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It's Peter Fisher From Your Career Change
August 12, 2008
Hello

Coaching for SUCCESS

This issue we have some more really top items to help you progress your career change even more successfully.

  1. News About The Front Page Poll (Some FREE Goodies)

  2. 6 Closing Questions to Ask at Your Interview

  3. 6 Reasons Why Thank You Letters Are Important After Your Interview

News About The Front Page Poll

You may have noticed a small blue button on the home page at Your Career Change with "Quick Poll" written on it. Well I'm just checking with new readers what stage they are at with their job search or career change, so I can be sure the site serves ALL readers properly!

Why am I telling YOU this? Because I have arranged a number of high-value reports and courses that you can also download with my compliments (there's no cost to you!):

Choose any of the items to download from this list: (Just click and follow instructions)

6 Closing Questions to Ask at Your Interview

Asking closing questions at the end of your interview is not just to fill time - it could totally change the outcome in your favor. In fact asking a couple of closing questions can raise your success rate massively.

There is one killer question that you most positively must ask, even if you don't ask any of the other ones suggested here.

Although you probably also want to know about pay, benefits and holidays, this is not the right time to ask. You'll get your chance when they show they want to hire you for the job.

I suggest you pick just two or three from these 6 closing questions to ask at interview, as this demonstrates real interest, any more and it might seem like you're interrogating them!

When the interviewer has finished you should be sure to say:

"I have a couple of questions, if that's OK?"

Try to make sure that you ask questions that are relevant to the job, not ones that you already know the answer to because it came up during the interview. You could ask questions like: Has this job been created as a new position?

  • Who would I be reporting to?

  • How many other similar jobs are there?

  • What was the reason the last person left this job?

  • How soon will I know the result of this interview?

  • Are there for opportunities for job progression or further training?

  • May I take a look at the area where I will be working?

  • Has the organization any more expansion plans?

And the killer question is:

"Have I answered all of your questions satisfactorily?"

Don't be afraid of a negative answer - it is what you want!

This is an example of a technique known as 'objection selling' and if the hiring manager has any concerns, this just might get them voiced them so you get another chance to provide a better answer.

If he says: "Well I'm not sure you have enough experience of..." you have the opportunity to say: "Perhaps I didn't explain fully how I..."

If you get a positive response then you can relax a little knowing you have done a good job.

So choose some of the 6 closing questions to ask at interview, but whichever ones you do ask, remember to ask the killer question.

6 Reasons Why Thank You Letters Are Important After Your Interview

Don't be shy about sending a thank you letter because there are at least 6 reasons why thank you letters are important after your interview.

  1. Very few people are actually thanked for doing their job, especially when that job is to interview someone.

  2. The receipt of a thank you note can reinforce a decision to hire you.

  3. A Thank you letter allows you to restate your interest and commitment to the job.
  4. Thank You Letters can alter the hiring manager's perception of your interview.

  5. Thank you notes can be personalized for each interviewer.

  6. Thank you letters are actually sales letters in disguise.

Don't underestimate the impact of a 'thank you' letter as a valuable follow up to an interview because not many people receive thanks, especially for an interview, so they will remember it and it keeps your name in their mind with strongly positive associations.

You can't lose by sending thank you letters; if you weren't going to get the job, it won't make any difference, but if you're in with a chance it could tip the balance in your favor!

There are two forms of this letter; the first is a simple thank-you note which is personal and the only letter that can, and should be handwritten.

The second form of these thank you letters is more formal and is also valuable as a follow up when you realize after the interview that you didn't cover an area very well!

This is then a formal sales letter and should be word-processed and printed like any other business correspondence. It still carries all of the benefits as above but may also allow you to spell out some information you didn't impart too well at the interview.

Since they are not too difficult to write and there are 6 good reasons why thank you letters are important after your interview, you should aim to send a 'thank you' letter on the same day as the interview for the best effect. These letters can easily be modified to suit your particular situation and should always be mailed to every person involved in the interview.

Most people's in-boxes are already too full with all manner of unwanted emails, so you run the risk of your letter being overlooked or simply deleted as spam if your thank you letter is from an unrecognized email address.

I have now re-opened the Personal Career Management Program again for a limited time. You can see what it might mean to you by going to 7 Steps Career Success Program. There are some free taster sessions you might like to try out.

I am constantly updating our website at Your Career Change, I need to be sure it continues to meet your needs and you find it helpful.

So my challenge is keeping this newsletter and the website focused on YOU.

The best way I can do this is by from time to time asking you the question:

WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST CHALLENGE?

Perhaps it's getting your Resume sorted out or writing cover letters; maybe you're unsure as to your career direction or even need to get a new job quickly and want to know how to accelerate the process. Every job or career related challenge has an answer, and I'll help you find it.

I would be delighted if you would reply to me using the contact form at Contact Form or by emailing me at peter@your-career-change.com and let me know how I can continue to provide the information you need. You could also just fill in the Quick Poll on the home page.

Be as brief or as detailed as you like and you can be sure I won't spam you - the feedback will keep me on track providing you the best information.

, thank you again for being a subscriber, 'Coaching for Success' is Success Coaching and Coaching for Winners!

Thanks for your support, I hope you will continue to enjoy the new ezine - the success depends on you! Let me know if there's anything you'd like me to cover or any question you'd like me to answer.

Best Wishes

Peter Fisher

www.your-career-change.com


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