Correspondence Templates

The Career Education Office offers the following templates and suggested text to help students communicate effectively and proactively during their internship and job searches.

Resume

See the resume webpage for information, samples and a template.

Cover letter

See the cover letter webpage for information on how to write a cover letter and samples.

Scheduling a career conversation/networking

Networking is the process of developing relationships with professionals to exchange information, advice, and support. It is an on-going endeavor, done via in person or phone conversations. It’s important to communicate effectively and professionally to make a good impression.

Sample for scheduling a career conversation

Subject: Request for a brief career conversation

Hello [full name of contact],

My [professor/career adviser/friend], [their full name], gave me your name and encouraged me to reach out. I hope this email finds you doing well.

I’m exploring [internship/jobs/career paths] in [field/industry] and understand you work at [name of org or field].  I would love to hear about your experience there and your career path in general.

Would you have 15 minutes to speak with me?  Let me offer a few options to get us started: [give 2-4 specific day and time ranges, like Mondays between 2-4pm]

Thank you for considering my request.
[your name]

Sample thank you note after career conversation

Subject: Thanks for sharing your experience and advice 

Hi [Contact’s name],

Thank you for talking with me on [date of your conversation]. I enjoyed the opportunity to learn more about the field of [field or industry of interest] and your job as a [job title]. I appreciate you taking the time to share your insights into the skills and experience required to be successful in this field. I look forward to staying in touch.

May I be in touch again if I have more questions?  I look forward to staying in touch. 

Thanks again for your time,
[Your Name]

 

Elevator pitch or introduction

It’s helpful to have a short (30-60 second) introduction that captures another person’s interest and engages them in a conversation. You can use it in a variety of settings (when meeting someone at a networking event, party, conference, or job fair) to gain information and develop your professional network.

Sample introduction

Hello, I am [your name], a [major] at Goucher College, graduating in [grad month or year]. I have experience in [specific skills or experience relevant to the context in which you’re meeting someone]. I’m interested in [field, industry] and would love to know more about your experience or advice you’d share with a college student.  

 

Reference list

Identify 3-5 relevant contacts who can speak about your professional abilities in different settings (such as an internship supervisor, a professor, a club advisor, & a manager at work). Contact each reference before you submit their name to make sure they feel comfortable speaking about you. You should brief them on the position you’re applying for and give them a copy of your resume.

Create a separate document for your reference by using the same header as your resume. List your references in the order in which you would like them to be contacted. While some prospective employers will contact all listed, some may only reach out to one or two. Ensure that your best reference is at the top of your list.

Sample reference list

Full Name of contact, Title

Department, Organization Name

Full mailing address, including city, state and zip code

Phone Number

Email Address

(Optional) A brief note if a contact is no longer working at the organization where you worked, such as “Former supervisor at Goucher College Career Education Office”

 

Follow-up after applying to a position

Sample follow-up after applying to a position

Subject: Follow-up to application for [job title] position

Dear [Person to whom the cover letter was addressed],

I hope this finds you well. I am writing to follow up on my application for the [job title] position, which I submitted on [date].

I am very enthusiastic about the opportunity to join [organization name] and believe my skills in [mention 1-2 relevant skills] align well with the requirements of this role. I am particularly excited about [mention something specific that excites you about the role or company].  

I would appreciate it if you could provide an update on the status of my application or any next steps in  the hiring process. If there's any additional information I can provide, please don't hesitate to ask.  

Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely, 
[Your Name] 
 

 

Post interview communications

Take a moment to reflect after each interview. Write a note within 24-48 hours which thanks the interviewer(s) for their time and reminds them of your interest and qualifications. You can also use thank you notes to expand on a point that you discussed in the interview or reference something you learned about the company in the interview that impressed you.

Sample thank you note after interview

Subject: I enjoyed meeting you and discussing the [job title] position  

Dear [Interviewer’s name]

Thank you for taking the time to discuss the [name of position] at [organization name] with me on [date of interview]. I enjoyed meeting you and learning more about the position. I’m excited by the opportunity to join your team, especially [share 1-2 things – aspect of the role that was interesting, fact about the organization, etc.]

I believe my [2-3 skills discussed that are valuable to the job] would make me a good fit for this position. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Thanks again for your time and consideration,
[Your Name]

Sample follow-up after interview

Subject: Follow-up to interview for [job title] position

Dear [Interviewer’s name],

I recently interviewed for the position of [Position Title] on [date and time of the interview]. It was great to meet with you to discuss the position.  

I am reaching out to check in on the status of the position. I'm still very interested in becoming a part of your team and believe my [2-3 skills discussed in the interview] would make me a good fit for this position.  

Please, let me know if you have an update and if there are any additional details I could provide to help  the hiring process.

Thanks again for your time and consideration, 
[Your Name]