Letters And Calls Advance Your Candidacy

• Identify when you met and the job you discussed.
• Emphasize why you can do the job, and add an item of relevant information if possible, but don't stretch credulity to do so.
• Correct an oversight or omission.
• Confirm that you want the job, and why you will be successful.
• Ask for the job, or what you can do to get the job, let your enthusiasm be visible.

Practice what you want to say out loud a few times, until you feel ready to pick up the phone and make the call. You don't need to ramble with a long call or long email, make your points, as planned, then off the phone or sign off on that email.

God willing and the creeks don't rise, you'll get right through to the interviewer and make your follow-up pitch, but this doesn't always happen so you'll want to be prepared for... the curse of the gatekeepers.

If your call is intercepted by a secretary or P/A, state your name and that you are following up on a "recent meeting we had." If you are asked to leave a message and a phone number, say, "Just let Heidi know I called and I'll catch her later." It is not the employer's job to call you, and besides, if she did you would be caught off guard.

Don't be a pest by making repeated calls, your intent to be seen as motivated and enthusiastic might be misinterpreted as anxious, needy or even desperate. As your goal is to talk directly with the decision maker, you can often avoid obstructionist gatekeepers by calling before 9AM, between noon and 1PM, and after 5PM. These are times when clerical staff is less likely to be answering the phones, while a busy manager might still be expected to be in the office.

In a tightly run job race, when there is little to choose between top contenders, the job offer always goes to the most (professionally) enthusiastic candidate. A well-structured and timely follow-up campaign will keep your candidacy at the top of the interviewer's mind.

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