Posts filed under 'Business Thank You Notes'
Preparing Your Child Cognitively to Read
The ultimate goal of reading instruction is to enable children to understand what they read, so reading instruction has to be about more than simply matching letters and sounds — it also has to be about connecting words and meaning.
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It is clear from research on emerging literacy that learning to read is a relatively lengthy process that begins very early in development and clearly before children enter formal schooling.Children who receive stimulating literacy experiences from birth onward appear to have an edge when it comes to vocabulary development, understanding the goals of reading, and developing an awareness of print and literacy concepts.
Children who are read to frequently at very young ages become exposed in interesting and exciting ways to the sounds of our language, to the concept of rhyming, and to other word and language play activities that serve to provide the foundation for the development of phoneme awareness.
As children are exposed to literacy activities at young ages, they begin to recognize and discriminate letters. Without a doubt, children who have learned to recognize and print most letters as preschoolers will have less to learn upon school entry. The learning of letter names is also important because the names of many letters contain the sounds they most often represent, thus orienting youngsters early to the alphabetic principle or how letters and sounds connect. |
The earlier you begin working on language with your child — simply speaking to your child, reading to your child, and then listening and responding to your child’s communications — the better off your child will be when the time comes to learn to ready.
Studies show a strong connection between early language development and reading. Language and reading require the same types of sound analysis. The better babies are at distinguishing the building blocks of speech at six months, the better they will be at more complex language skills at two and three years old, and the easier it will be for them at four and five years old to grasp the idea of how sounds link to letters.
However preparing your child to become a reader needs to go beyond this to cognitive readiness.
Cognitive readiness is essentially making sure your child has the essential foundations for reading. This includes the development and understanding of language, such as vocabulary, sentence structure, and grammar; but also includes background knowledge and experience.
For example, a child can easily make the transition from seeing the neighbor’s cat to the parent connecting the word “cat” with the animal. Then later when the child is learning the alphabet and connecting sounds with various letters the cat is again brought into play. Finally, when it is time to begin reading text the child is already well on her way to understanding the written word “cat” through her experience of seeing and hearing it.
However children need help learning these concepts. A child will not learn the names, sounds, and shapes of letters simply by being around adults who like to read and who engage in reading. Children learn these concepts when adults take the time and effort to share experiences with oral and written language.
Preparing your child to read must take a step beyond this as well. Children’s cognitive skills and knowledge are frequently thought of as core ingredients in the recipe for success in school. Children’s language/literacy refers to both their oral communication (language) and understanding of the written word (literacy). The concept of general knowledge refers to children’s conceptions and understandings of the world around them.
As children enter kindergarten for the first time, they differ in their cognitive skills and knowledge. Studies of first-time kindergartners indicate that children’s reading, mathematics, and general knowledge are related to their age as they enter kindergarten, the level of their mother’s education, their family type, the primary language spoken in the home, and their race/ethnicity.
The undisputed purpose of learning to read is to comprehend. Even before children can read for themselves, it can help them to build vital background knowledge by having adults read to them interactively and frequently. This means not only is the book or story shared with the child — but then the reader and the child discuss the book and the world, characters, and events it introduces. It is important for parents who want to build their child’s cognitive readiness to actually choose of variety of texts that will expand what their children know about the world around them. Further, comprehension is enhanced through discussion of the text which in turn might lead to seeking out further text on this or related subjects. Effective instruction will help the reader actively relate his or her own knowledge or experience to the ideas written in the text, and then remember the ideas that he or she has come to understand.
Helping your child become cognitively ready for reading will also include giving your child diverse experiences in the world and with events and people so they can make connections between the real world and their reading. This does not have to mean extensive travel or expensive outings. Many times simply taking children to various events and places within your community can provide experience with people of different ages and ethnic backgrounds, for example.
Ultimately, children’s ability to understand what they are reading is inextricably linked to their background knowledge. Very young children who are provided opportunities to learn, think, and talk about new areas of knowledge will gain much from the reading process. With understanding comes the clear desire to read more and to read frequently, ensuring that reading practice takes place.
Some things you can do to help cognitively prepare your child for reading:
* Read new stories and reread old stories every day.
* Help extend their experience with the words, language, and ideas in books by interactively reading to them every day.
* Relate information in books to other events of interest to children, such as holidays, pets, siblings, and games. Engage children in discussion of the topics.
* In both stories and informational texts, encourage wondering. For example, “What will happen next?” or “Have you ever seen someone do that?”
* Point out how titles and headings as well as text when you are reading.
Deanna Mascle is the publisher of Preschoolers Learn More. Visit for more tips and resources for teaching your preschooler including Learning to Read through Rhyme Submitted with Article Distributor.
Home-and-Family Article Source: http://www.eArticlesOnline.com
The American English Accent:: The Voiced And Unvoiced
The voiced and unvoiced consonants
In this section we will try to clarify the difference between the voiced consonants and the unvoiced consonants.
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If you want to master English pronunciation you have to able to distinguish between these two types of consonants. This is necessary for you to learn the proper pronunciation when you learn new vocabulary. And more importantly you need to know the difference between voiced and unvoiced consonants to be able to pronounce the words of English correctly. What makes one consonant be voiced and another not?A consonant is voiced when it makes the vocal cords vibrate. It is voiceless when it is pronounced without vibrating the vocal cords.
The sound of the letters “p” and “b”
For example, the sounds indicated by the letters “b” and “p” differ only in their vocalization (voicing). The are both “bilabials”, that is, they are produced by closing both lips. But the “b” is voiced and the “p” is unvoiced. In this article, we will follow common practice and indicate the letters of the alphabet with quotes (?b” and ?p”) and the sounds with slashes (/b/ and /p/) |
You can appreciate the difference by lightly touching with the tips of your fingers your “Adam’s Apple” (the voice box that you can see in the front of your throat) as you pronounce the word bowl . You can feel the vibration with the tips of our fingers. Concentrate on the first sound, the consonant /b/ before passing to the vowel represented by the “o”. Notice that you can lengthen the sound (something is heard!) without the “o”. This is because /b/ is a voiced consonant.
Now pronounce the word pole. Do you feel the vibration in the vocal cords? No. The reason is that /p/ is an unvoiced consonant. Notice that you you can’t lengthen the sound or hear anything.
When you pronounce these sounds, don’t forget the advice we already gave you in other articles: exaggerate the value of the vowel “o” with a strong English accent!
Listen to the following exercise until you can distinguish betwen the two sounds and produce them yourself.
You should be able to telll the difference between the /p/ and the /b/ in the sentence The doctor said: “Bill, take your pill!
Try it now!
The sounds of the English letters /k/ (sometimes “c”) and /g/
It is not only the sounds /p/ and /b/ that are voiced or unvoiced. The same distinction holds for the sounds represented by the letters “k” y “g” in the International Phonetic Alphabet. By the way, do you see that it will not be hard for you to learn the symbols of the IPA? Many of the symbols, like the k and the g are already familiar to you. They are the normal letters of the alphabet.
The IPA symbol k interests us now. It is the “hard” sound of the letter “c”, the sound that the letter “c” usually takes before the letters “a”, “o”, and “u”, for example in the words car, coat, cube.
Now can you see how the IPA system makes it easy for you to learn the pronunciation of new words? Now, we don’t have to worry that sometimes the letter “c” has the sound of the IPA symbol k (as in the word cold) or that sometimes the same letter “c” of the English alphabet is pronounced as the IPA s (as in the words cell ).
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Now try to feel in your voice box the vibration in the word coal! You can’t because it is the unvoiced partner in the pair. If you touch your voice box while you pronounce the word goal, you do feel the vibration because the sound g is voiced.
Practice the two words coal and goal. But keep on pronouncing the the English vowel with its lengthening. Exaggerate the English language character of the vowel. Don’t pronounce it as if it were col or gol in your language. And also remember the explosive nature of the consonant represented by the “c” in English when it is pronounced as the IPA k. Blow out the candle when you say coal.
Pero? ?Qu? no suene como si hablaras de repollo (la col en el Per?) o del f?tbol (el gol)!
?Cuidado con tu acento hispano!
Did you notice that we review various important things about the English sounds as we move along in this book. From now on, in your listening and in your practice, you must remember the explosive consonants, the special English vowels, and the voiced or unvoiced consonants.
Listen and practice all these essential elements of English pronunciation.
The sound of the letters “t” and “d”
Consider the pair of words tear and dear. Do the same with these words as you did above with the pairs of words coal and goal, and pole and bowl. Can you distinguish which of the initial sounds is voiced and which is unvoiced? Both are pronounced in almost the same place in the mouth but the initial sound of these two words is different in that the letter “t” is usually voiceless and the “d” is usually voiced. However, do NOT think that the letter “d” in English is always voiced. You will see that sometimes this letter “d” represents a voiceless sound. This is a VERY important lesson in the pronunciation of English and when you learn how and when the “d” is unvoiced it will be a valuable tool for you in your mastery of English.
This difference between the letters “d” and “t” in English is very important in the matter of the past tense of verbs. We will treat this elsewhere.
Also there is another pair of voiced and unvoiced consonants, the sounds represented in English by the letters “s” and “z”. We will study them in their most important contexts, that of the third person singular of the present of verbs, and that of the plural of nouns.
But for now, concentrate on the consonants we just looked at.
Now listen and practice! Listen wherever you can (or listen in our book) to the different pairs of voiced and unvoiced consonants. Then make them yourself.
P and B
K and G
T and D
This lesson is taken from the book, ?Word Power” which contains sound files that let you hear the vowels and consonants and practice their pronunciation.
Frank Gerace Ph.D has worked in Latin America in UN and national Educational and Communication Projects, and has taught in Bolivian and Peruvian Universities. He currently teaches English in New York City at La Guardia College/CUNY. He provides resources on accent reduction and the proper American English accent at http://www.GoodAccent.com.
Reference-and-Education Article Source: http://www.eArticlesOnline.com
How I Thank You, Let Me Count The Ways
There isn’t a day in anyone’s life where we could function without the help, generosity, love or care of someone else. We often get caught up in our day to day lives that we forget to show those people how much they mean to us. Saying Thank You is great, but how about showing your appreciation with a lovely Thank You gift? Here are some wonderful gift ideas that say thank you in a big way.
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Send a Thank You Card. Unexpectedly received a card from someone dear to you can have such an impact on someone. Knowing that someone took the time to find the perfect card is sure to put a smile on anyone’s face. Cards are inexpensive and make a statement. You can add pictures or gift cards to them if desired.Floral or balloon arrangements are very common for special occasions like birthdays, but work just as well for saying Thank You. Flowers are the most common delivered gift and for a good reason. They are a simple beauty that says so much. You can even find the meaning of flowers and choose what you deem appropriate. Balloons work just as well. You can find balloons that say anything on them. Flower bouquets range in price and can be very inexpensive or costly depending on the arrangement size. |
If spending time with this person makes you both happy, why not make it special for them? For example make a special lunch or dinner date to show your gratitude. It can be as simple as lunch once a week in a local cafeteria or as lavish as a grand dinner is a great restaurant with proper attire. Whether you do it only once or make a tradition, it certainly says you care. The cost of this Thank You depends on where you go to eat. Diners and cafeterias are more pocket-friendly whereas fancy restaurants will cost a pretty penny.
For those who want to say thank you, but aren’t close enough for those private lunches and dinners, try giving a restaurant gift certificate. Most popular restaurants offer gift certificates for purchase. If you are unsure of which restaurant, try getting a gift certificate from a place that offers a wide variety of food choices as opposed to a specific food choice. You wouldn’t want your gift to go to waste because that someone doesn’t enjoy a certain food type. Most of the casual dining places are in the same price range.
Besides flowers, gift baskets seem to be the common Thank You gift. Gift Baskets offer a wide range of thank you gifts. Thank You themed gift baskets say exactly what you want them to, but aren’t the only option. Other popular gift basket choices that say thank you are spa baskets, cookie bouquets, gourmet gifts and wine baskets. Like flowers they also range in price from very inexpensive to very lavish and costly. They can suit anyone’s needs.
Ways to say Thank You are endless and really depend on what you are comfortable with. Just remember, the most important thing is to in fact say, Thank You.
Cynthia Marcano is owner of Simply Sinful Baskets. Visit http://www.simplysinfulbaskets.com and find fruit gift baskets, graduation gifts, flowers, gift articles plus much more.
Relationships Article Source: http://www.eArticlesOnline.com
Switch on Your Employees - Say an Unexpected ‘Thank You’
Unexpected recognition for a job well done is very, very validating for your people.
Whilst you are busy, you are also developing habits that, well, just creep up on you.
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This means that you do things; behave even, in a certain way - and now is the time to redress that.If you find there are some of your people you have instant, deep rapport with, it’s just human nature to hang out with them more. Respect them and treat them well. Yet you could be missing a trick.
This is about specifically targetting those who you don’t have an instant relationship with.
Make time for those you avoid and engage both in conversation as well as ‘catching them doing something right’ and thanking them. |
Spending time with these folks might, to start at least, not be your favourite way to spend your time - but you may be surprised.
You will also up the stakes in motivating a bunch of people who you’ve missed out on in the past.
So, today, make a very special effort to say ‘Thank you’ to people you wouldn’t normally do so to.
It will make a difference, both to them, you and your business.
(c)2006 Martin Haworth is a Business and Management Coach. He has hundreds of hints, tips and ideas at his website, www.coaching-businesses-to-success.com
Workplace Article Source: http://www.eArticlesOnline.com
Should You Send a Thank You Note?
In today’s electronic age, there is often some confusion as to whether you should send a thank you note after a job interview. Some people believe it is not necessary and others think it is a nice touch. I will go beyond that and say it is a must!
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Jobs have been won on the basis of a good thank you note. But it must be a good follow-up note. Although there is nothing wrong with saying “it was nice meeting you… and I am excited about the position”, that kind of message doesn’t SEIZE THE OPPORTUNITY a thank you letter offers. If you CONTROLLED the interview and asked the right questions, then you will walk out knowing exactly what they are looking for in a candidate and what the greatest challenge is that will be faced. Your thank you letter is your opportunity to emphasize your ability to overcome that challenge and deliver the results they are seeking. This simple gesture can often tip the scales in your favor. |
Thank you notes can also be used as a powerful tool when the interview didn’t go as well as you wanted or you want to ensure that you have the competitive edge. Another smart tactic with a follow-up note is to add that you gathered a lot of information in your interview and will surely have some additional questions as you give some thought to how you would face the challenges the job presents. Add “I hope you don’t mind if I give you a call in the next day or so to ask you some follow-up questions”. This indicates that you are taking the job seriously and are thinking about challenges and solutions. It also gives you the chance to continue the dialog and build rapport with the key decision makers. Remember: people hire people that they like!
Here are my rules for a good interview follow-up letter. First of all, if you met multiple people, send each one a note and make sure it is different and reflects the conversation you had. My suggestion is that you email them a thank you note within 24 hours and then ALSO follow-up with a mailed, handwritten letter. If you provide this kind of attention to detail and service, imagine what you can do for their internal/external customers? You can’t lose by doing this and you have everything to gain. Bottomline: there is no downside and it might just be the reason you get the offer.
Note: I just saw these statistics after writing this and they confirm my thoughts: in a recent poll, 88% of executives said sending a thank-you note following an interview can boost a job seeker’s chances and only 51% of applicants do so. They also said that 52% prefer a handwritten note and 44% prefer email. Need more proof?
Don Goodman, President of About Jobs (www.GotTheJob.com ) is a nationally recognized Career Coach and Resume Writer. A graduate of the Wharton School of Business and Stanford University’s Executive Program, Don has helped thousands of people secure their next job. Read his blog at www.GotTheJob.com/blog/ or contact him at 800-909-0109 or by e-mail at dgoodman@GotTheJob.com.
by Don Goodman
Article Source:http://www.articleblotter.com
Give sorrow words; the grief that does not speak
whispers the o’er-fraught heart and bids it break.
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William Shakespeare (1564-1616)When someone you know loses a loved one, the simple, thoughtful gesture of writing a sympathy card or condolence letter can bring an untold measure of comfort to the bereaved. In the quest to find the perfect words of condolence for a sympathy message, however, many people become overwhelmed and may avoid writing altogether.
If this should happen to you, begin by accepting the fact that no matter how carefully you choose your words, your condolences will not make everything better – nothing can do that. But a thoughtful, sincere sympathy message, written from the heart, can be a soothing balm, allowing the bereaved to feel your love and support and know that she is not alone in her sorrow.
When is the best time to send a sympathy card? |
The best time to send a sympathy card is as soon as you learn of the death. Expressing your condolences will be easier and more natural when you spontaneously share your feelings. You may choose to send your sympathy message in the form of a store-bought sympathy card, a condolence letter handwritten on personal stationery, or one of our sympathy ecards, but whichever method you choose, be sure to include a personal message.
Avoid platitudes and judgmental statements
As you write, avoid the use of platitudes – they’re seldom helpful, and they may cause even more pain to the bereaved, who is raw with emotion. Presumptive statements that may be perceived as judgmental, like “it’s for the best” or “it was God’s will,” or any form of “you should” or “you will,” no matter how well intended, may provoke anger or resentment.
Make sure your sympathy message is genuine and sincere
Also, resist the temptation to say “I know how you feel.” Even if you’ve shared a similar experience – such as the sudden and tragic death of a loved one in an accident, for example – it’s important to remember that everyone grieves differently.
The only feelings you can be sure of are your own. A sympathy message that states something like, “I was shocked and deeply saddened to learn of Jim’s untimely death” is more sincere, and your willingness to share your own feelings will help the bereaved to cope with hers.
Why not include a treasured memory?
If you personally knew the deceased, consider writing about a treasured memory to let your grieving friend know how his loved one touched your life. Name the qualities you will always remember when you think of the deceased, such as a sparkling wit, unwavering courage, or profound kindness. Above all, be genuine. If you didn’t know the deceased well, focus on your bereaved friend, and let him know that you are there for him.
Keep your sympathy message simple
It’s a good idea to keep your sympathy message simple. Offer to help if you can, but be specific. An invitation to “Call me if you need anything” is likely to be ignored. “I’d be glad to baby sit or run errands to give you a break. I’ll call next week to see how I can help,” on the other hand, is far more useful – and your friend is more likely to accept your offer of assistance.
The act of writing a sympathy card or letter of condolence builds a bridge of communication, opening the door for your friend to share her grief. When she’s ready, it may be easier for her to speak to you about her sorrow because you generously shared the gift of yourself in your sympathy message.
Visit http://www.thelightbeyond.com/ : helping you through bereavement, one step at a time…
Created by Lucie Storrs, The Light Beyond bereavement site, forum, inspirational movie and blog aims to help as many people as possible on their journey through grief.
Would you like our free Bereavement For Beginners ebook? Our gift to you, this practical, useful guide for the bereaved and those who care about them is packed full of information, inspiration, poems and words of comfort.
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Have you seen that thing on TV where the gal tells the nerd she wonders why he never asked her to marry him and he stumbles and says “Thank You” and she turns to butter?
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The point of the message is that “Thank You” goes a long way to making people feel better.Personally and in business, develop the “Thank You” habit.While it is generally expected to send a written thank-you for gifts and special favors, it is also appropriate to send one for employment interviews and new business contacts. However, the most powerful thank-you note is the one that’s unexpected.Here are some “Thank You” points to considerYou should hand write it. With the exception below, don’t use your computer to print it, or to print the address label and please don’t use email for this most personal communication. |
If you have that nifty computer font that was made from your own handwriting, your could slip the card in your printer. Be sure the font really looks like the way you write. Didn’t know about this? There are several companies that do it, here is a link to one as an example only: http://www.theory.org/~strthrwr/fonts/custom
You can use plain paper, or you can use a thank you card. Some folks have personalized cards created, some buy them at the Hallmark. You can use a fold over card, or a single hard card in an envelope or a post card. It’s not the messenger, its the message.
Be brief. All you are saying is Thank You. And say it only once.
No need to gush, be personal, say thank you and why.
Be sincere.
When you send a thank you note, it will have a great impact, “Because no one else does it”
©2007 BIG Mike McDaniel is the Small Business Advertising Expert. Get BIG Mike’s Free Newsletter BIG Ideas for Small Business. Find hundreds advertising articles at Small Business Advertising Articles
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_McDaniel
The Thank you letter, or also known as the follow-up letter, is written similar as you would a Cover letter.
You will use three steps in writing a simple thank you letter.
1. First, you’re going to market that all-important connection with the grab his attention
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2. Then you’re going to market your skills and capabilities and reemphasize your “fit” with the company’s needs3. Finally, you’re going to urge the employer to take action.As you have probably guessed, the follow up letter is more than just a humble expression of your gratitude. It serves a real purpose.After you’ve been interviewed by a hiring manager (or any who does the interview), you should always send a follow up letter. This may seem like courtesy-thanking the employer for taking the time out of their busy day-but it’s actually a way to increase your chance of landing the job. |
The biggest reason this letter is able to do that is because it reminds the employer why you can fulfill their needs. You can also mention any capabilities that you might have not stressed enough in the interview.
Another good reason for sending a resume thank you letter is that it may put you ahead of the competition.
Think about it. Most employers will consider an applicant who sends a thank you letter following the interview more favorable than those who don’t send one, yet well below half of applicants take the time to do this.
If you need more information about writing a Thank you letter, Resume, or Cover letter, visit www.shibaresumes.com to get help.
Thank You Letters And Notes
Writing thank you letters and receiving them are almost a rarity nowadays. Under the circumstances, well written thank you letter s would indeed be a rare gem. Thank you letters can be written for a variety of transactions, occasions and purposes. In the context of writing a professional thank you letter, it would usually mean that it is for a business and official purpose.
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This could include an interview, meeting, discussion, assistance rendered or any other opportunity to pursue a specific interest. It would be pertinent to note that a professional thank you letter may not always be written only when there has been a successful outcome. In fact, writing a thank you letter where there has been a less than favourable outcome, would be a truly professional gesture.Make Your Thank You Letter Count
- Keep it simple. Keep it light. Keep it brief. Do not go overboard or be overly profuse with you expressions. Say what you mean and mean what you say. Be sincere in writing the thank you letter. Ulterior motives, if any, will show.
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Focus on clarity of expression. Does the essence of what you wanted to express come through clearly? Review and check your letter. Ask someone else to read it, listen and determine whether what you hear is what you wanted to say.
Use active voice. Imagine writing: “This letter is being written to…” as compared to I am writing to thank you….”. Be courteous. Be gracious. Be personal.
Timeliness is key. In fact, just like saying hello to someone, if it is not done as soon as possible, it would, in all likelihood, be not done at all. Write the thank you letter when things are still fresh. Immediacy makes a better impression.
Important Details
Include your full name and complete contact details such as address, telephone and/or mobile phone number and e-mail address. Ensure that you address the receiver correctly and properly. Check to get this right. It would help if you have the habit of recording details when you attend an interview, meet someone on an important matter, pay an official visit to someplace or when you do anything else that you deem to be important. Customize your thank you letters. Never send one standard thank you letter to several different addressees. Thank you letters must be individually addressed with personalized tags and content. Check and re-check all details. Edit your thank you letter for correct spelling and grammar. Remember it is all worth the effort as your letter will make a huge difference.
Proofreading and editing is critical to better writing. You can now easily and conveniently do so with a writing software that uses a unique technology that provides the first context-related, all-in-one solution for improving writing. Developed by a leading team of software, algorithm, and Natural Language Processing experts, for the first time ever, users can easily enhance their writing skills. This revolutionary writing tool instantly analyzes the complete text and provides context-based recommendations to replace words with synonyms, to add adjectives and adverbs, to check spelling, and to verify proper grammar use.
Visit to write better.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Azhar_Victor and EzineArticles
Sending a thank you letter is as important as interview preparation. But they’re tough to write, so people either tell themselves that not sending one doesn’t matter, or they procrastinate until it’s too late and almost pointless anyway. But anyone who tells themselves that foregoing a fundamental rule of etiquette doesn’t matter, not only taints themselves in the mind of the interviewer, but misses two additional opportunities to sell.
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A thank you letter is an additional sales piece. As I’ve said before, you’re selling a product and the product is you. So beyond the reason of etiquette, the letter sells you as a polite person who recognizes that the interviewer gave them something valuable: time and consideration.A fundamental rule of sales is to keep the product in front of the buyer and reinforce its benefits. So beyond the etiquette, the letter gives you ample space to comment on what you liked about the company, why your skills are of benefit to them, and how much you’re interested. If something wasn’t tied up, or was left unsatisfactorily, you should use the space to further address the issue.When you miss the opportunity to reinforce your skills and tie them to the job requirements, you miss a chance to sell. When you fail to address a concern or answer a question and leave it to fester in the mind of the interviewer, you’ve failed to overcome an objection. And if a buyer has an objection to the product, if it isn’t addressed, the likelihood of the sale is slim. |
The third opportunity missed by skipping the thank you letter is the chance to keep your name in front of the buyer. Read newspapers? Watch TV? See the same ads over and over and over again? It’s somewhat the same principle - if you keep your name in front of the hiring authority, they’re more likely to remember you.
Thank you letters are one of the reasons it’s important to take notes during an interview. Not only does it show good attention to detail, it saves you from having to scrunch your face up trying to remember some of the information you learned about the company and position during the interview. Because if you met with three separate people during one visit to the company, that’s three thank you letters….three different thank you letters.
So let’s look at how to create one of these so that it becomes a less odious task.
- First paragraph
Open with the obligatory thank you and include how you enjoyed the meeting. Say why. Maybe the people you met were exceptional. Perhaps their company philosophy was exactly what you had hoped for. Or they need to overhaul a department and you can’t wait to sink your teeth into it because that’s what you’ve got a stellar track record of doing. It doesn’t matter. Pick something out, and put it down. But make it real.
- Second paragraph
What took place during your interview? Pull out a piece of information that pleased you, say what it was, and tell them why. For instance: I was particularly pleased to find that X company/the opportunity/your management style has/was/is/does whatever. This is exciting because…… . You can expand on whatever it is for a few sentences by elaborating: how it relates to something you’ve experienced and liked — or didn’t like. Discuss a particular aspect of the job you find appealing and reiterate why you’d be successful at it or how long you’ve been performing it or how similar it is to something you’ve done in the past.
- Third paragraph
You can add a similar paragraph if the second was fairly short. Or you can wind it up if it was a bit lengthy. If there was something that came up that needed clarification or about which they were dubious, address it and clear it up here.
- Fourth paragraph
Wind it up. Re-iterate your interest. Be enthusiastic! Leave the job speak behind. If you really want to be hired, let your interest shine through. There’s nothing wrong with coming right out and saying, “I’d love to work with X company!”
Caution: Don’t start every sentence with “I”. It may be the easiest way to write the letter but it’s not only repetitive, it’s a turn off and egotistical. This process is about you getting a job, but it’s about what they get out of it if they hire you.
If you really want the job, the letter will be easy to write because it will contain genuine impressions and sentiments. If you choose to skip the letter, perhaps you don’t care if you’re hired or not. But make that decision yours and withdraw from the process instead of letting the decision be made for you.
Prior to starting her firm, VisionQuest, Judi Perkins was a search consultant for 25 years in both the contingency and retained market, including a short stint in the temporary and local permanent placement markets. She has owned her own firm and successfully assisted numerous repeat clients in hiring all levels of management. To sign up for her newsletter and learn thousands of powerful concepts to find your perfect job go to http://www.findtheperfectjob.com.
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