August 2013 « Laufer and Associates

This month's featured article highlights the power of two magical words: "Thank You." As Ralph Waldo Emerson once said: "Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude."

Our article highlights the etiquettearound this essential step in landing your perfect job, but I stilled my mind for a moment to meditate on the mindful state of gratitude: the experience of feeling recognized for a deed done for the sheer selflessness of it, or being the recipient of a gesture that improves your state of mind or place in an overwhelmingly positive way. When transposing this act of gratitude into the interview process and work place, try to allow the genuine feeling of gratitude to transparently wash over into the written content of your letter; your reader (future boss?) will detect the difference!

Success Story: Bernadette Gaffney

"I began my job search immediately after graduation in May 2012. Though I had an English degree, I wanted to pursue a career in a different industry. I sent out countless applications online with no luck. If I applied to anything that didn't directly relate to English or Communications, I often wouldn't even hear back. I felt as though my lack of experience was stopping me from getting my foot in the door. I knew that I needed to change my approach but wasn't sure what to do.

Julie Laufer came highly recommended from a family friend who had a similar situation when she was starting out — trying to land her first job in a field that her major didn't line up with. My friend told me that Julie, unlike most recruiters, actually cared and listened to what she wanted in a new position, and was able to help her break into a different industry.

When I met with Julie for the first time, she asked insightful questions and helped me understand exactly what I wanted in a new position. She was incredibly professional, yet warm and genuine. I was amazed when she called me less than an hour later to set up a job interview! I know that my resume never would have gotten a second look if I had applied to this company's posting online.

From then on, Julie and Cristin were unbelievably supportive. They made everything so much easier for me; I couldn't believe that I struggled so long on my own without their help.

I just received and accepted a job offer this week through Laufer and Associates at an amazing company. From beginning to end, my experience with Laufer and Associates was completely positive. I look forward to keeping in touch with Julie and Cristin and know that they will be there if I am ever looking to reenter the job market."

– Bernadette Gaffney

Temp of the Month: Justys Renegado

"Moving to a new location, especially to a bustling metropolitan area like Boston, rich with history and mystique, can be both exciting and nerve-racking. Because Laufer and Associates began investing in me before I had arrived, their proactive support helped ease some of the anxieties of making a bold transition. When I did arrive, Cristin assigned me to a job placement within the week! Not only that, she also went

above and beyond and helped me get acclimated with the ecosystem and culture of Greater Boston by offering local insights on how to navigate the T, ways to get affordable health insurance, etc. The individual attention has been pleasant and unprecedented!

Ironically, the general manager of the company I work for received her permanent position through Laufer and Associates. She chose to work with Laufer and Associates because they won her loyalty and trust that their recruits are cut from the same quality of cloth. She has been a delight to work with, which gives me assurance in Laufer and Associates' staffing credibility, and it gives me confidence that they choose to work with me because they view my skills and experiences with esteem. I would gladly recommend Laufer and Associates to anyone looking for employment!"

– Justys Renegado

The Necessity of Thank You Notes

You just walked out of the best interview in your life. As you are floating on air to the T, you think to yourself "I know I landed that job." Or so you thought. Despite the fact that your interview went so well, your lack of follow-up lost you the opportunity. Clearly, this is a hypothetical situation, but it can happen to anyone. Once the in-person interview is over, your skills continue to be evaluated. Failure to follow-up can play a large factor in the hiring manager's final decision.

You can find thank you note samples all over the internet, but we believe the following points are extremely important when crafting a you-got-the-job-offer thank you note.

Say the Words

"Thank you for the opportunity to interview for the ______________ position."

Express Sincere Interest

Do you want the position? Let the recipient know. "I remain keenly interested and feel as though I make an excellent candidate for the role."

Make It Personal-Not TOO Personal

Think of something clever to say related to something the interviewer said. For example, "I enjoyed hearing about your recent successes in the quarterly marketing project your team just completed."

Reiterate Your Strengths

Help them remember why they want to hire you. "Given my ten years of experience working as an Executive Assistant, I am confident in my abilities to seamlessly coordinate and manage calendars, travel, meetings and conferences."

Clarify Unresolved Points

If there was a time during the interview where you felt stumped or didn't answer a question the way you would have liked, this is your chance to clarify. It is important to have a smooth transition prior to a clarification. "During the interview, you mentioned there is a heavy amount of paperwork for the person in this role to do. I believe there is no task too big or too small, and I pride myself on my
bility to handle many varying tasks at once."

The Closer

This is your last chance to offer clarification, express interest, and say the magic two words one more time. "If there is anything I can further clarify for you, please let me know. I am very interested in this opportunity and look forward to hearing about the next steps. Again, thank you for

your time and consideration."

Proofread

The importance of proofreading cannot be emphasized enough. Time after time, opportunities are lost because of poor spelling, improper usage of words, grammatical mistakes, etc. It is not because the interviewer is thinking, "I cannot believe they wrote the instead of they. How dare they!" Most likely, they are thinking about your attention to detail and your ability to properly construct a letter or email. If you are going to be representing their company, they want you to do so with the highest esteem. Attention to detail is of the utmost importance in the workplace.

If you need help writing a thank you letter, we are here to help. If you need help editing your thank you letter, we are here to help. Regardless of what you need, (can you guess what I am about to say?)

we are here to help!

LauferTrend

When it comes to the delivery method you choose for your thank you note, both hand-written and emailed letters are acceptable. Depending on the culture of the company you interview with, you candetermine which method you think they would prefer. If the company has more traditional values, a hand-written letter might be the best option. That being said, according to an Accountemps survey:

87 percent of hiring managers view emailed notes as an acceptable form of expressing thanks.

Regardless of your chosen delivery method, make sure to follow the steps listed above.

Referral Program

The rules are simple. Tell everyone you know about Laufer and Associates and have them view our website and contact us directly, or provide us with the names of qualified professionals. Once a person whom you have referred works as a temporary employee or gets placed permanently by Laufer and Associates at a client company, you will receive the cash amount listed below.

$100 Permanent Bonus– You are eligible for our $100 Referral Bonus if Laufer and Associates place your referral in a permanent position. Referral must stay employed in position for the length of our guarantee period, commonly 90 days.

$100 Temporary Bonus– You are eligible for our $100 Referral Bonus if Laufer and Associates place your referral in a temporary position. Referral must work as a temporary employee for at least 1,000 hours to qualify. There is no limit to the number of employees you may refer.

Our experience has also taught us that great candidates often know other great candidates, so be sure to take advantage of our referral bonus program.

We love hearing feedback, stories, and suggestions from past and present candidates. Please email them to me at [email protected].

Cristin Skjegstad

Communications & Marketing Manager

Laufer and Associates

109 State Street | Suite 401 | Boston, MA 02109

tel: 617-367-2800 | fax: 617-367-1600

E-mail: [email protected]

Web: www.lauferandassociates.net