Job Seeking - Emails

In the career search process, emails are used to:

1. Respond to job advertisements ► transmit information
2. Market your skills and experience ► initiate meetings
3. Thank people ► follow-up on meetings and interviews

1. Responding to Advertisements

Advertisements may tell us a great deal or only a little about a position. They are placed either by the company that has the position available or by Recruitment Consultants. The name of the employing company may or may not be included. If a contact name is included, a planned telephone call will assist you in tailoring your letter of application to meet the specific needs and matching requirements identified in the advertisement with your demonstrated competencies and experiences.

2. Marketing Emails

Marketing emails are sent to companies that you have researched. Tailor your writing to appeal to the reader’s background and interests and follow the persuasive writing tips below. Remember,to conclude with an action - i.e. that you would like to follow up with a call to arrange a meeting.

An Example Marketing Email Introduction Mr Peter Van de Pretser Director of Human Resources ABC Company Inc 23 Main Street CAPITAL CITY 3000 10th September 2009 Dear Mr Van de Pretser I am writing to you in regard to my interest in obtaining an entry-level administrative position with ABC Company. ABC Company's focus on accounting interests me greatly, as I have studied accountancy at school and hope to complete bookkeeping qualifications in the future. I believe my skills would suit an administrative position at ABC Company well, particularly my: strong computer skills; excellent organisational abilities; attention to detail; and team focus I also believe my enthusiastic yet mature personality would match well with your organisational values of competence, teamwork and dilligence. Additionally, I have a very strong customer service ethic, having developed this considerably through my work as a team member at Burger World. I am also disicplined and reliable, having taken on the responsibility of delivering advertising material twice a week to 2000 homes from the age of 14. I type at 65 words per minute with 98% accuracy, I am familiar with the Microsoft Office Suite and Outlook Express, and I have an excellent phone manner, as I welcome you to observe by calling me. If you would like to contact me in regard to any opportunities, my phone number is 0419 xxx xxx, however I will follow you up with a call Wednesday morning to discuss my suitability to any opportunities at ABC Company which may arise now or in the future. Thank you for your time, I hope you find my attached curriculum vitae of interest and I look forward to speaking to you in the near future. Yours sincerely, Jo Citizen jocitizen_113a@hotmail.com Mobile phone: 0419 xxx xxx

3. Impressive Thank You Emails

After an interview, it is very important to send a thank you letter. In the case of an interview situation, a thank you letter provides you with the opportunity to reiterate your keen interest in the position. This can also be a major point of difference from other candidates, giving you the "Wow" factor.

Rules for Letter Writing

• Keep it simple
• Know your objective
• Write to your reader
• Write short, clear sentences
• Keep letters to one page
• If you are hand-delivering a hard copy letter, either use neat hand-writing or print the letter on quality A4 paper with a matching envelope and signature by hand.

Persuasive Writing Outline

• Get the reader’s attention
• Talk about their need
• Give a solution and supporting evidence
• Present a required action from the reader and direct them to it

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