If you are looking for work in today's world, your written communications are a very important part of your search. Obviously you need a well-written cover letter to send with your resume when you apply for or inquire about a position. Your cover letter should be no more than one page in length and should be neatly typed and error free. You should find a creative way to begin your letter and explain why you are writing. If you are responding to an actual advertisement, you should try to match your qualifications to those required in the ad. You should also include what you would like to happen next or how you plan to contact the employer.
You should also have a marketing letter. This would be used to send to networking contacts - either with or without a resume. Depending on your contact, the letter may be not quite as formal as a cover letter, but it should still be very well written, neatly typed, without errors. You should have a letter you can send to your networking contacts that you do not know personally and a slightly different one for people that you do know.
Of course, you will want to send a thank you note to individuals you have met - either for a formal job interview or for a networking meeting. A thank you note does not have to be typed, if your handwriting is legible. It is also acceptable to send a thank you note as an email. Either way, it is still important that the note be well written and error free.
At some point, unless you are starting your own business, you will need to send an acceptance letter to your new employer. After you have been offered a position and finalized the details of your employment, it is good to send an acceptance letter. In addition to formally accepting the position offered, you should include your start date and any agreements made regarding the terms of your hiring and employment. If you are offering or accepting contract work, your letter will also outline the details of the agreement or those should be spelled out in an attachment.
It is a good idea to send a follow-up letter to your networking contacts to let them know of your new situation. In most cases, that can be accomplished by sending a hand-written note or an email. In each instance you should keep a copy of your correspondence; that gives you a record of who you contacted and why.
Mary Ann Davis, M.A., is a Licensed Professional Counselor providing coaching and counseling for life's transitions; including career change or job search, as well as loss of job, retirement planning, grief work, coping with an empty nest and other life planning issues. She is certified as a Master Career Counselor by the National Career Development Association; a Life/Work Counselor by the National Employment Counseling Association; and is a Distance Credentialed Counselor. Check out her web site at www.YourCareerPlan.com.
To contact Ms. Davis, please call (513) 665-4444 x3 and leave a personal and confidential message or send an email to YourCareerPlan@cinci.rr.com.
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