Hello hello,I received the below letter from a frustrated job seeker —and it echoed the sentiments I’ve heard from a lot of you. She found my response helpful, so I thought I’d send it out as a Wow as well:Hi Frances,I, and MANY friends, have found that after applying to a job (both online and when you've made it to the last round of interviewing), a lot of companies won't even do you the courtesy of sending the "thanks but we're not interested" stock letter. So you're left wondering and waiting.How long should I be persistent and when does it get obnoxious?Thanks! Dear Everyone Who is Waiting for a Reply;I would email again and-- if you haven't heard in a week-- call and say, "I emailed on X and Y dates, and thought it was time to follow up via telephone."This phrasing works because it begins with the facts --they can check their records and find your emails—and it also takes the onus on you : you’re just calling because you thought it was time to follow up. It's not that they are a loser and didn't follow up.I would also send snail mail with printouts of your emails. Again, cheerfulness is key , "I thought I would send this to you via snail mail as well, as I’m sure you're inundated this time of year and I am hoping to stand out."Again, you’re just stating the facts—not to mention handing them a paper trail—and the only reason you’re writing is because you’re hoping to stand out . It’s not that they can’t seem to get a grip on their in box.You've got nothing to lose. As long as you're tone stays upbeat you're not obnoxious, you’re simply persistent-- an admirable trait. Sincerely, Frances www.FrancesColeJones.com
Frances Cole Jones founded Cole Media Management in 1997 to help clients identify and cultivate their inherent strengths and, through these, develop the powerful communication skills that enhance personal and professional performance. Writing The Wow Factor and How to Wow has been her way of reaching a wider audience, “My goal is to have every person who picks these up, put them down feel more confident in their ability to present their best self --in any situation.” Prior to founding Cole Media Management, Frances worked at St. Martin’s Press, Viking Penguin, Doubleday, and Broadway Books as an editor of commercial nonfiction, working on popular psychology, parenting, self-help and how-to books. The experience of helping authors translate their ideas into books that retained their unique voice is what makes her valuable to her clients. “There’s no point in my writing a perfectly crafted sound bite that you have to strain to remember,” Frances says. “You have to sound like you—authenticity is integral to trust.” As President of Cole Media Management, Frances’ clients have appeared on The Today Show, Good Morning America, Oprah, C-SPAN, CNN, Squawkbox, The Charlie Rose Show, Larry King Live, The Discovery Channel, The BBC News, E! Entertainment, Access Hollywood, Project Runway, Top Chef, ESPN, Extra! Fox and Friends, The View, Cashin’ In, QVC and others. Clients' print interviews have appeared in publications including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Forbes, Newsweek, Vogue, W, O Magazine, Town & Country, Harper's Bazaar, Tatler, etc. The scope of their work includes preparation for television and print interviews, IPO road shows, meetings with potential investors, and internal meetings with partners, sales staff, and in-house personnel. They also provide presentation skills seminars and speechwriting for clients. Frances also writes for WomenOnBusiness.com, Intent.com, DivineCaroline.com, and Executive Travel. Her first book, HOW TO WOW, was published by Ballantine in 2008.
