Entry Level Job Seekers: Thank you Notes on Verge of Extinction

Mike McGuiness
mike@jobipedia.org
Follow us on Twitter: @jobipedia

In a digital age, the ability to connect with people and gather information is incredible. There are countless channels, platforms, services and hardware designed to make everyday life easier and better connected. However, even with all these tools to improve our ability to do everything faster, a once common and personal communication is becoming lost – sending Thank You notes.

Always Send Thank You Notes
While a Thank You note will certainly be appreciated for almost any daily interaction, it’s an imperative step when you’re on the job hunt. Unfortunately, it seems jobseekers are forgetting this practice altogether. Nicole, a hiring manager from Manpower Group who contributes to jobipedia.org said, “As a Recruiter it still surprises me how many people do not send a thank you note after an interview.”

There is almost no excuse to not send a Thank You note to each person you met during the interview process. A hiring manager from Merck named Francis who contributes to jobipedia.org said, “It’s a matter of politeness and professionalism.” It’s also a great way to show your written communication skills, while simultaneously making a good impression with the hiring manager.

The reality of handwritten Thank You notes
A common misconception about Thank You notes is they must be handwritten. Ultimately, send any form of “thank you” to show how much you appreciated the opportunity to interview for the available position and for the time you spent with the hiring manager. Jonathan, a hiring manager from Avery Dennison who contributes to jobipedia.org said, “It shows good character and can be done via a hand written letter, email, LinkedIn note, etc.”

However, while handwritten Thank You notes aren’t the rule, they are a great way to stand-out and impress the hiring manager. A hiring manager from Cardinal Health named Megan who contributes to jobipedia.org said, “Interviewers are typically impressed with handwritten notes because they are usually well thought out, take slightly more effort than e-mailed notes and the card selected can show a glimpse of a candidate’s personality which is sometimes rather difficult to do when following proper interview etiquette.”

Thank You Notes Best Practice
If you want to go the extra mile, and that should always be the case when looking for a job, send an email Thank You immediately following your interview. That way the hiring manager receives a note from you quickly. Then, send a handwritten Thank You note the following day. That handwritten Thank You won’t arrive for a few days and will be a great, non-intrusive nor pestering reminder to the hiring manager that you’re excited about the available position.

Whatever method or approach you decide is best for you regarding Thank You notes, always remember to send them.