I’d like to thank…

I am surprised at the number of job applicants who do not thank someone after he or she took the time to interview them. You should always remember what your parents taught you and say “Thank you.” Not only will it end the interview on a good note but it is simply just polite to thank someone for taking the time out of their busy day to meet with you and get to know you. Here are my tips to say thanks post interview:

1. Always thanks a person verbally at the end of the interview for the opportunity and taking time to meet you. I try to do it at the beginning and the end but that’s just me.
2. E-mail is a nice way to thank people after the interview but I highly encourage writing handwritten cards or a personal letter then, mailing them out. My mother hires and interviews several candidates a day, she said receiving a thank you card in the mail really can help a candidate because it reminds the interviewer of the candidate again and shows the candidate cares about the position. Anyone can write an e-mail but not everyone will take the time to go to purchase thank you cards and stamps, draft a letter and take it to the post office.
3. You do not have to use thank you cards. Some people prefer nice letters which is perfectly acceptable as well. The important part is you are doing some action to say thanks.

When purchasing thank you cards, please be careful of your selection of the type of cards or stationary you buy. Do you really want to send a potential boss a Winnie The Pooh Card? Thank you card buying tips:

1. Keep it simple. Nothing too flashy, glittery or bright colors.
2. Avoid humor or jokes. Not everyone has the same humor as you.
3. Avoid pictures. Do not send a card with cute puppies, Winnie the Pooh or dancing snowmen. Just go with simple colors and message. Unless you are applying for a creative position or you are 100% sure the person will love pink, sparkly stationary, I wouldn’t risk it.
4. Go with the simple card that says “Thank You” on the front is my favorite and blank inside. It leaves you plenty of room to write and it allows the person receiving it know exactly what it the card is about without opening it.
5. The card is a reflection of you. If you send a Winnie The Pooh card, the person could write you off as being immature especially if just out of college. Don’t take the risk of losing a job opportunity because you couldn’t save Winnie The Pooh for your family and friends.

The Message:

The message on the inside is completely up to you. I would keep it is short and simple as possible.

• Always personalize the card to the person you spoke to and mention some keys things you talked about in the interview to remind them about it.
• Keep the message professional, this isn’t a thank you card to your grandmother for a Christmas sweater.
• No errors, no white out and no scribbles. If you mess up, tear up the card and start again.
• Make sure it is legible and dated.

24:

Remember to always send the card within 24 hours of the interview. I always write thank you notes immediately after the interview. The information is still fresh in my mind and makes it super easy to draft.

Be polite and remember to say always thanks. Any other tips for saying thanks when job hunting? Any thank you card, note or letter tips I forgot to mention?

Other Resources for Thank You Note Help:

Ten Tips for Making Your Thank You Note Stellar –USA Today

Thank You Letter Tips: Job Interviews-About.com

Thank You Letters-Vault Career Center

Tips For Writing Thank You Letters- Work Tree.com

Job Hunting Web sites

It has begun. Well, it actually began in December but I am close to my deadline of June graduation. I am trying to break through into the world of public relations by getting a real job. I have made a couple of very helpful contacts but no job offer yet. I really hope I can find something soon and my list of jobs to apply to has been increasing.  I have over potential 20 jobs I need to apply for so expect lots of posts about résumés, cover letters, interviews, etc. Here are some of the most helpful Web sites I use constantly to search for a future place of employment.

1) Indeed- An amazing job search engine that complies available jobs to one easy location so you don’t have to dig through multiple job Web sites. It also saves your search history and keeps you updated on new jobs posted since your last visit. You can also set up job alerts to have them e-mailed to you but I prefer to look myself on the Web site to make sure I don’t miss anything.

2) Craiglist- Portland advertising, marketing and public relations love Craigslist. I have seen so many cool job and internship opportunities posted here such R/West, Digital Trends and Stash Tea. The simple format makes it easy to read and there is a huge variety of jobs listed. It also lists a lot of internship opportunities.

3) PRSSA JobBank- If you’re looking for an internship or entry-level position in public relations this is your place. Although you need to be a PRSSA member to access it, it is a very valuable Web site. If you are not a PRSSA or PRSA member, I highly recommend joining the association. You gain a lot of networking, skills and connections from the organization. People hiring from here know about PRSSA and usually consider you as an applicant one of the best because you belong to a professional development group.

4) American Marketing Association- Jobs are constantly updated. Although I am not currently very active in the association on campus, it is definitely worth checking out. The job alert system is a little confusing to set up but is a great feature. This is not a Web site that constantly needs to be visited. Also visit local chapter Web sites for their area’s job banks.

5) University and School internship Web sites- Bil Morrill of the School of Journalism and Communication along with the the University of Oregon Career Center internship databases lead me to three previous jobs. They provide tons of internship opportunities for interested students. It is a bit hard looking for an internship that involves pay like one I am seeking now. After all, I can’t do a for credit internship after graduation…what will the credit apply to? Check into your local university , community college and see what career resources are available to you there.