As a DOD contractor scum in Korea, I will give you my views interspersed with your 3 questions. Good luck.
George A ----- Original Message ----- From: "Gary L. Nunn" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Brin Mail List" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Sunday, February 09, 2003 2:28 AM Subject: Job Search Etiquette > > > Recently I have begun a new job search after working happily as > contractor scum for five years for the Department of Defense. > > I have read a great deal of do's and don'ts as far as what you should > and should not do for resumes, interviews, post interview, etc. And > unfortunately, much of the information is contradictory from source to > source. > > So I will put the questions to the smartest group of people that I know. > :-) > > 1. After an interview (phone or in person) is it appropriate to send a > thank you - either a hand written card or an email. Since I am looking > for jobs in the IT field, I tend to favor email. Some sources say the > "thank you" is virtually mandatory and some sources say that it is more > of an annoyance because they don't want to waste the time to read them. > My experience is that a Thank You is a good thing to do. It should be short and to the point. Most interviewers are busy and don't need a lot more to read. However, a thought note just puts your name back in their head. An e-mail should do fine. "I want to thank you for interview earlier this week. I appreciate the opportunity and looking forward to hearing from you soon." > 2. Recently I have been contacting companies to find the name of the > person that will be actually receiving my resume and addressing this to > them directly. The source that gave me this idea says that this shows > initiative. Any thoughts? I have not heard of anyone asking for the interviewer name. Over here, I would receive an e-mail stating that Mr. or Ms. XXX would be interviewing me at such and such a time at wherever. What you suggest would show iniative and an active interest in the process and opportunity. I'd say go for it. > > 3. This question is one that I am personally on the fence with - My > supervisor at the DoD is really great about supporting people when they > have opportunities to move up and advance in position, job or salary. He > consistently has given glowing references for all of us. So, I put in my > cover letters that my supervisor is aware that I am seeking other > employment and is listed as one of my professional references. I had a > recruiter tell me that this gives a negative impression - kind of like > we are mutually agreeing that I should leave. I have always thought this > would be a positive since they could always contact my current employer > for a reference. Any thoughts on this specific issue would be > appreciated. > I wouldn't do this. Most interview paperwork will have a question about if it is okay to contact your current employer. I'd "check" that block and let them contact if they wish--most will. > 4. Any other thoughts or advice on questions not covered here would also > be appreciated. As in all things, the interviewer is a variable and you can't know ahead of time whether they like e-mails or notes or thanks yous, etc. In my experience, a positive yet aggressive approach is best. The key will be the face-to-face anyway. Hope this helps. > > Thanks in advance. > > Gary > > > Bad cable TV story plots maru. > > This is a Science Fiction/Sports story set in a nursing home for the > elderly where a karate champion travels through time, trying to > escape the murder rap of a lost love while desperately searching for a > kleptomaniac priest who pretends to be a peanut farmer in Rio who > recently > became involved with a writer who may be a manic-depressive > blood-sucking model. > > _______________________________________________ > http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l > _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
