Applying for Off-Campus Employment: Writing a Follow-Up Letter

June 7th, 2014 by Jennifer Frankel

While it may be standard knowledge to submit a resume when applying for a job, many international students may be less familiar with the tradition of sending a follow-up letter after an interview.

Many universities around the world are loosening restrictions that previously limited, if permitted at all, the amount of hours international students could work for an off-campus employer. In many places where international students were previously unable to seek off-campus employment, those students are now sending out resumes and applications to businesses in their new host countries—most for the first time. That being said, it is important to know what to write in a follow-up letter, as well as what not to write.

Elements of a Good Follow-Up Letter

A follow-up letter is an applicant’s chance to directly thank the interviewing hiring manager for taking their time to consider him or her, as well as an opportunity to refresh the manager’s memory regarding some more positive points of the interview and to reiterate how well he or she would fit with the company. However, a hastily or poorly written follow-up note can be a disservice, so keep the following points in mind:

Personalize it. Don’t send a generic ‘Thank You’ form letter. This letter is being written directly to the hiring manager who interviewed you, so reference something real in their lives when thanking them. Maybe they mentioned a project they are swamped with—thank them for taking the time to consider your application despite his or her workload with project XYZ.

Reiterate Your Value. During the interview there may have been a number of positive interpersonal moments, or instances where the hiring manager mentioned projects wherein you felt your skills would be valuable contributions—the follow-up letter is the place to mention them. Don’t just mention you “feel your qualifications are a match for the position”, show the hiring manager you mean business and know that specific skill x will be a great asset to the company’s project y.

Timeliness. Be prompt in sending your follow-up letter. It should ideally be received one or two days after the interview.

Writing a follow-up letter or thank you note to a hiring manager is unlikely to change the outcome of a poor interview. However, sending a follow-up letter can certainly tip the scales in an applicant’s favor and help distinguish them from a group of similarly qualified applicants. Moreover, not sending a follow-up letter can harm an applicant’s chances of success.

That being said, international students should be sure to include writing cover and follow-up letters among their application procedures for finding off-campus employment.

Posted in Off campus employment, Work in the USA

15 Comments

Njilefac Chanceline says:

October 11, 2021 at 7:26 am

I need help and I trust this forum

Reply
- Al C says:
  
  October 13, 2021 at 5:04 am
  
  Thank you for your comment!
  
  How can we help?
  
  Reply
Njilefac Chanceline says:

October 11, 2021 at 7:27 am

Love to be help

Reply
YALEMSEW LASHITAW says:

October 15, 2021 at 1:50 am

I have got admission to Southern Illinois University in spring 2022. The school offered me $13000 scholarship aid but unfortunately, I can not afford the rest by myself, can I get any load as an international student in the USA?

Reply
- Al C says:
  
  October 15, 2021 at 5:59 am
  
  You can start the application process with no obligation and find all available lenders here: https://www.internationalstudentloan.com/apply/
  
  Reply
JENNY TIMOG says:

October 21, 2021 at 7:27 am

I am an international student fron philippines and i’ve got my study permit (canada). I need help for my tuition fee but my school was not in your list. I ready need help. Thanks in advance.

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- Al C says:
  
  October 22, 2021 at 6:06 am
  
  Unfortunately if a school is not on the list, then we do not have a loan program for the school, and I am not aware of any others for which you would be eligible. My best advice is to contact the school, as they should know if there are any loan programs available to their international students.
  
  Reply
Kingsley says:

October 28, 2021 at 4:23 am

I got accepted my Wingate University in North California and I’m from Nigeria can I be able to get financial assistance from anybody

Reply
- Al C says:
  
  October 29, 2021 at 4:56 am
  
  You can view scholarships that you might be eligible for by clicking on the following link:
  
  https://www.iefa.org/scholarships
  
  You can browse the awards or use our quick search tool which will narrow down the scholarships based on what you are studying, where you are studying, or where you are from.
  
  After you find a scholarship you are eligible for or interested in, you will need to contact the institution responsible for the scholarship directly. They can assist you with the application process and any questions you might have.
  
  You can also find out more in this post: https://blog.iefa.org/2021/02/15/how-to-find-international-scholarship/
  
  Reply
Amrita says:

April 3, 2022 at 12:54 pm

Hello. I got admission in the University of Oregon but it’s saying there are no available lenders when I search it up in your search tool. What can I do?

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- Al C says:
  
  April 4, 2022 at 10:37 am
  
  I’m sorry you have been unable to find a loan through our service. Each lender has its own criteria, and maybe if your circumstances change, you will be eligible in the future.
  
  We have information about cosigners here: https://www.internationalstudentloan.com/resources/how-to-find-a-cosigner.php
  
  And we do have loan programs available to international students studying at an approved school in the United States or Canada without a cosigner. For more information, see below:
  
  In the U.S.: https://www.internationalstudentloan.com/loan_information/no_cosigner_loan
  
  In Canada: https://www.internationalstudentloan.com/loan_information/international_students_canada
  
  Please let us know if you have any further questions.
  
  Reply
Jonnabelle Managuelod says:

November 4, 2022 at 10:47 am

I am an international student fron philippines and i’ve got my study permit (canada). I need help for my tuition fee…Is niagara college under ur program?My program is culinary management for 2 years

Reply
- Al C says:
  
  November 7, 2022 at 5:55 am
  
  You can view scholarships that you might be eligible for by clicking on the following link:
  
  https://www.iefa.org/scholarships
  
  Reply
Kashif ayax says:

March 21, 2023 at 6:48 am

I’m kashif ayaz from Pakistan.
Now I’m here student united kingdom
.now I needed same loan for further education please .
Thank you

Reply
- Charmone Wallace says:
  
  March 27, 2023 at 7:53 am
  
  Hi there!
  
  We’re happy to let you know that we offer loan programs for international students studying in the US or Canada and for US citizens/permanent residents studying abroad. Once you’ve been accepted and enrolled in an eligible school, you can apply for a loan. You can check out the list of eligible schools at https://www.internationalstudentloan.com/eligible_schools/all/ and start the application process to find all available lenders at https://www.internationalstudentloan.com/apply/.
  
  We hope this helps!
  The IEFA Team
  
  Reply