So I just had a great interview...

[Keller]

I just returned from DC where I had a fantastic interview and for the first time in my brief professional interview "career" I'm authentically excited about working for this group. The boss-man is a 40-something super-lawyer who is the man in his specialty. From my day interviewing with other members of his team, I can tell he's got a fantastic group of people working for him. I could continue, but suffice to say that I reallllly want to work there.

I did the normal follow-up email and got a short, "we've got one more candidate to interview and will move to make a decision. I'll be sure to let you know as soon as possible." Not very positive.

Now, what can I do? I've sent the follow-up and he's responded by letting me know he'll contact me next. Would it be rude or hurt in any way to have two of my professors in the relevant field of law send him letters of recommendation? What about a more sincere letter from me telling him exactly why I want to work specifically for him? There are a lot of qualities about him and his group which I was not able to have a pat-answer for during the interview and wish that I could tell him now. But on the other side, I don't want to annoy him and sound stalker-ish. I've just never been to an interview in which I got so excited about an opportunity and I'm willing to do pretty much anything (not that, PB) to enhance my chances. Any advice?

[Parkbandit]

Not that my ass.. you would and you know it. :P

Seriously though, I would (and I know this sounds corny as all get out.. but it works) send a handwritten note to him, basically telling him more about you and what you will bring to the company. Words like 'loyal', 'trustworthy', etc.. really play well into these kind of follow up notes. Be specific about the job you applied for.

First it shows him you really want this position.. and that you took the time to handwrite it.. not just throw him a form letter you are sending anyone who interviews you. Using specific examples or references in the letter proves that it's not that as well.

Second, it shows you respect his "We have one more candidate to interview" line and that you are just sending him this note, for him to read when he's not busy.

Trust me, these types of letters work far more than an email or voicemail.

[Parkbandit]

PS - Put it in the mail today so he gets it quick. Some folks even FedEx them to bring attention to it.. but I personally think it's a tad over the top.

PPS- Good luck man!

[Soulpieced]

Snail-mail thank you's are a thing of the past. I got my most recent job offer on the car ride back to my other office. Granted that's usually not the case, but your follow-up e-mail is all that's really expected.

[Parkbandit]

Actually, snail-mail thanks yous are more in now than ever.

[TheEschaton]

Snail mail thank yous are proper etiquette. Speaking of which...


(I'll bump my old thread).

-TheE-

[Gan]

I'm interviewing with two very prestigious companies and have sent a personal thank you (handwritten) on custom stationary interviewing with the different people in the hiring process. According to my sources, they were well received.

Snail mail thank you's are considered top notch in today's email world. And say so much more than a quick blast over the internet.

[Keller]

Good. He told me to e-mail him when I was done to let him know how everything went and I did that. Now if I send a more formal thank-you on snail-mail it wont be too stalker-ish.

Now the next question: His office is in DC, but he lives and works from NYC. He's only in DC once every other week for staff meetings. Other than that everything is done via conference call. Do I get his NYC office address from his secretary or just hope he doesn't make his decision before he gets back to DC?

[Stanley Burrell]

If he refuses to acknowlege your academic superiority, you can always threaten to break his laptop and run over his feline.

/leftfield

[Kranar]

I'd say thank you letters depend a lot on the type of industry.

I'd expect them to be appropriate for business/law or other highly professional fields.

[TheEschaton]

Send it to his NYC office. See if there isn't a way to find out the address in a non-secretary way.

-TheE-

[Gan]

Good. He told me to e-mail him when I was done to let him know how everything went and I did that. Now if I send a more formal thank-you on snail-mail it wont be too stalker-ish.

Now the next question: His office is in DC, but he lives and works from NYC. He's only in DC once every other week for staff meetings. Other than that everything is done via conference call. Do I get his NYC office address from his secretary or just hope he doesn't make his decision before he gets back to DC?

Send it to his NYC office. You can find the address out from a simple whitepages search of the firm or through the NYC bar association of listed firms. You can always call the secretary and just ask for the address in a casual general information sort of way without divulging yourself as an applicant. Secretaries are great gate keepers, and fearsome when it comes to accessing certain stuff. But general information such as physical addresses arent that hard to extrapolate.

[Skeeter]

I think it's hard to come accross as stalkerish when trying to land a solid job. Just shows you really want it, and are willing to go the extra mile.

[Parkbandit]

I'd say thank you letters depend a lot on the type of industry.

I'd expect them to be appropriate for business/law or other highly professional fields.

Absolutely. If you were going for a high tech type job.. snail mail thank you would kind of throw up a red flag.. like you aren't tech saavy enough to do something more tech related.

[TheEschaton]

And in a legal job, where your job is to produced documents by the pound - a paper thank you shows you still know how to use the pen.

-TheE-

[Gan]

And in a legal job, where your job is to produced documents by the pound - a paper thank you shows you still know how to use the pen.

-TheE-

The only downside is not being able to backspace and spellcheck. (believe me, I know)

So its good to write out a rough draft first. Then move to final copy when you're satisfied with how it reads and looks.

[Ilvane]

I know when I worked in HR at Harvard in one of my internships, they loved the handwritten notes. They actually kept them and in some cases it made a decision between calling someone for a second interview.

If you are really interested, it's always a good idea. Just don't go too overboard, but I really think that goes without saying.

Angela

[Goretawn]

A case of scotch wouldn't hurt either. Just a thought. :)

[Some Rogue]

A case of scotch wouldn't hurt either. Just a thought. :)

And hookers.

[Artha]

Goretawn, SomeRogue, would you guys be interested in interviewing for Artha Corp?

[Sean of the Thread]

Goretawn, SomeRogue, would you guys be interested in interviewing for Artha Corp?

Is your dad the CEO or something? Pretty sure you need pubic hairs before you can drink scotch and bang hookers.

[Keller]

Received my offer today.

[Hulkein]

Nice, congrats.