If you’ve been reading this blog for awhile, you should know by now that an interview isn’t over until you’ve sent a thank-you note to everyone that you interviewed with that day.  It’s critical in terms of showing your potential employer that you actually care about the job, that you are capable of expressing the basic human emotion of gratitude, and that you are generally on top of your game.  I guarantee that, all else being equal, or even if you are slightly better than your competition, if you fail to write a thank-you note and they do write one, they will get the offer.

With that in mind, the content and style of your note can make a difference as well.  So, to give you all some direction, I’ve chosen 5 sample thank-you letters which each highlight a key point.  Without further ado:

1. The Targeted Letter, QuintCareers.com

This letter addresses a specific point, in this case the fit of the interviewee in the organization.  A letter like this may be particularly useful if the interviewer stressed the importance of something like fit, or if you felt it may have come across as a weakness of yours during the interview.  It is relatively formal with the full business letter heading, but this is okay.  I also really like how the writer re-mentions the name of the interviewer in the closing paragraph.  It adds a nice personal touch to an otherwise formal letter.  And people like to hear/read their own names, makes them feel powerful.

2. The Super-Generic, About.com

Yes, this is a cookie-cutter letter.  So if you decide to use this, make sure you spice it up a little, inject some energy!  I chose it for one particular reason- it makes very good use of a specific example of something that was discussed during the interview: the business plan.  By mentioning something that you talked about with your interviewer, you can show that you really were paying attention, not just nodding your head and smiling like a fool.  Bonus points: ask a follow-up question, or provide some additional insight into something you talked about, this is sure to impress!

3. The Recapper, Chiff.com

In addition to providing some excellent interview follow-up tips, the note here (found about halfway down the page) demonstrates good use of personal selling.  The writer clearly and concisely reiterates not just their strength, but how it will benefit the organization based on what has been discussed during the interview.  Because let’s face it, you may be totally awesome, but if your skill set doesn’t match what the company needs, you’re probably out of luck.  I also like how the writer reaffirms his interest in the position, this shows the interviewer that he actually wants this job.  Pro tip: Tell the interviewer how interested in and enthusiastic you are about the position at the end of the interview also, really let them know that you care!

4.  The “Thanks For Nothing”, SusanIreland.com

This may very well be the most important thank-you letter you ever write.  It it’s not post-interview, nor is it post-offer.  This baby is the post-rejection thank-you.  Frankly, I’d never heard of or thought of this idea before coming across this one, but it’s brilliant!  Just because you weren’t the best fit for one job doesn’t mean you aren’t the best for another.  And who better to network with than people making hiring decisions in your industry?  Instead of burning bridges after job rejections, take the opportunity to make a connection with the interviewer that you can bet none of the other candidates are even thinking about.  It’s not hard to see how this can quickly lead to other interviews  and introductions.

5.  The What-you note?, Career.VT.edu

These two letters provide an unintentional “before and after” scenario, with the first (5.4) being an example that you want to avoid.  The writer seems to have forgotten the purpose of the note altogether, which is to thank the interviewer for their time and consideration.  Notice that in the first paragraph, the words “thank you” appear exactly zero times.  We’re glad you had a good time and all, but that’s not why we’re here!  Get your head in the game, kiddo.  And don’t say “thanks again” at the end when you haven’t properly thanked them once. (This oversight is actually far more common than you’d expect.  DO NOT be the one to perpetuate it.)  Thankfully, the next example straightens this out.

So there you have it.  5 different interview thank-you notes, all with their own styles, strengths, and weaknesses.  Individually, they may not all be perfect, but if you take the best aspects of each, you’ll have a damn good letter.  Just please do me and yourself a big favor: say thank you in the first sentence, no matter what.  The rest is up to you.

Got any other tips you’d like to share?  What’s the note that got you the job?

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As the green economy grows and evolves, so will the green job market. Green careers are hot these days, as companies, organizations and all of us scramble to “go green”.

You may be thinking a green job is in your future. But do you have what it takes to compete for these sought-after jobs?

Before you dive into a career transition, scope out the lay of the land and get all your ducks in a row.

A great starting point is Job-Hunt.org. Rated “Top” or “Best” site for job hunting and careers by US News & World Report, Forbes, and PC Magazine, Job-Hunt is one of my favorite resources for all things job search, for any industry and any professional level.

Here are a few Job-Hunt green resources and other get-started-now suggestions:

1. Identify needs and opportunities.

Do a Google search for company names, product names and relevant keywords to find resources, relevant blogs, articles and white papers. Set up Google Alerts for relevant keywords. For some helpful tips, see my post, Use Google Alerts to Amplify Your Executive Brand Visibility and Job Search.

2. Determine which positions to target.

Job descriptions often provide a wealth of information about the industry, skills/qualifications, companies and their culture, and challenges they face.

Along with helping you decide what green jobs may be a good fit for you, job descriptions will help you determine whether your existing skill set is up to snuff and transferrable. You may need to sharpen your value proposition by learning relevant new skills.

For job descriptions, check out:

-LinkUp, a job aggregator that also includes employer websites

-Job-Hunt’s list of Green Job Boards

3. Research companies you want to target and compile a grand list of at least 20 to work on penetrating.

Your research helps you with market intelligence and due diligence, and prepares you to intelligently communicate with decision makers at each company. See Job-Hunt’s list of 50+ Green Industry Employers.

Visit each company’s website to find a wealth of information, such as Boards of Directors, C-suite company leadership, and news and press releases. Arm yourself with plenty of information to excel at interviews.

Research and make a list of key decision makers at your companies of interest. You’ll then work on positioning yourself in front of them.

4. Learn the lingo.

See Job-Hunt’s Green Industry Glossary and Guide to Green Terminology.

Leverage your newly-gained skills and knowledge to market your credibility and viability online. Blog and tweet about relevant topics so you’ll be found by hiring professionals who search online to source candidates.

5. Expand your network.

Do keyword and people searches at LinkedIn, Twitter, and other social networks to identify thought leaders and subject matter experts who are active there. Find out what they’re talking about and involved with, and which resources they rely on.

Look for your target list of key decision makers at your companies of interest and see what they’re up to on these sites. Look at their profiles to see which LinkedIn Groups they belong to. Join them and begin contributing. Follow them on Twitter and re-tweet them.

See Job-Hunt’s list of over 100 Green Industry Professional Associations and Societies, broken down by categories such as Biofuels, Building & Construction, Engineers & Engineering, Health & Medicine, Recycling, Solar Energy, and Wind Power.

How to use this extensive list of professional organizations:

Connect with and help people in the know in this thriving industry. Get a feel for whether you may be a good fit, too. Identify key decision makers whose radar you want to get on.

Check out the membership directories to source key decision makers and potential employers.

When you join a professional association, be sure to add it to your online career marketing communications (Brand-Yourself page, VisualCV, LinkedIn profile, web portfolio, etc.). Recruiters and hiring decision makers searching those keywords when vetting candidates will likely be led to your online materials.

Related posts:

Free Green Careers & Personal Branding Advice Guide

2010 Top 10 Executive Personal Branding and Job Search Trends

An Executive Personal Branding, Online Identity and Job Search Strategist, Meg is a 20-year careers industry professional and one of only a handful of people worldwide to hold the Reach Certified Personal Branding Strategist and Master Resume Writer credentials, both gold standards.

“I love my work collaborating with savvy senior executives and entrepreneurs who know where they’re going, but need help differentiating their unique promise of value in the new world of work and executive job search, and positioning themselves to work their passion. My clients are typically c-suite, senior-level executives and rising stars.”

Find out more about Meg at Executive Career Brand, and by viewing her LinkedIn profile and following her on Twitter.

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These five bloggers all have something important to say about the pros and cons of employers using Facebook: 

1. The Facebook Snatchers: Could Your Employer Hijack Your Account? by Andrew Moshniria, The Citizen Media Law Project
Moshniria posts about the city of Bozeman, Montana’s failed attempt to get all its employees’ social networking usernames and passwords. The city had to change its policy on internet privacy because overt spying on employees goes against Montana’s state constitution. But, Moshnira points out, the US Constitution does not provide for a right to privacy, so other employers may try imposing similar rules. 

2. What If a Prospective Employer Doesn’t Look at My Facebook Page? by Mike Dover, Creative Class
Dover takes an optimistic approach to the subject of employers on Facebook. Dover suggests that since we know people have lost opportunities because of inappropriate online behavior, why not use Facebook to help your career, instead of as a place to let it all hang out? Thoughtful posts and relevant link sharing add to your credibility and allow you to show people what you are like instead of trying to describe yourself on a cliche-riddled resume.
3. More Employers Use Social Networks to Check Out Applicants by Jenna Wortham, The New York Times
Jenna Wortham’s post advises us to accept the fact that employers are going to try to look at your Facebook page. Besides the obvious drinking references and provocative photos, you may be harming your career by posting seemingly harmless pictures of your beach vacation or a controversial Halloween costume. She suggests that it’s best to keep your privacy settings very tight.
4. Use Facebook Ads to Make Employers Hunt You Down by Willy Franzen, One Day One  Job
Willy Franzen of One Day One Job challenged his blog’s readers to make Facebook ads to advertise themselves to employers! Although placing an ad is not free, Franzen says that the ads are inexpensive and the cost is worthwhile given the potentially wide reach.
5. Ten Ways to Use Facebook to Find a Job, The Sirona Says Blog
Blogger and HR consultant Andy gives us more than enough reasons to believe that employers and Facebook are a good combination. My favorite of his tips is “don’t be boring,” although making sure your profile photo is you “in a non-stupid pose” is a close second. His light hearted approach reminds us that the right job should make the best use of your abilities, so shouldn’t your job search do so as well? 

The internet and its social networks continue to present us with new challenges regarding our online behavior and how it relates to our professional lives. The only thing certain is that technology probably won’t be regressing; however, we can learn how to protect our professional lives from being intruded upon by our social lives. Best of all, we can use social networking to improve our careers if we can find a way to make our unique online personas set us apart from all the other job seekers in our fields.

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I have a major pet peeve and it’s probably high on your list as well.  You know exactly what I am talking about; it’s those people that you follow that bad mouth and trash talk about their company or manager or co-workers… and it is almost always during the business day and they are probably using company computers to post the message!  How does this reflect on you and your personal brand?

If you would like to see how much this is discussed, just do a Twitter search for #ihatemyjob and see all the messages that pop up.  The results are astounding., considering that not all of the whiners even put the #ihatemyjob hash into their messages about work.  But if you follow your stream at any time during the day, you are bound to see one or two (or more!) tweets sharing something negative about their day and the people involved.  Seriously?

I don’t care if you have a “private” Twitter account or not.  As a recruiter there is nothing worse than seeing a tweet with a negative message about your employer, manager or coworker.  Below are just a few helpful reminders as to what not to do and what you should do on Twitter for your personal brand:

Don’t: Tweet anything negative about your job, manager or coworkers.

Do: If you are not happy, do a Twitter search for #jobs and another hashtag that is in the field you are looking (#marketing #finance #accounting #sales #java #helpdesk just to name a few).

Don’t: Tweet anything negative during the workday, from either your work computer or your mobile device.

Do: Keep your messages during business hours conversational and engage on a topic of value to your followers

Don’t: Pretend to be something you are not.

Do: Be yourself, simple and sweet! Whatever your passion, this is the best way to tweet and add your own authentic value.  If you are a complainer by nature, maybe Twitter isn’t the best outlet for you (think about it).

Here’s a rule which you hopefully have picked up from this blog already: Don’t post something online, under your own name or pseudonym, that you wouldn’t feel comfortable saying in an interview.  Because odds are, your interviewer will find what you say online, and you will be held accountable for it.

It may seem simple and common sense, but it is something important to remember and definitely the best recommendation you will receive for what you put online and how you work to manage your personal brand.

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Keith McIlvaine is a Social Media Strategist within HR and Recruiting for a Fortune 500 company.  When he is not focused on leveraging social media and networking, Keith is also a personal branding coach and social media mentor.  He is passionate about his family and is a major soccer fanatic.  Connect with Keith on Twitter and LinkedIn.  The statements I have posted on this site are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of my employer.

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