thank-you letter as soon as possible aer
the interview.
So, you writing a thank you note for the interview may be the extra
that gets the job for you. Be alert enough to remember the name of
the person who conducted the interview and his correct title, and
your thank-you letter must be addressed to him only.

Your thank-you letter can be typed in a business letter format or
handwritten using a pre-printed thank you note. e letter or note
should express appreciation for the opportunity to be interviewed, to
tour the facilities, to meet other employees, etc. You might also want
to write about the following:
Mention the day of your interview and the position for which
you were interviewed.
Express continued interest in the position and the company.
Re-emphasize your most important skills and qualications
and how you expect to contribute to the organization.
Include any information you forgot to mention in the inter-
view if necessary, but be brief.
Close your letter with a comment about future contact with
the employer.
MYTH: Keeping length of letters to single
page is not good idea. You should use the
opportunity to put your best foot forward. Talk
at length about yourself in the letter.
FACT: Write clearly and concisely. Letters, like résumés, only
present the most critical information. Wait until the job interview
to further expand on your qualications and qualities.
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238
winning at interviews
e letter should not only express your gratitude for the chance to be
considered for the position, but, it should, just like the initial cover
letter you sent, emphasize one of your key strengths. It should also
mention something you or the interviewer said. Most importantly,
the follow-up letter should let the “real you” show through. Aer all,
you are now writing to somebody youve met and who, presumably,
has gotten to know you pretty well. ere are good examples of some
follow-up sample letters below:


105,ShastriMarg
LICBuilding
Lucknow 8July,1999

CorporatePersonnelManager
FoodProductsLimited
10Plaza,NewDelhi
DearMrChawla
Thankyouforgrantingmeaninterviewyesterdayforthepositionof
ChiefAccountsManager.
Iamverymuchinterestedinworkingforyourorganization.Iappreci-
atethecarefulconsiderationyouaregivingtomyapplication.
Yourssincerely,

M10_THOR8841_03_XX_C10.indd 238 27/07/11 1:42 PM
239
how to apply for a job?


216Society-32,
RampuraMarg,
Amritsar,Punjab 14July2005

ChiefManager,HR
AartiLabPvt.Ltd.
G.T.Road,Jalandhar
Punjab
DearMrMahajan,
I appreciate the opportunity to be interviewed at your hospital on
Monday, 11th July, 2005. The tour of the facilities and conversa-
tionswithAartiLab’s staffgave me a clearoverviewoftheroleof
technologistsatyourfacility.Inparticular,Iwasimpressedwiththe
state-of-the-artequipmentinAartiLab’slaboratoriesandtheexciting
medicalresearchthatisbeingconductedthere.
Theentireexperiencehasconrmedmydesireforemploymentasa
medicaltechnologistwithAartiLab.Myinternshipasalabassistant,
alongwithmymicrobiologyandchemistrycoursework,hasprepared
mewellforthisposition.Basedonmyinterview,IthinkIwouldtin
wellwithAartiLab’sstaff.
Thankyouagainfortheexperienceofgettingtoknowyourorganiza-
tionbetter.IwouldwelcometheopportunitytoworkforAartiLabPvt
Ltd.,andIlookforwardtohearingfromyouinthenexttwoweeks.
Yourssincerely,

M10_THOR8841_03_XX_C10.indd 239 27/07/11 1:42 PM
240
winning at interviews


7112,Sec35-E,
Chandigarh,160035 12January2005

DirectorofHumanResources
ClearlineSystems
155,MerramandalTowers
RajinderMarg,NewDelhi110001
DearMrNair,
Thank you for the opportunity to interview me for the position of
SeniorSystemAnalyst.IenjoyedmeetingyouandMrVivekKackria
andlearningmoreaboutDistinguishedFidelity.
Yourorganizationappearstobegrowinginatrackthatmatchesmy
interestsandcareergoals.Theinterviewwithyouconrmedmyinitial
positiveimpressionsofClearlineSystems,andIwanttoreiteratemy
strong interest in working for you. My prior experience as systems
trainee at Punjab Infotech, Chandigarh, plus as system analyst at
Business Solutions, Chennai, would enable me to progress steadily
throughyouremploymentprogramandbecomeaproductivemember
ofyourresearchteam.
Again,thankyouforyourconsideration.Ifyouneedanyadditional
informationfromme,pleasefeelfreetocall.
Yourstruly,

cc:MrVivekKackria

You should send a follow-up thank-you letter even if you do not want
the job. If this is the case, let the interviewer know in your thank-you
letter. Ask the interviewer to keep you in mind for any positions with
the company that might be available in the future.

Its perfectly acceptable for you to inquire about the status of the
position. Have they filled it? Do they expect to reach a decision
M10_THOR8841_03_XX_C10.indd 240 27/07/11 1:42 PM

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