Interview Etiquette: Write a Perfect Thank You Note

[Special thanks to intern Ceara Napolitano for contributing to this post.] After an interview, you may feel that your work impressing a potential employer is done. But you still need to follow up to stand out.
 

Read below to get helpful tips for post-interview follow-up success.

• Get names and contact info for your interviewer(s). Determine first and last names and email addresses for your interviewers. Don't be shy to ask them to repeat themselves or to take notes during introductions--you want to make sure to follow up with the right people later.
• Send an email within 24 hours of your interview. Always follow up with an email after interviewing. Don't send it from the parking lot (you want your interviewer to know you spent time crafting your message and absorbing info from the interview) but do send it within a day.
  Bonus Tip: Draft your note immediately following your interview so that the details of it are fresh in your mind.
• Express sincere thanks to your interviewer for taking the time to interview you. Be sure to include "thank you" in your thank you note! Let your interviewer know you appreciated his/her time and insight into the position and company. If he/she was particularly flexible, helpful or friendly, be sure to note it!
• Reiterate your interest in the position and restate your professional pitch based on the information you learned. Don't think of your note as "thanks" only; think of it as another opportunity to promote yourself for the position at hand. What did you learn at the interview that you didn't know before? Maybe you saw how bustling and cheerful the workspace looked, heard about a new project or key focus for your role, or learned that you went to the same university as your interviewer or potential boss. Take these details and build a newer, better case for why you would be a great fit.
  Bonus Tip: Keep your note short and sweet. While a thank you/follow-up note can be similar to a cover letter, it doesn't need to be as lengthy (a few paragraphs at most).
• Consider using snail mail. Sending a second, snail mail thank you note after an interview can make a double-impression! Use professional stationary (blank thank you notes come in packs of 10 - 20 at any drug store) and briefly restate the points from your email. A traditional thank you note reminds an interviewer about your candidacy a few days after your email when it arrives in the mail.

Questions about thank you notes, interviewing etiquette or the hiring process? Career Services helps with one-on-one appointments and helpful resources. Call our office at 512.245.2645 or visit www.careerservices.txstate.edu for more information.

Boost Your Job Search with Social Media

Social media can be a powerful job search tool. From Facebook and Twitter to LinkedIn and Blogger, there are lots of ways to stand out as a candidate online--but there are pitfalls, too.

Read below to get the inside scoop on tips to try (and mistakes to avoid) when dealing with potential employers and professional contacts on social media.

Social Media Do's

• Do create a LinkedIn profile.
  Sometimes referred to as "Facebook for professionals", LinkedIn enables you to keep track of and create new professional contacts, join groups associated with your geographic location, industry or school (like the Texas State University Career Services group!), and display your professional self in an easily searchable online database. For more LinkedIn tips, check out this article from career website Monster.com.
• Do think carefully about the platforms you'll use to connect professionally.
  Your American Idol-themed Twitter feed may not be appropriate for following professional contacts or companies. Similarly, you may not want your boss to have full access to your Facebook profile, where you frequently post pictures from the latest party and give heated opinions on the news stories of the day. Remember: Connecting professionally with an unprofessional profile is like showing up to an interview in flip-flops.
• Do lock down your privacy settings. Know which of your contacts can see what and be sure to keep regular tabs on privacy settings, which can change frequently.
• Do include social media in your job search strategy.
  Research a potential employer's social media presence and be ready to mention it during an interview. Follow job-posting Twitter feeds (see a whole list of helpful tools here) and Facebook pages (once you've cleaned up your page). Connect to past and present supervisors, coworkers, classmates, family, friends and colleagues on LinkedIn. Even if it's not a large part of your strategy, the social media search can add an "edge" to your traditional job search.

Social Media Don'ts

• Don't make unflattering/unprofessional information public.
  Those "funny" photos of you and your friends last Friday night? They're not presenting a professional image to a potential employer. Your publicly posted love messages to your significant other, angry new-age poetry and rant about your current job are not appropriate, either. Scrub your public online presence before you go on the job hunt. And speaking of ranting about your job...
• Don't diss coworkers, supervisors or your organization (present and past).
  Looking to vent about a tough week? Invite a friend for coffee, call your mom on the drive home, write an angry journal entry--anything but air your grievances all over social media. Speaking negatively about your boss, your work or (worst of all) your clients is a surefire way to get reprimanded or fired.
• Don't try to connect without context.
  If you're using Facebook, LinkedIn or another site to make a professional connection within your field, be sure to let your contact know how you got their name and why you're reaching out. Spamming fifty company employees with invitations to connect will not help you get hired, and may even hurt your chances. Check out this article outlining the keys to successful networking communications (it's about emails, but the same can be said for social media connections).
• Don't rely only on social media.
  While social media can play an important role in your job search, pay attention to the fundamentals--networking, resumes and cover letters, searching online, etc.--that make up a holistic approach.

Be sure to connect with Career Services on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Blogger and Pinterest! Have more questions about social media in the job search? Reach out to your Career Services college liaison or call our office at 512.245.2645 to set up an appointment with a career counselor.

Covering Your Cover Letter Bases

[Special thanks to intern Ceara Napolitano for contributing to this post.]
Cover letters can be a mysterious (and anxiety-inducing) part of the job search. What the heck goes into one? What stays out? Isn't it the same as the resume? And why is it required in the first place?

Follow the advice below to learn more and to help you hit your cover letter out of the park.

• Why should I write a cover letter? Often serving as the introduction to you (and your resume), a cover letter is a great time to market yourself and showcase your all-important communication skills to a potential employer. Think of it as the back cover of a book you're deciding whether to buy; the goal of the cover letter is to get your audience interested in reading more.
• How should I format my cover letter? The cover letter should be no longer than one page (closer to a half-page is better!). It should be composed in the same font and type size as your resume.
  
  Include the name and address of the organization to which you're sending your letter, the body of the letter, and a closing and signature at the end. The top of your letter might look something like this:
  
  
  
  The heading should include your contact's name and title (if you don't have a name or title, don't worry about it! Just list "Hiring Manager" or "Human Resources"), the company's name and address.
  
  If you can, address your cover letter to your contact (but don't stress over finding an exact name if it's not provided to you. Instead just write, "Dear Hiring Manager"). Be sure to date your letter. Bonus Tip: Use the same heading (containing your contact information) as your resume on your cover letter.
  
  The closing and signature of your cover letter might look like this:
  
  
  
  Be sure to include a polite closing ("Sincerely" is best, and avoid anything that sounds overly intimate or friendly), a signature and your contact information (no need to include it if it's already contained in your letter's header).
• What goes in the cover letter? The cover letter is meant to tell the employer why you're interested in the position and why you'd be great at it. To achieve this effect, use the following guidelines for four body paragraphs:
  
  

  1) Concise, to-the-point introduction. Get to the point quickly and preview your top qualifications. Be sure to mention the position and company by name. Example:
  
  As an experienced customer services representative and high-achieving student in the field of business, I'm excited to apply for the position of Sales Associate at ABC Company.
  
  2) Why I really, really (really!) want the job. Make the case by stating your interest in the company. Explain how you share their mission, gush over the exciting work they've been doing, and describe exactly what piques your interest in the job description. Example:
  
  I've long known about ABC Company's reputation as a field leader in x, y, and z, all areas on which I'm excited to focus my professional energy. Additionally, the people-oriented, client-centered nature of the position will enable me to utilize my years of high-touch customer service experience.
  
  3) Why I'd be really, really (really!) good at it. What do you bring to the table? Don't parrot your resume; do tell a compelling, professional story about your greatest accomplishments and most relevant skills. Example:
  
  The 5+ years I've spent in customer service (in both small boutique and large retail settings) prepares me well to work with clients from diverse backgrounds. And through my bachelor's of business administration, I've excelled both in and out of the classroom, gaining a 3.7 GPA and leading the Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) student organization as its first sophomore president. Last semester, I led my group to its highest earnings in the club's past 4 years by doing x, y and z. Additionally, my experience with x...
  
  4) Steps for follow up. Thank them for their time, and offer simple steps for following up. Don't tell them you'll call them if you don't hear back--the ball's in their court now.
  
  Thank you for taking the time to consider my application. I can be reached at xxx-xxx-xxxx or xxxx@xx.com. I am available for a start date of x, and I look forward to hearing from you.

• Where do I go from here? Revise, rinse, repeat! Tailor your cover letter to each position and industry to which you apply, and get as many eyes on it as possible. With a little bit of practice, you'll be sure to hit a homerun.

For more information about cover letters, click here to view the Career Services handout, or contact your college liaison for more information about cover letters, resumes and more in your field.