Interviews, Thank Yous, and

Follow Ups

DR. WILLIAM C. KURLINKUS

TECHNICAL WRITING
Everybody Writes pp. 1-55

Everybody writes is a marketing and professional

writing bookits about content creation
Content: engaging stories about a company that help
users/customers achieve a goal through providing
data and a call to action.
Utility x Inspiration x Empathy = Quality Content
Dont write a lot. Just write often. [habit, pomodoro]
5-paragraph essay: Good professional writers are
expert novices they can quickly perform genre
analyses
Everybody Writes pp. 1-55

Power Sentences: Place the most important words (and ideas)

at the beginning of each sentence.
Show me who is acting (the subject) what they are doing (the verb) and
what they are acting on (the object) as soon as possible. Avoid to many
weak verbs, prepositions, and starting sentences with long prepositional
phrases (although, while...).
The point I wish to make is that the employees working at this
company are in need of a much better manager of their money.
Write for a Reason: Whats the client/business goal? Whats
the consumer goal? Whats the call to action over which the
two meet?
Step Back: Be bored, stop writing, take time, comeback with
fresh skeptical eyes.
Types of Editing

Editor in Chief: The boss, assigns tasks, sets the tone of the
house/department/.
Acquisitions/Commissioning Editor: Search for new
authors/manuscripts
Copy Editor: Proof copy, grammar, punctuation, spelling,
visual layout.
Developmental/Substantive Editor: Guide an author through
the entire process of writing from the very beginning. Changes
hard content and story flow more than any other editor.
Proofreader: final read through people with fine-toothed
combs.
 Assignment Sheet

GRADE COVER LETTERS

Glassdoor.com

Has specific position descriptions, company profiles

and reviews from employees, and salaries at different
levels of the company.
Often has common interview questions.
Interview Tips: Things to Bring/Prepare

Research two key pieces of information about the company that

you might be interested in talking about. Check the companys
linked in and also look at people who work at the company. If
possible, even research the interviewer.
Create a T-Chart of the key hard and soft skills from the job ad on
one side and your key examples/stories that you can tell when they
ask: why are you qualified? Think of these as case studies if you
want.
Bring several resumes, a nice looking pen and notepad/portfolio,
examples of your work if applicable or a performance evaluation.
Take notes during and afterespecially take note of something
interesting that you talked about that could be useful in a thank
you letter.
Interview Tips: Questions

Tell us something about yourself. Tell them about your prior experiences, in you
language. Illustrate skill. If you add something that you actually enjoy doing beyond
hard experience (which you should), try to make this fun thing illustrate some soft
skillI love rock climbing, its all about problem solving vs. I like watching tv.
Why do you want to work for us? Describe what youve researched about the
company and how that fits into your career goals and ethos.
Why are you qualified?
What could you offer us that other candidates cannot? In addition to these things
you ask for in your job ad, I have experience doing
What is your greatest strength?
What is your greatest weakness?One that you have solved or are actively solving.
Tell us a time when you solved a problem/conflict in your work? Prepare an
example of showing leadership, moving yourself or a team through something
What are your career goals? State what you would like to accomplish with/for the
company, talk about where the field is going
Interview Tips: Questions You Ask

YOU MUST HAVE QUESTIONS! When appropriate, try to ask a

question or two in other areas of the interviewhave a conversation
Do a reverse interview:
What are you excited about in the company?
What big projects are next?
What kind of projects would I tackle first?
How can I help your company meet its goals?
Ask follow-up questions to these.
Have a company specific question for each interview
Is there support for continuing education so that you can stay on top
of changes/advances in your field.
Starting date
Next step in the hiring process
Etiquette

Turn off your cell phone

Dress up
Shake hands coming and going and state your name as
you are doing this
Dont interrupt questions
Dont say negative things (about yourself or a previous
job)
Make eye contact
Take notes
Thank them for their timestate their name
What Advice Have You Been
Given

???
 Thank You Letters
Thank them within two days
(email)
Thank them for the interview.
Ask what the next steps are.
Tell them you are still interested.
Remind them of one interesting
thing that you talked about,
specific to your interview.
Im really excited about the
opportunity youre offering; this
seems like an exciting time for
the business and the role is a
great fit for my skill set and
experience. If you need any
additional documents or
information from me, do let me
know.
Dont pressure them.