The end goal of higher education experience is the opportunity to apply for a position to start ones career in their chosen field of study. Perhaps one of the most daunting tasks that comes as graduation day approaches is the need to request an interview at the firms and companies one wishes to work for to put their education to use and get that ideal career start. There are key ways to make a request for an interview and using some practical tips can assist in landing those all important interviews.

The first thing one needs to do in order to secure an interview is to create a list of potential employers. This is best done by searching through open positions and opportunities at companies in ones local area or in a location one plans to move to upon graduation.

The second tip is to compile a list of the appropriate contacts at each of those firms. These include directors of human resources and even executives. It is then key to make sure to have the correct spelling of everyone’s name and the correct address. This should all be logged and ready to go once your letter of request for an interview is complete.

The actual letter of request for an interview needs to be crafted in a professional manner. It is key to use good quality paper and utilize a printer that prints high quality documents. The letter needs to be in a business professional format that includes the name of company and the address at the top. The date of the letter then follows and should be the date the letter will in fact be sent. The proper salutation follows and is the prelude to the actual letter itself.

It is the body of the letter that is key and the best manner to create a good quality letter of request is to be brief, concise and to the point. One must start by introducing their educational, professional and areas of expertise right at the start. One should be polite and state explicitly the type of position they are seeking and why they would be a good candidate for the company. The letter concludes with a request, specifically stating, that an interview is being requested and that a response would be appreciated.

The end of the letter should have a professional signature and then be followed by your contact information that includes mailing address, phone number and email address. The letter is then mailed or copied in to the body of an email and sent off to the potential employers. One key tip is to record the dates when the letters were sent so that one can follow up after two to three full business weeks to inquire about the letter that was originally sent. In this follow up, one states, again, that they are requesting an interview.

When the proper protocol and process is followed, it is more likely that one will receive a call, letter or perhaps email asking them to come in to talk about their career goals and background. In the end, when everything falls in to place, even a soon to be graduate can land the starting position of their dreams to get their career headed down the right path.