2
Apr, 2020

Interview, Thank You Letter

Email Thank You Letter

Dear Mr. Smith:

Thank you for taking the time to speak with me. I enjoyed meeting on Wednesday, April 1, 2020 at 10:00 am and learning more about the Web Developer position at McKenzie Development.

Our conversation confirmed my interest in becoming a team member of McKenzie Development Web Development Team. I was especially excited about the ability of implementing my own code to develop sites and applications Joomla!3. The CMS Platform Joomla!3 is a great tool and know it well as my last project was all in that that platform.

I am very eager to at the prospect of joining your team and leveraging my knowledge and experience to help with any your needs at McKenzie Development. Please let me know if you have any question and could provide you with any further questions. I look forward to hearing from you, and thank you again for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,
Melissa Rose
(919) 555-1212

1
Apr, 2020

L10 | Thank You Letter

Lesson 10 – The Thank You Letter

Make sure to send a thank you letter to all the people you interviewed with.  Additionally, send your letters within twenty-four hours of your interview. After completing an interview, make sure the follow up with a thank-you letter.  The letter is not optional. It is expected and a major part of the interviewing process.  If the job selection comes down to two candidates, the job will most likely go to the person who followed up with a letter.  In addition to making a great impression, the thank you letter serves several purposes:

  • It reminds the employer that you are a great candidate and reiterates your capabilities.
  • It demonstrates your strong communication skills and writing ability.
  • It provides follow up with any information you told the interviewer you would get back to them on.
  • It redresses any questions that you did not answer fully and clearly or would like to elaborate on.

The format of the cover letter should follow a standard business letter style and include the following information:

  1. Top of your letter:
    • Contact information
    • Date
    • Company’s address
    • Greeting
  2. Opening Paragraph:
    • Thank the interviewer for their time
    • Remind the interviewer of the date and the position you interviewed for
    • Reiterate your interest in the position
  3. Second Paragraph:
    • This paragraph should contain information specific to your interview and how you fit the job.  Consider one of the following for the paragraph:
      • Discuss a point that you forgot to mention of did not cover well in the interview and relate it to the job requirements.
      • Bring up something (job related) discussed during the interview and share your enthusiasm for the topic.
      • Discuss the strong rapport you felt with the interviewer or team (be confident that the feeling is mutual before discussing this).
      • Discuss your ability to fill the company’s immediate needs.
  4. Last Paragraph:
    • Sum up your letter by showing appreciation for the employers time, reiterating your interest in the position, and indicating that you look forward to hearing from them.
  5. Signature:
    • Make sure to sign the letter with either a ‘Thank you’ or ‘Sincerely.’  If mailing the letter, type your name and sign above your type-written name.  If emailing, it is not necessary to physically sign it, however be sure to include your name and maintain a professional business format.
10
Mar, 2020

Getting the Job

Preparing for the job interview

Preparing for the job interview

You’ve been called into a job interview.  An interviewer has expressed interest your resume and cover letter and would now like to interview you.  What do you do to ace the interview?  The first thing is to research the company and figure out how you fit into the company’s needs. Some information you should know includes:

  • What is the company’s specialty?
  • Who are their clients (past and present)?
  • What is their target market?
  • What is there to know about the department you will be working in?
  • Who are the company’s competitors and what are their strengths and weaknesses?

Your Appearance

Whether we like it or not, we are often judged by our appearance, and we do not get a second chance to make a first impression   It is important to dress appropriately for a job interview.  Knowing how to dress in a creative field can be tricky.  As creative people, many employers expect some eccentricity, however you should still try to fit into the corporate culture. When in doubt, it’s better in overdress than under-dress   You will never lose a job for overdressing.  A suit and tie in a casual environment will demonstrate that you’re serious about the job.  Being under dressed however, will suggest that you’re not serious about the job.

Things to Bring to an Interview

  1. Resume: Bring several extra copies of your resume as there may be several people interviewing you.
  2. Job Application Information: You may be asked to fill in a job interviewer  so bring any relevant information including graduation dates, work start and end dates, etc.
  3. List of references: Bring at least three references. Make sure the people listed know you will be listing them.  Make sure they are professional references and not friends and family. 
  4. Pen and Paper: You may need to take notes.
  5. Portfolio / Demo DVD: Bring a bring version of your portfolio, mounted properly and cleanly.  If your work is dynamic (i.e websites, programming, games, etc.), bring a copy of your digital portfolio.
  6. List of questions: Prepare a list of questions to cover during the interview if you have any.

The Interview

 Your first impression will set the tone for your interview, therefore, you must present yourself as a professional.

  • Arrive the to fifteen minutes early.
  • Be courteous.
  • Be patient (make sure your cell phone is off).
  • Presentation (be prepared and look organized.  Keep an organizer with your resume, references, etc.)
  • Etiquette (be prepared for a handshake, but let the interviewer extend their hand first.)
  • Respect (Address the interviewer by their last name (Mr. or Ms.).  Wait to be asked to sit.
  • During the interview:
    • Let the interviewer set the tone.
    • Keep your answers direct and to the point.
    • Provide examples o your experience (relate interview scenarios to previous experience).
    • Ask questions when given the opportunity.
  • End the interview with the same respect as you started with.
  • Send a thank you letter.
  • Follow up.  Send a courteous and but brief followup if you have not heard back withing 10 business days.

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