Thank Your Letters - The Finishing Touch
Thank you letters will almost certainly be seen by the interviewer. Write the letter as soon as you get home from the interview, while your impression of the interviewer, the company, and the position are still fresh in your mind.

A well-written thank you can also get you considered for a position, even if you didn't interview well. Think about the interview. Were there questions you didn't answer well? Things you wish you had said? This is your chance to get that information to the interviewer.

Don't send a quaint little thank-you card. Use a full sheet of paper, and either type your letter, or write it in black ink. If you have bad handwriting and no typewriter, ask someone else to help you keep your letter neat.

First, thank the interviewer for meeting with you about the position, and confirm that you are still interested. Name the job you interviewed for and the date of the interview. Help the interviewer remember who you are. Bring up something positive that happened or was said during the interview.

Now, include the qualifications you forgot to mention, or clarify things that came out wrong at the interview. Did the interviewer drop clues you didn't pick up on until later? Respond to them now.

Offer to give more information and to come in for a second interview. Again, you are showing persistence and interest. Let them know you will be calling them to see if a decision has been made and answer any new questions they may have.

Thank them again for the interview and for considering for the position.

Follow Up Phone Calls - Show You're Serious
Follow up phone calls show persistence and emphasize your interest in the position. They imply you will be a worker that will get the job done. Don't hassle them with numerous calls. A single call a few days after the interview (allowing time for you thank you letter to arrive in their hands) should suffice. Often, when they are interviewing several people for a position, they will sometimes ask the strongest candidates to return for a second interview. Your follow up phone call could get you on that list, if you aren't already there.

Keep you phone call brief, but also try to get as much information as possible. First, introduce yourself, and thank the interviewer for meeting with you concerning the position. Then, ask if a decision has been made, "I'm very interested in the position, and thought I might follow up to see if a decision has been made."

If the decision hasn't been made yet, still ask, "Am I a candidate for the job?"

If the decision has been made, and you got the job, great! Ask when you start, what you should bring with you, who you should report to and what time.

If you didn't get the job, don't let the experience be a total loss. Ask the interviewer for some constructive criticism. Ask what you could do to improve your interviewing skills, and if there was a specific reason you weren't hired for the job. Don't get defensive, but don't let them off easy either. Usually, they will feel bad enough telling you that you weren't hired. They will most likely be glad to help you for your continuing job quest.

Both the phone call and the thank you letter should be brief and to the point.