I'm the "Dear Abby" of job seekers — at least for my friends and family. You see, because I'm in the business, they like to call me with questions about finding a new job, interviewing, writing resumes, working through the processes and everything in between. I don't mind. I'm all too willing to give you my opinion about anything at any time (which can be a blessing or a curse!)

So it wasn't unusual that a few weeks ago I was coaching my best friend (since fourth grade, no less!) Maureen, who is a talented special needs educator. She was going through the process of landing a pretty exciting new job in a new school district. Everything seemed to be on track. All meetings had gone very well and a verbal offer had been extended. She was thrilled.

I was really surprised when I got a call from her last week telling me that she had turned down the offer that she was on track to accept. It was when Maureen got the offer letter that severe disappointment set in. "I don't understand it," she told me. "It has no wording about what I will be doing, or the programs we had discussed or even my areas of responsibility. And, it was for the same pay I'm making now. I'm really disappointed. It's just flat." That lifeless letter was enough to deaden Maureen's enthusiasm for the job.

It's Not a Technicality

Many times the writing of the offer letter itself is seen as a technicality to the hiring manager. It's a task that is passed off to the HR specialist, and the hiring manager actually has nothing to do with it except to possibly approve the numbers. Nothing could be further from the truth. Here's why…

Remember — It's Not Over Yet!

While everyone involved, candidate and hiring manager, may seem "on board" with the fact that it's a "fait accompli," it's not. In the immortal words of Yogi Berra, "It ain't over till it's over." So make your offer letter compelling and be as involved in the crafting of the letter and the receipt of an affirmative as you are in every other step of the hiring process.

Write a Compelling "Offer Love Letter"

What Maureen got was what I call "The Offer Form Letter" and it can be just as she described it — flat! We all have one of those in our files. Here's my suggestion for what you should do with it — dump it! Well, dump most of it at least. I know there are parts of the letter that are necessary for HR reasons and I'm not suggesting you dump these, but keep what you need and then add the compelling offer "love letter" components.

Here's how you "woo and wow" in the letter:

• Recap Your Interview/Reiterate Your Plan — Write some of the strategies and suggestions that were discussed during the interview process. (e.g., "We are excited that you will be growing our metro New York regional sales and look forward to helping you be successful in your sales career with us.")
• Tell Them You Want Them — Everyone wants to be wanted, and the offer letter is the perfect place to make that clear. Include a sentence like, "We know you will be an important contributor to our marketing team and we are very excited about the valuable impact you can have on our 2007 Strategic Marketing Plan and our business moving forward."
• Show Them the Money — While there are exceptions to every rule, never, ever pay someone (especially someone who you have been wooing and wowing!) the same amount of money as they are making now. I don't care if it's only $100 or $1000 more than they are currently making, your offer should be for more money. Why? There is an important psychological factor in earning even a little more money when you take a new job. And there's a real "disconnect" when a candidate has been wooed and wowed and then receives an offer letter for no more money than they are currently making. There's nothing that will dampen someone's enthusiasm for your company faster.
• Send Them a Present — I know of a company that includes a company tee shirt in their offer packet. I think it's a nice touch. If you've got those tees, squeeze balls or portfolios in the marketing department closet, get one out and send it. Instead of an offer letter envelope, they receive an offer box! It's an inexpensive way to earn lots and lots of good feelings.

Do you have something fun and unusual that you do when making an offer? If so, I'd like to know. I'll publish the most fun and creative in next month's newsletter, so click here to tell me!