Our recent blog post – Why You Will Never Get Hired At Our PR Firm, a lament on the lack of gratitude expressed by many in the job market – spawned a host of thoughtful replies from both employers and jobseekers alike.
One of the interesting questions that several job hunters asked was: Does it matter if a thank-you note is handwritten or emailed?
Great question. I do have a point of view on this, but before I share my thoughts, let me give you some feedback from others.
We asked our friends and clients at Salveson Stetson Gr
oup, a Philadelphia retained executive search firm that specializes in senior-level searches. I was particularly interested in hearing their thoughts, given that they spend every day interviewing and assessing candidates for corporate and non-profit clients who have hired them to fill leadership openings.
Founder and Principal Sally Stetson finds handwritten notes more memorable. “I receive so few handwritten notes that I actually read them and remember that they reconnected with me. I have also been impressed when someone sends a note on a unique, high quality note card.”
Sally’s partner at Salveson Stetson Group, John Touey, concurred: “I always read handwritten notes because I get them so rarely.”
But he had an interesting caveat: “I don’t think it would help if you were a techie or a social media type.”
Which brings us to an important point: The medium through which you communicate your thanks following an interview should be appropriate to the industry in which you are job-hunting. Don’t send a handwritten note on a flowery note card if you’re looking for a job in engineering.
When I asked others in our office which type of thank-you note registered the most strongly with them, the majority said handwritten.
But our office manager, who is usually the first to open those notes, offered this comment: “Many younger adults never learned the basics of handwriting; a mailed thank-you note probably doesn’t do you any favors if your handwriting is poor.” And for those who struggle with spelling, email provides the added reassurance of spell check.
I do a lot of interviewing (both formal and informational) of candidates hoping to secure a job in the public relations field. I may be the one holdout here, but I have a very slight bias toward emailed thank-you notes.
Why? The immediacy of the medium is very powerful. Whenever we leave a new business meeting, I try to have a thank-you note emailed to the prospect within 24 hours. I am similarly impressed when a candidate who has met with us follows up within a day or two, with an impressive thank-you note. She has been able to recreate the positive meeting – and remind me why I liked her so much – by capitalizing on the immediacy of email.
At the end of the day, though, it matters less which vehicle you use to send your thank-you note than it does that you thank your interviewer for meeting with you.
What do you think? Any thank-you notes or gestures that made an impression on you?
I just had another thought on media. If you’re sending a resume as a first contact to anyone in the recruiting world, please do so by email for the ease of getting it into a database. If you send a hard copy by mail, we literally won’t know what to do with it!
Thank you for another great blog post. (Get it?)
Who will receive the first documented thank-you text? Worse yet if the sender thinks it is appropriate.
I’ve wondered about this, actually. One of the pieces of advice I came by was to use both methods. The handwritten can be a personal thank you, with small details that are related to the conversation held. The email is a more formal thank you, with perhaps an elaboration on an answer you gave in an interview and reaffirming your interest in the position and company.
When I initially read it, I thought that it might be a great idea. But I wonder if that might be overdoing it.
Timing is everything. Earlier on in the interviewing process, a handwritten thank you note leaves a powerful impression. Prior planning is the key. Have your card and your stamp ready to go and write the thank you note immediately after departing your interview. Stop at a coffee shop or write it in your car. Drop it off same day at the post office before you go home.
For the next interviewing interaction, mix up the medium and send a thank you email. Most important of all, once you are hired, send a handwritten note, again expressing your appreciation for the opportunity and stating how much you are looking forward to starting in your new position. A post hiring thank you note will shock, amaze and get you off to a great start in your new job.
Wonderful article! We are linking to this particularly great
article on our website. Keep up the good writing.
my blog; mario couldnt