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How to Follow Up an Inquiry Letter

Inquiry letters written to employers set out your qualifications for a job. They also end in a paragraph stating that you will follow up with the employer to arrange an interview. When you want to find out the status of your inquiry letter, your follow-up letter will include some of the same information, but it will remain brief.

Wait at least two weeks after you send your inquiry letter before you write your follow-up letter. This gives the employer enough time to consider your resume and whether there is a position available that would suit you.

Type the date on the top line of the letter on the left-hand side of the page. Skip a line, then type your name. Type your street address on the next line, and on the next, your city, state and zip code. Skip a line, and type the employer’s name. Put the employer’s title on the next line, and the name of the company on the next. This should be followed by the employer's street address on one line, and then the city, state and zip code on the next.

Skip two lines. Write: Dear (Mr., Ms., Mrs. or Dr.) and the last name of the person you wish to contact. Punctuate this line with a colon. For example, Dear Ms. Jones:

Leave a double space. Begin the text of your letter by reminding the employer that you sent in an inquiry letter on a certain date along with your resume. State that you wrote to inquire about the availability of openings for the position referenced in your letter.

Reiterate your interest in working for the company. In the second paragraph, write how you can benefit the company, not how the company can benefit you.

Close the letter with a statement that you hope to hear from the employer soon and look forward to discussing the possibility of your employment with the company in person.

End the letter with a closing such as sincerely or regards. Leave a blank space for a handwritten signature. Type your signature. Sign your letter in ink. Put your contact information below your typewritten signature to make it easy for the employer to respond to your letter.

Tip

Another option is to send an email that contains the same content as the letter, such as your reason for writing and how you are qualified for the job. This method is best to use if you know the employer uses email as a primary means of communication.

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Leyla Norman has been a writer since 2008 and is a certified English as a second language teacher. She also has a master's degree in development studies and a Bachelor of Arts in anthropology.