One of the hardest skills to find in people today is good follow-up. When you demonstrate to your future employer or funder that you have the best follow-up then you will stand out.
Whether you are seeking investment or a job, the follow up letter after you meet someone is most crucial. How do you write the best follow up letter?
Make it short.
- Express your interest in the job or getting the funding; but only if you really want it.
- If it is a job then remember your theme – reiterate the key strengths that you would bring to the job. If any revelations occurred during your discussion then repeat them here. Attach your resume.
- If it is funding, then make it shorter by attaching your executive summary. Let the executive summary stand on its own.
- Leave it with an action that you will be in touch in a week.
Send it within 24 business hours of your last discussion. Show them your good followup. However, if you do not send it in 24 hours, send it as soon as you can. Any follow up is better than today’s average: No Follow up!
As you can see, a follow-up letter works in the same way for the entrepreneur as for the job seeker. The elements are the same: reiterate the good impression, show them that you genuinely want to help them achieve success.
