While enjoying a leisure hour or so at Barnes & Noble yesterday, I came across a couple of interesting books by Sue Moren. I recalled seeing Sue’s interview on CBS Morning News about her new book, How to Get a Job and Keep It. I also came across another of her books–101 Tips for Graduates.
While I always encourage purchase and reading of such self-help books, you can pick up most of the tips from the two books on Sue’s great website.
Here are 11 of my favorite tips:
- Send a handwritten thank you note and follow up with a phone call. (Culpwrit: I personally feel this gesture sets you apart from most others since I can count on one hand how many I’ve received in the past six months).
- Keep your voice mail messages brief and always state your name and phone number slowly – write it as you say it.
- Return all phone calls within one business day.
- Smile when you speak on the telephone! Your upbeat attitude is reflected, and
appreciated, in your voice. - Use cell phone savvy. Turn off your cell phone when in a meeting or interview. Know
where and when to talk. - Keep your e-mails short, always use spell check, never forward jokes or special
promotions unless requested, use a businesslike tone, and never write in all CAPS. - Proofread all your correspondence, at least three times. Check diligently for grammar,
punctuation, spelling and correct names. - You’ve got two ears and one mouth; use them proportionately.
- Take an interest in others and learn to ask questions to get people talking about themselves;
- Learn to give and receive compliments. When you receive a compliment, accept it graciously. When you make others look good, you make yourself look good too.
- Always be positive, and think before you speak.
This post seems to establish a view that is against the grain of many career advisers. I usually have handwritten thank you notes prepared for every meeting I have with anyone and diligently work to mail them as soon as I can after a meeting. However, the last few weeks I have been reading blogs and books and talking to career counselors and almost everyone has
mentioned that e-mail thank you notes are the way to go. The reason stated is that everyone wants the immediate satisfaction factor and
that traditional mail just takes too long.
I have, and will always, hold true that handwritten thank you notes are more personal and powerful to anything sent via e-mail. I’m happy to see you have the same idea. I am constantly amazed by the “knowledge” being shared by the career “experts” out there. When I
disagree with them, I have to wonder if I’m off base (and without a job, I sometimes think I am). But situations like this, help reinforce
that the new ideas are not always the best.
Thanks again.
I would use handwritten thank- you notes, but given that my handwriting is very miserable, it’s better to refrain from them. For those whose writing actually looks good, it’s a way to go. In my opinion, it’s a great way to emphasize the personal element in the job hunting process.
CULPWRIT: You raise a good point. My handwriting is so terrible that I often have to use three or four note cards before I can even read what I wrote. So, I now write what I want to say on a sheet of lined paper before re-writing it on a card.