Interview tips : Need sample book back

I interviewed for a public relations position last week, which required one writing sample. I took my portfolio of samples and the manager asked if she could take the book. I sent a thank you note but have not heard back from her.

Any suggestions on how I ask for my portfolio back? By the way she said she would send it back this week (she lives in Houston) but I haven't received it at home and it hasn't been sent back to the Austin office. Suggestions on language (I will probably call her) that doesn't sound rude?

Thanks!

Since she said she'd send it back this week, I think you have to let the week play out. If you don't have it Friday, call her on Monday and just ask if she's had a chance to review it. That should lead right into "oh, I FedEx'd it on Friday you should get it any minute..."

I've only left my sample book once and that was with a local organization. I made a joke about them taking good care of it. I picked it back up from them a couple days later. That's pretty risky. Anything can happen to it especially with someone that's going to have to mail it back. On the other hand, it probably means they really are pretty interested in you and wanted to go over what was in there in more detail.

Good luck!

Tess

Thanks for the feedback. I was thinking the same thing, but wasn't sure. I've never handed over my portfolio before but thought it was OK and hoped they were interested in my abilities (more than usual interviewers).

Thanks again!

Maybe you can suggest that you'll pick it up on your first day of work, next week!

You might also say something like,

"I know you'll take care of it, but I do worry, I had someone else borrow it once before and they lost it. "

I agree with the others as far as your waiting at least a week or so for them to review things. But I wouldn't have even given it to them in the first place.

My approach would have been to do one of two things:

Have one or two samples copied in advance that they could keep, or
Just show them the folio and politely say that you cannot give it to them, but if they'd like to make a copy of one or two, that's OK.

Since you've already given it all to them, you've opened the door to their:

Losing it and leaving you with nothing
Writing on something, thus destroying a possible original
Refusing to return it saying that if you wanted it returned, you should have said so right then and there
Returning it and feeling that you weren't prepared for the fact that they would ask for it in the first place.

Of course, they may not take any of these attitudes, but they are risks you now face.

Career Tips

Need sample book back