5 Ways to Cultivate Your Network Over the Holidays

The end of the year is approaching and you likely have a lot to do before taking some time off over the holidays. Without adding to your stress here are 5 ways to cultivate and enhance your network over the next few weeks.

1. Attend that holiday party. Yes, sometimes the company party seems like a waste of time and you're tempted to skip it or make a brief appearance. Resist that temptation. The company party is a good opportunity to develop deeper relationships with others in your company as you likely will have a chance to talk about more than just work. Going beyond the superficial discussion of projects can enhance the relationships with those you work with and provide new career opportunities in the future. And, at the holiday party, you just might get some time to talk with the company president or CEO.

2. Send a card to your top 5 business associates. If your company uses freelancers or vendors for any part of the business be sure to send a card of thanks to the most important ones you work with. Personalize the card and use it as an opportunity to strengthen the relationship you have. You never know, you just might want to contact one of these vendors or freelancers for a job in the future.

3. Smile and bring some joy to your coworkers. Build on your relationships with coworkers by having a positive attitude over the holiday. By smiling and being positive you can help to reduce the stress your colleagues might be experiencing. Some holiday cookies might even help too!

4. Send an email of thanks to your colleagues. Think about some of your colleagues and co-workers and consider those who have helped you in some way over the past year. It's unlikely you're a lone ranger so you probably depend on support from many others in your company. Prepare a brief email of thanks for some of these partners and you'll likely make their day and strengthen your relationship with them.

5. Send a note of good wishes to new contacts. Have you attended a conference or networking event during this past year? Perhaps you've started doing business with another company or vendor. If so, take a few minutes to send a note of reintroduction, extending well wishes for a happy holiday and new year.

If you spend a few hours implementing some of the ideas above over the next few weeks you'll likely strengthen your network and deepen your friendships, helping you enjoy your job and career even more.

Common Considerations When Sending Your Interview Follow-up Letter

One of the most commonly cited causes of stress in the interviewing process is the feeling of a lack of control. Once you have finished your interview - no matter how well it went - the next few days (or weeks in some cases) are the hardest of all. While you can't control the candidate pool and you can't control the hiring manager's decision making process, you can exercise some control over how you are perceived.

The statistics vary regarding how many job seekers send these letters, the numbers range from 1 in 50 to 1 in 300. No matter the numbers, the post-interview follow-up letter is an often-overlooked tool that can be used to stand out from the crowd. Sending a follow-up thank you note goes beyond common courtesy and manners. This letter conveys your interest, further establishes a very important communication link, and allows you to address any unspoken information.

Should You Always Send a Letter?
The short answer is yes, after every interview. However, there will be interviews in which you decide you are not really interested in the job for a number of reasons - job duties, environment, company culture, or the boss just to name a few. However, you should still send a note thanking the interviewer for their time. Build bridges and expand your network - even when you are no longer seeking the position.

When Should You Send the Letter?
Ideally, the letter should be on its way within 24 hours. The bottom line is that you do not know how or when they are officially making their decision. You want your thank you letter to be in the decision makers hands as soon as possible.

How Should You Send the Letter?
If you are an effective written communicator and you have legible handwriting, consider keeping thank you cards in the car. Write your thank you right after the interview, walk it back in, and leave it with the receptionist. However, sending your letter by email is perfectly acceptable. Remember to avoid all CAPS, check for spelling and grammatical errors, and look at your email signature and account name before sending your letter via email.

What Should be Included in the Letter?
The letter should be concise and straightforward, though there are some content requirements.

• Sincerely thank the interviewer for their time. 
• Demonstrate that you researched the company and have really thought about how you can help them fill their need or resolve their problem. 
• Remind the interviewer of what you feel was your key selling point in the interview. 
• Connect the letter with your interview by adding something personal (love of cats, sports teams, etc.) that helped you establish rapport with the interviewer.
• Clearly state your interest in the position and provide your value statement of what makes you cost-effective. 
• Offer a timeline of when you will follow up with them the next time.

Job Search Pointers You’re Not Sure Are Worthwhile

Have you occasionally found yourself wondering whether certain job-search pointers are worth your effort and time? Read on. Many hiring managers, recruiters, career coaches, and others agree that the following pointers may indeed get you noticed and make the difference in how you are perceived as a job candidate.

Ask a Professional to Proofread Your Resume: Anyone will tell you one of the worst mistakes you can make is to submit a resume containing a spelling error. Yet, it is a common mistake. Do yourself a huge favor and ask a professional proofreader or editor to look over your resume. Rates vary depending on geography and the experience of the editor, but a good median range is $30 to $40 per hour. Save money by reviewing your resume closely before handing it off for proofreading or editing.

Write Targeted Cover Letters: Many job seekers question whether they should bother submitting a cover letter with each resume. The answer is “yes,” and make sure the letter is targeted to the position you are pursuing.

Don’t Overlook the Value of Volunteer Work: Volunteering is a great way to use existing skills and talents, acquire new ones, and meet new people. Volunteer when you have the opportunity, and then include on your resume those skills that will translate well in the job market.

Follow Up After An Interview: Have you ever attended an interview and then not heard anything back? Hiring can be an incredibly slow process, involving several steps and people. Always challenge yourself to follow up about the job status after the interview. This gives you an opportunity to enthusiastically reiterate your interest in the job and the company.

Send a Thank You: Many job seekers neglect to send a thank you after interviewing or after receiving help with a job search. Don’t underestimate the importance in sending a thank you. When possible, send a handwritten note. This gesture is often noticed and appreciated.

Five Thank You Note Mistakes to Avoid

The thank you note is a mainstay in professional culture. Thanking the interviewer for her time shows graciousness and politeness, a reflection of the worker that you will be. However, there are mistakes to avoid when preparing thank you notes. Follow these tips to make sure what you send has impact:

1. Sending the note too early: this might seem counter-intuitive, but makes sense when you think about it. Thank you notes have become relegated to the "box interviewees check" category, to the point where the tone of the note can appear to be "I'm doing this because I have to." The timing of the note is a perfect example of this idea: sending a note minutes after your interview (or, worse, writing the note before the interview) puts you into this perfunctory category. Send a thank you note within 48 hours after your interview, but give it at lease two to three hours to show that you are not simply acting on an obligation and being disingenuous.

2. Failing to advocate for your candidacy: do not simply thank the interviewer for her time in your note: use it as an opportunity to readdress specific points brought up in the interview and how your knowledge, skills, abilities, and other personal qualities can help the organization reach its goals. Perhaps you thought of a better example that more clearly demonstrates how you can help solve an organizational problem, or there was a skill that you want to emphasize. Addressing these points shows how the thank you note is not a mere professional obligation, but an extension of the interview and positions you as the strongest possible candidate.

3. Spelling & grammar errors: it goes without saying, but candidates can hurt their chances by not proofreading their work. Do yourself and your career a favor by double-checking for spelling and grammar errors.

4. Believing you have to send a physical note: there are arguments abound whether sending a physical note or an email makes you stand out as a candidate. In our current business environment, either one is acceptable. When you get down to it, it is the content of the note that will make you stand out. Focus on your content...not on the delivery method.

5. Not sending notes in other professional contexts: thank you notes do not have to be (and should not be) exclusively for interviews. Strong leaders see the contributions of their supervisors, colleagues, and supervisees, and send pointed and specific thank you notes to show them appreciation for their efforts. Incorporate this into your professional life and see the difference that it makes.

Do you have any thank you note tips that have been successful for you? If so, leave them in the comments.

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup

This is our weekly roundup of some of the best career-related articles, interviews, blogs, etc., we've read during the week. We share these every weekend so you have some great resources to prepare you for the coming week. Enjoy!

1. The Big Career Shift: Your Financial Checklist
"Money is the biggest stumbling block when it comes to changing careers later in life. That’s because starting over in a new field, particularly a philanthropic one, or going the self-employment route usually comes with a price tag, at least initially."

2. Don't Let your Job Search Depress You
"If you are looking for a job right now, it is certain to take longer than you would like... So how do you keep your spirits up in such a tough environment?"

3. 7 Goofs to Avoid on a Thank-You Email
"Writing a well-crafted thank-you email following a job interview can give you a positive boost. It shows you're an organized, courteous, eager, and savvy professional."

4. Watch Your Mouth: Office Gossip and Other No-Nos 
"Whenever you hear something juicy about a colleague, whether it is related to work or not, you have the immediate impulse to share it across the hall."

5. Advice I Wish I Had Before Transitioning into Post-Grad Life
"College is the best time to test different fields and career paths and try to figure out what you really want in life. Take advantage of this opportunity by exploring as much as you can."

The Power of the Thank You Note

If you are seeking a simple and fast way to set yourself apart from other job seekers, the thank you note may be just the thing. Most experts agree that every job seeker should follow every interview with a thank you note. However, studies show that only about 5% of job seekers complete this critical step in the hiring process.

A well-written thank you note will probably not make or break your job search. However the thank you note could be the tipping point that leans the interviewer to select you, it could keep a door open that may have been closed, and it will definitely make you more memorable to the interviewer.

Thank you notes demonstrate professionalism and good manners, and indicate that you are organized and on top of the details. Thank you notes can be used to summarize the points covered in the interview, express your interest in the position, and show you are serious about your career. Here are some guidelines to writing and effective thank you note.

• Keep it short, professional, and personalized. The letter should be no more than one page – preferably no more than three paragraphs. Address the interviewer personally and remind them of something specific you discussed in the interview.

• Always send the letter within 24 hours of the interview. Consider keeping note cards in your car. After the interview, go out to your car and write the card. Walk it back into the receptionist and your interviewer will have it by the end of the day. Of course, this only works if your handwriting and spelling skills are professional.

• Choose the delivery method based on each situation. Hand-delivered or mailed is the best option. A thank you email is less professional and impactful. However, if the decision is going to be made by the end of day you may have to send an email.

• Appearance is important. The thank you should be printed on matching paper with the same heading and font as your resume and cover letter. If hand-written, the thank you must be neatly written and legible on professional stationery.

• Always express your interest in the job and the company.

• Always sign the letter by hand if mailed or hand-delivered.