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you even have an opportunity to compete. A sloppy, decision to hire you. The acceptance letter often
unorganized cover letter and résumé may suggest follows a telephone conversation in which the terms
you are sloppy and unorganized at work. A lengthy, of employment are discussed. Figure 14.4 is a
wordy cover letter may suggest a verbose, unfocused sample acceptance letter.
individual (Beatty, 1991). The cover letter should
include the following (Anderson, 1992): Rejection Letter
Although not as common as the first three job
■ State your purpose in applying and your inter-
search letters, you should send a rejection letter if
est in a specific position. Also identify how you
you are declining an employment offer. When
learned about the position.
rejecting an employment offer, indicate that you
■ Emphasize your strongest qualifications that
have given the offer careful consideration but have
match the requirements for the position.
decided that the position does not fit your career
Provide evidence of experience and accomplish-
objectives and interests at this time. As with your
ments that relate to the available position, and
other letters, thank the employer for his or her con-
refer to your enclosed résumé.
sideration and offer. Figure 14.5 is a sample rejec-
■ Sell yourself. Convince this employer that you
tion letter.
have the qualifications and motivation to
perform in this position.
Using the Internet
■ Express appreciation to the reader for
It is not uncommon to search the Internet for posi-
consideration.
tions. Numerous sites either post positions or assist
If possible, address your cover letter to a specific per- potential employees in matching their skills with
son. If you do not have a name, call the health-care available employment. More and more corpora-
facility, and obtain the name of the human resources tions are using the Internet to reach wider audi-
supervisor. If you do not have a name, create a greet- ences. If you use the Internet in your search, it is
ing by adding the word “manager”so that your greet- always wise to follow up with a hard copy of your
ing reads: Dear Human Resources Manager or Dear résumé if an address is listed. Mention in your
Personnel Manager (Zedlitz,2003,p.19).Figure 14.2 cover letter that you sent your résumé via the
is an example of a cover letter. Internet and the date you did so. If you are using an
Internet-based service, follow up with an e-mail to
Thank-You Letter
ensure that your résumé was received. Table 14-2
Thank-you letters are important but seldom used summarized the major “do’s and don’ts”when using
tools in a job search. You should send a thank-you the Internet to job search.
letter to everyone who has helped in any way in
your job search. As stated earlier, promptness is The Interview Process
important. Thank-you letters should be sent out
within 24 hours to anyone who has interviewed Initial Interview
you.The letter (Banis,1994,p.4) should be used to:
Your first interview may be with the nurse manag-
■ Express appreciation er, someone in the human resources office, or an
■ Reemphasize your qualifications and the match interviewer at a job fair or even over the telephone.
between your qualifications and the available Regardless of with whom or where you interview,
position preparation is the key to success.
■ Restate your interest in the position You began the first step in the preparation
■ Provide any supplemental information not process with your SWOT analysis. If you did not
previously stated obtain any of the following information regarding
your prospective employer at that time, it is imper-
Figure 14.3 is a sample thank-you letter.
ative that you do it now (Impollonia, 2004):
Acceptance Letter ■ Key people in the organization
Write an acceptance letter to accept an offered posi- ■ Number of patients and employees
tion; confirm the terms of employment, such as ■ Types of services provided
salary and starting date; and reiterate the employer’s ■ Reputation in the community