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winning at interviews
Re-readingtherésuméaswellasthecoveringletterisimportant.
Ensurethatthereisnoerror.
Properly attach your résumé to the covering letter. The letter
shouldbeonthetop.Neverusepaperclipsorpaperpins.Always
neatlystapleitonthetopleft-handside.
Indicate atthe end of yourcoveringletter that the résumé has
beenenclosed,usingtheabbreviationasfollows:Encl:a/a(that
is,asabove)
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,
becauseitwillarriveafterthemainoodofapplicationshasbeen
receivedand scanned, and will stand a betterchance of being
short-listed.Secondly,itwillnotgivetheimpressionthatyouare
eagerlylookingforachange.
Alwaysuseanappropriatesizeofenvelopeandensurethatthe
contentsdonottouchthegluedpart.
Ensurethatminimumfoldsaremade.Forthisitisbettertousea
largecommercial-sizeenvelope.
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 oen 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 aer
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 qualications
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 qualications and qualities.
M10_THOR8841_03_XX_C10.indd 237 27/07/11 1:42 PM
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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. Aer all,
you are now writing to somebody you’ve met and who, presumably,
has gotten to know you pretty well. ere are good examples of some
follow-up sample letters below:
105,ShastriMarg
LICBuilding
Lucknow 8July,1999
CorporatePersonnelManager
FoodProductsLimited
10Plaza,NewDelhi
DearMrChawla
Thankyouforgrantingmeaninterviewyesterdayforthepositionof
ChiefAccountsManager.
Iamverymuchinterestedinworkingforyourorganization.Iappreci-
atethecarefulconsiderationyouaregivingtomyapplication.
Yourssincerely,
M10_THOR8841_03_XX_C10.indd 238 27/07/11 1:42 PM
239
how to apply for a job?
216Society-32,
RampuraMarg,
Amritsar,Punjab 14July2005
ChiefManager,HR
AartiLabPvt.Ltd.
G.T.Road,Jalandhar
Punjab
DearMrMahajan,
I appreciate the opportunity to be interviewed at your hospital on
Monday, 11th July, 2005. The tour of the facilities and conversa-
tionswithAartiLab’s staffgave me a clearoverviewoftheroleof
technologistsatyourfacility.Inparticular,Iwasimpressedwiththe
state-of-the-artequipmentinAartiLab’slaboratoriesandtheexciting
medicalresearchthatisbeingconductedthere.
Theentireexperiencehasconrmedmydesireforemploymentasa
medicaltechnologistwithAartiLab.Myinternshipasalabassistant,
alongwithmymicrobiologyandchemistrycoursework,hasprepared
mewellforthisposition.Basedonmyinterview,IthinkIwouldtin
wellwithAartiLab’sstaff.
Thankyouagainfortheexperienceofgettingtoknowyourorganiza-
tionbetter.IwouldwelcometheopportunitytoworkforAartiLabPvt
Ltd.,andIlookforwardtohearingfromyouinthenexttwoweeks.
Yourssincerely,
M10_THOR8841_03_XX_C10.indd 239 27/07/11 1:42 PM
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winning at interviews
7112,Sec35-E,
Chandigarh,160035 12January2005
DirectorofHumanResources
ClearlineSystems
155,MerramandalTowers
RajinderMarg,NewDelhi110001
DearMrNair,
Thank you for the opportunity to interview me for the position of
SeniorSystemAnalyst.IenjoyedmeetingyouandMrVivekKackria
andlearningmoreaboutDistinguishedFidelity.
Yourorganizationappearstobegrowinginatrackthatmatchesmy
interestsandcareergoals.Theinterviewwithyouconrmedmyinitial
positiveimpressionsofClearlineSystems,andIwanttoreiteratemy
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
throughyouremploymentprogramandbecomeaproductivemember
ofyourresearchteam.
Again,thankyouforyourconsideration.Ifyouneedanyadditional
informationfromme,pleasefeelfreetocall.
Yourstruly,
cc:MrVivekKackria
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.
It’s 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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