Networking Letters
Networking letters and letters of inquiry are unlike cover letters in that they are not focused on a particular job that you know to be available.
Informational interviewsWrite a networking letter or e-mail to request an informational interview. During an informational interview (which usually lasts 20-30 minutes), you are not asking for a job. Rather, you are asking for information about a particular field, type of position or company.
What to say in your letterIn your letter, introduce yourself, say how you found the person’s name and briefly suggest what you would like to learn from her or him. Then say how you will follow up. Keep the ball in your court, because it allows you to be in touch whether or not you hear back.
Sample networking letterMr. Thomas Addidas
Public Relations
Aardvark and Aresty
1450 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 21112
Dear Mr. Addidas,
As a junior at Northeastern University in Boston, majoring in Communications and specializing in Marketing Communications, I am in the process of researching organizations that are leaders in this field. I was given your name by Anne Obligato from Halitosh and Burden in Boston. She recommended you as an excellent source of information on the industry.
Would you be willing to meet with me for a short informational interview sometime during the third week of June, when I plan to be in New York? I am interested in finding out how you began your career, and what recommendations you might make to someone starting out in the field.
I will call you next week to see if we can arrange a meeting at a time that works for both of us. Thanks so much, in advance, for the insight and advice Anne suggested you would be willing to share.
Sincerely,
Robin Reading
Cover Letters
Networking Letters
Letters of Inquiry
Thank-You Notes
List of References