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Going along with my last post regarding paper and electronic resumes, I thought we should discuss the interview follow-up. After an interview, candidates should thank the interviewer within 24-to-48 hours. However, what is the best method? Is it an e-mail or a card in the mail?
Sending a thank you card or letter in the mail works best in my opinion. You know that the person will receive it. When sending an e-mail, you risk having your note lost via spam or buried in that person’s inbox.
A thank you note in the mail allows you to reiterate your enthusiasm for the job and your qualifications. It also tells that person that you took 15 or 20 minutes out of your day to write and mail the letter instead of writing a quick two-minute e-mail.
Both ways can be effective. A combination of both ways may also work. A person could send a short thank you letter via e-mail and a more in-depth thank you note in the mail. This would guarantee they receive one or the other. The e-mail would be instantaneous. However, a few days later they would receive your letter in the mail. On the other hand, you don’t want to overwhelm the person with thank you notes. Use your best judgment. Depending on the situation and circumstances, you may want to stick with one form instead of both. If you had to choose, I would choose a letter in the mail.
Share your thoughts. Which form do you think is most effective: thank you e-mails via e-mail, mail, or a combination of both? If you are an employer, which way do you value or prefer?
Related articles
- Paper Resumes versus Electronic Resumes (paperviews.org)
