Q: Has a thank you letter from an interviewee ever made you hire her? How about a candidate calling HR to "check how the search is going"?

Thank you notes are another gauge of a candidate's interest in working at a particular job. However, just as some people write them more than others, some interviewers will value them more than others.

How can you tell if your interviewer will respond to a letter? If a person gives you a business card, it may be a sign that they value this form of recognition. I personally never put much weight on them.

I don't have any direct experience with the second question, but common sense would suggest that it probably won't do much good to "check in" with the HR department. The phrase, "don't call us. We'll call you" is probably a worthwhile rule of thumb.

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Q: How should we approach alumni? How direct can we be about looking for an internship or job?

Alumni can be a great source; they can help you understand the skills necessary for certain jobs and the culture of different firms. But, be careful with a direct sales pitch.

Wanting to learn from the alum and cultivating a relationship are fine, but you will rarely get anywhere by asking directly for a job or reference. To get to this point, you cannot be direct. If they like you and think you have potential, they might just be willing to recommend you. Focus on cultivating a relationship and let things evolve as they may.

Are you wondering How to Get Hired? Join the discussion on my Facebook Group Polished and ask me anything you have ever wondered about resumes, cover letters, interviews, and job hunting!

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David: While you were recruiting, how did you feel about candidates asking you for feedback on their performance?

I do not mind if candidates ask me for feedback. However, many recruiters are instructed by their legal departments not to give specific feedback to candidates, so do not be surprised if your yield from such inquires is not very high.

Try focusing your requests to address additional skills or experiences which would make you more attractive, as opposed to soliciting direct feedback of why you did not make the cut. You may get a better response.

Are you wondering How to Get Hired? Join the discussion on my Facebook Group Polished and ask me anything you have ever wondered about resumes, cover letters, interviews, and job hunting!

Justin: With less experience, what magic can I do to impress employers?

It's not about magic; it's about understanding what you are good at and crafting a message that accentuates these skills. Start by asking yourself what you like to do and what you are passionate about. Populate your resume and cover letters with examples that illustrate these things.

The true you will come out and someone is bound to recognize your talent. It is a tough market out there. You cannot be passive. You must work hard at it and make it happen yourself.

Are you wondering How to Get Hired? Join the discussion on my Facebook Group Polished and ask me anything you have ever wondered about resumes, cover letters, interviews, and job hunting!

Gurbir: In terms of securing internships and getting jobs in the years to come, should I take relevant courses over the summer [or try to] get an internship?

Your future employers will be looking for clues as to whether you will be successful doing what they want you to do. The closer you can get to performing some of the skills that they will find valuable, the better off you will be.

Two future questions they will ask themselves about you are:
1) Do you have the skills necessary to be successful at my firm?
2) Will you find the work rewarding?

An internship can provide clues to both of these questions. Summer school can only offer insight into the first. An additional idea might be to approach a professor in the field you are curious about and see if you could help her with some of her research. This might shed light on both.

All are preferred to sitting on the couch and vegging over the summer!

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Mac: I don't really want to waste my time with internships or 'research' opportunities. Can I still get a job?

As a college student or first-time job seeker, you need to develop skills that an employer will find valuable. There are many different ways to do this. However, the more related your choices are to the roles for which you will be interviewing, the more relevant they will be to your prospective employers.

If you find yourself thinking that certain internship opportunities are a waste of time, you may be looking in the wrong places. Ask yourself what you really enjoy doing and look for internship or research opportunities that allow you to express these skills. Success is highly correlated with doing things that you enjoy: Richard Branson, Bill Gates... You can see the passion whenever they speak about their companies.

Are you wondering How to Get Hired? Join the discussion on my Facebook Group Polished and ask me anything you have ever wondered about resumes, cover letters, interviews, and job hunting!

Polished: Adding Shine to your Resume, Cover Letter, and Interview Skills is a complete job search guide written specifically for college students and other first time job seekers.



Here's the official description from my website:

"Written by R. Scott Morris, former CEO of the Boston Options Exchange and Managing Director at Goldman Sachs, Polished outlines the methods for success and the many pitfalls that doom most job seekers.

Scott has been working with the students in the Chicago Careers in Business program at the University of Chicago for the past three years. Polished is the culmination of his teaching and their insight. Many of the examples in this workbook are based on actual participants from this program.

Scott puts his experience to work for you!

Polished reveals invaluable tips that will make employers notice you! Real life examples from a seasoned executive will teach you how to put your best foot forward in all stages of the job search, including

* Cover Letters - create focused, concise prose that highlights your skills and advances you to the interview
* Resume - develop insightful techniques that make it easy for employers to find and understand your key selling points
* Interviewing - leverage the value of your first impression by crafting your appearance and articulating your words for maximum effect
* Career Choice - assess careers and organizations to find the best match with your own personality and professional goals

Polished gives you the tools you need for a successful job search. Author R. Scott Morris tells it like it is from his unique perspective as a hiring decision maker who has seen thousands of resumes and conducted hundreds of interviews. This book puts his experience to work for you!"

Let me know what you think!

Are you wondering How to Get Hired? Join the discussion on my Facebook Group Polished and ask me anything you have ever wondered about resumes, cover letters, interviews, and job hunting!