For many companies, there comes a time when it’s necessary to let certain employees go, be it for financial reasons or as a result of a merger or restructure. Even if these workers are employed according to an at-will employment agreement, which gives employers room to terminate jobs without notice and for any cause, it is still customary to write an end of contract letter to formally notify the worker that they have been laid off.
If your letter is irrelevant and generic, it’s most likely just going to frustrate its recipient; if, however, the letter is well researched, appropriate, and personalized, it should ignite excitement and intrigue in the candidate. Few people enjoy searching for a new job, but most would want to hear about an amazing opportunity if it could translate into career growth, so receiving a headhunting email or letter can be exhilarating.
Also, always start off with an attention-grabbing opening sentence, include personal references so the recipient feels that you’re talking to them directly, and don’t go on and on about requirements and responsibilities.
Take a look at the job proposal letter sample below to get ideas for your own communication.
Job Proposal Letter Sample
January 21, 2017
Ashton Stewart
562 Pin Oak Drive
Hamilton, OH 45011
Dear Ashton Stewart,
I know you probably don’t have much spare time to read a letter from a complete stranger, but I just had to reach out to a fellow member of the West Fields Photography Club, especially one with the sort of resume that you have.
Terry Townsend, a current GAP employee and a former colleague of yours, also recommended I get in touch with you. He’s convinced that you and our company would be a perfect match, and I tend to agree.
Truth is, we have big things happening on the digital front here, and we’re looking for people with big talent to help drive the ship. More specifically, we’re in need of an Online Content Manager who can develop and implement the kind of strategies that win awards, and we feel you would thrive in this role.
The opportunity promises rapid growth. You’d work with some of the industry’s top minds, manage a dynamic team, travel internationally, be part of a business that’s about to change the online game, and have the option of working remotely most days (hello freedom). What’s more, we have an on-site restaurant that makes phenomenal burgers, and we’re partial to the odd laughter yoga session.
At the very least, I’d like the opportunity to be able to tell you more. Could I give you a call at 1pm on Tuesday, January 24?
Thanks so much for the time, and I look forward to discussing things further.
Sincerely,
Anthony Carr
Recruitment Officer
GAP
Note that the opening and second paragraph of this job proposal letter sample mention personal details of the candidate and commonalities with the recruiter (membership in a photography club and a mutual contact). This tactic makes it harder for the recipient to ignore the letter because they can see there’s an actual person on the other side who’s made the effort to research them.
The first sentence also features an unexpected acknowledgment of the fact that the candidate might not want to read such a letter, which makes the message more real and appealing. In fact, the tone of the whole letter is down-to-earth and personable, with the odd injection of humor – this gives a sense of the company culture.
Also note that the job proposal letter sample doesn’t waffle about the position and its duties, but rather focuses on what the candidate can gain from taking this position. Similarly, it doesn’t overwhelm the person by asking too much of them; instead, it merely requests a harmless chat.
The mention of a specific date and time for the meeting encourages the candidate to respond because it necessitates an answer. However, if no reply is received after a few days, you might want to send a short, courteous follow-up message.