Happy, Happy Joy, Joy

1
Happy, Happy Joy, Joy!

• The Fine Art of
• Good Will Hunting

2
What to avoid

• Obvious form letters
• General comments
• plastic sentiments
• Too long a lag time between event and response

3
Doing it right

• Give an immediate response
• Show specific knowledge of the situation
• Include your own thoughts and wishes
• Look forward

4
When?

• Any time something is worth praising
• Any time someone deserves thanks or appreciation
• Any time someone is recognized and deserves
  acknowledgement and congratulations
• Any time personal congratulations are appropriate
• Any time a business associate/client may need
  personal support
• Any time you are asked to give a reference (and
  are happy to do so)

5
Writing Rightor Two rights make it righter

• Keep the you view your appreciation is about
  the other persons efforts
• Be direct no need to buffer good news!
• Be brief theres no need to belabour things
• Be specific both about the reason for the letter
  and about any offers of assistance

6
Special Case References(ask and ye shall
receive)

• Open with a compliment
• Explain why you want this person to write you a
  referencewhats so special about his or her
  involvement?
• Give information that allows the reference writer
  to be specific and tailor the reference to the
  job or position you want
• SAY THANK YOU!!!

7
Writing a Reference

• Write only in response to requests
• Write only when you can be honestly positive
• Use only measurable evidence for claims
• Stick to job-related information
• Avoid personal information
• Be specific
• If negative comments are essential, supply
  documentation for your assessment
• Accentuate the positive, but dont fabricate it

8
Opening

• Name the candidate
• Name the position sought
• Name your relationship to the candidate
• Emphasize confidentiality

9
Body

• Describe the applicants job and responsibilities
• Describe performance of these
• Be specificuse examples/statistics
• Describe traits accuratelyand again, use
  statistics

10
Closing

• More general language, but directly related to
  the specific examples in the body
• Summarize the best qualities
• If you are losing the candidate to the new
  position, express regret
• Be positive about the candidates career
• You view
• Look forward

11
Special Case Form/Guide Letters(Dear Occupant)

• Use only for non-sensitive information
• Avoid the Readers Digest Sweepstakes letter
• Generally, save for information-only letters
• Make sure there are a sufficient number of
  variables to make it at least partly personalized
• Imagine receiving one before you send it
• Try it out on friends/family/co-workers first