III. If you are not hired

Task 7. Read the text.

The Letter to Write When You Don't Get the Job

Don't get mad; get gracious. A follow-up letter after you don't get the job is so rare, you will stand out and it may lead to future recommendations or another job.

It’s the gracious letter sent by the candidate who got passed over in the final hiring decision, thanking the hiring manager for the interview, perhaps asking that they keep the candidate in mind for future openings, or even requesting feedback regarding what the candidate could have done better or communicated more effectively.

If you can muster the professionalism and grace to thank the people who interviewed you, rather than cursing them out, you could transform yourself from a reject into a pearl. We talked to hiring professionals and job seekers who plucked success from the ashes of rejection. Read on for their input on why you should write such a letter, what it might contain and the positive results that can come from having written them.

What to Write

Whom to Send It to. Normal thank-you letters are addressed to everyone who interviewed you. The big-boy/girl letter, however, only goes to the decision maker and/or the HR representative you dealt with. If the [rejection] letter you received is signed by the HR person … thank both of them. If it is signed by the hiring manager, you need to send a thank-you note only to that person.

What to Say. Thank them for considering you for the opportunity. Tell them what impressed you about the company or the department you were being considered for. Let them know you would like to keep in touch and would like to be considered for future openings.

Keep the letter brief and very positive. State that you were disappointed, but congratulate the hiring person(s) on having made a selection, and then wish them well.

In a final, short paragraph reiterate a positive point from their interview that reflected well on the interviewer and, again, state that they’d like to be considered for future openings.

Sample Letter

Exercise 1.

• Read the following sample of the letter upon receiving the “we aren’t hiring you” notification. Fill in the missing words.

thoroughly short list disappointed opportunity forward to skilled

Dear Bob:

I would be lying if I said I'm anything but keenly ---------------------that I wasn't your final choice for the position of [job title]. But knowing how professionally and ------------------each candidate was interviewed, and having made it to the "final eight", I'm also honored to have been on that------------------. I appreciate that your job of selection was very, very difficult.

It was a pleasure getting to meet you and seeing how well your team works together. You are a rare and --------------------manager. I particularly like your style of relating to your team, and sincerely hope that sometime in the future we get an -----------------------to work together.

I agree that my skills are a great fit for your team.

I wish you and your team great success. Thank you again for all your efforts on my behalf. I will look --------------------seeing you at one of the area association meetings.

Best regards,

…………..