Follow-up letters are exactly that–letters that you write to follow up on previous correspondence (your resume and cover letter) that you sent but from which you have had no response. When writing follow-up letters, you have 3 primary objectives:
- To reiterate your interest in the advertised position.
- To highlight your most relevant experience, skills, and qualifications.
- To ask for an interview.
For these letters, you will use the same letter category that you used for the first letter you sent. If your first letter was a letter in response to a company advertisement, you will send that same type of letter again. The only difference is that you will change the text and not send the exact same letter.
Just as you want your letters to be complementary to your resume, you want your follow-up letters to be complementary to, not repetitive of, the first letter that you sent. Communicate similar achievements of your career using different language, examples, and highlights.
Follow-up letters generally begin with a reference to your previous correspondence and the reason for your contact; for example:
Several weeks ago I forwarded a letter and resume in response to your advertisement for an Insurance Agent, and I would like to reiterate my interest in the position.
My six years of experience in insurance sales and brokerage services have provided me with precisely the skills and qualifications highlighted in your advertisement.
With that introductory paragraph, you’ve immediately communicated
- Why you’re writing to that company.
- The fact that you’ve previously contacted them.
- That your experience is identical to their requirements.
Always be certain to include another copy of your resume with your follow up letter, even though you sent one previously. If you are fortunate enough to capture your reader’s attention with the letter, you want them to be able to quickly review your resume instead of spending an hour searching through a pile of resumes collected over the past month (because they probably won’t take the time to make such a search).
Characteristics
Follow-up letters are characterized by the following:
- Introductory paragraph. Follow-up letters begin with three essential elements: why you’re writing, that you’ve contacted them before, and that your experience closely matches their requirements.
- Creativity. When writing follow-up letters, you must think of new words and phrases to describe your experience, highlight your accomplishments, and capture your reader’s attention. These letters must not repeat word for word what you’ve already said in your resume and your first cover letter.