Who is the classiest executive you have ever been around? This post and the letter below could make you a little classier.

I really enjoy the work I do, especially the chance to work with senior executives. They have a classy way about them, and after so many years I’ve begun to wonder if they weren’t classy from the very start of their careers.

Sometimes we think, “If I were that successful, I’d be classy too.” But I believe these folks were classy from the get go, from the day they started working. That is why people liked them and why they got promoted. Of course they were effective, super effective, but the class was always there.

If you talk with a senior executive even for a nanosecond during their job search, you will almost always get a classy note at the end of it. It reads something like the letter below. Feel free to use it to close out your next job search with class. An email works great today, and a handwritten card stands out even more.

Dear Joe,

I wanted to take a moment to thank you for your help in my recent job search. I very much appreciate the thoughtful advice you gave me and the time you spent with me.

I’m pleased to share that I have accepted the role of Big Shot Executive at ABC Company. I am thrilled to begin this new chapter, and I look forward to staying in touch and continuing to network with you.

It was a pleasure to meet you. Thank you again.

Kindest regards,
Big Shot Executive

One more tip: send a version of this note to everyone who helped along the way, from recruiters to former bosses to the people who made introductions. It takes five minutes, and people remember it for years.

Hiring? Reach the recruiters at Joseph Michaels International at info@josephmichaels.com or visit josephmichaels.com.