Letters
You can improve your employability by carefully considering the basis and impact of every letter you write. Below, we have six letters available for download.
Acceptance
“Use this letter to accept a job offer, to confirm the terms of your employment (salary, starting date, medical examinations, etc.), and to positively reinforce the employer’s decision to hire you. Most often, an acceptance letter follows a telephone conversation, during which the details of the offer and the terms of employment are discussed.”
Application
“The purposes of this letter are to get your attached resume read and to generate interviews. Use this type of letter in response to specific job advertisements and vacancy announcements. Your strategy is to demonstrate that your qualifications fit the requirements of the position. Study the position description carefully and decide on one or more themes – education, experience, interests, responsibility, etc. – that show persuasively how well you fir the position. Link major job dimensions with your related past performance and experience.”
Prospecting
“The purposes of this letter are to prospect for possible vacancies in your occupation, get your resume read, and generate interviews. Prospecting letters are used extensively for long-distance searches. Target specific individuals in specific organizations. Structure this letter similarly to the application letter, but instead of using specific position information, focus on broader occupational and/or organizational dimensions to describe how your qualifications match the work environment.”
Rejection
“Employers aren’t the only ones to send rejection letters. Candidates may have to decline employment offers that do not fit their career objectives and interests. Rejecting an employment offer should be done thoughtfully. Indicate that you have carefully considered the offer and have decided not to accept it. Also, be sure to thank the employer for the offer and for consideration of you as a candidate.”
Thank You
“This is one of the most important yet least used tools in a job search. It is used to establish goodwill, express appreciation, and/or strengthen your candidacy. The basic rule of thumb is that everyone who helps you in any way gets a thank-you letter. When used to follow up on employment interviews, thank-you letters should be sent within 24 hours to everyone who interviewed you. If it is not possible or appropriate to send a thank-you letter to everyone you met during the interview, then send a thank-you letter to your host or to the highest ranking manager you met with a request to extend your appreciation to the entire group. In addition, be sure to send thank-you letters to each of your contacts who granted you information interviews and to people who provided references for you.”
Withdrawal
“Once you accept a position, you have an ethical obligation to inform all other employers of your decision and to withdraw your employment application from consideration. Your withdrawal letter should express appreciation for the employer’s consideration and courtesy. It may be appropriate to state that your decision to go with another organization was based on having better person/job fit for this stage in your career. Do not say that you obtained a better job.”
Information is from National Association of Colleges and Employers: 50th Ed. Job Choices for Business and Liberal Arts Students