Thank You Notes – Is Email Good Enough?

Matt| November 30, 2015| News

Given the long-range and fast-paced nature of electronic communications in the 21st century, many of us tend to fall into the habit of relying on such methods, including email, to interact with friends, family members, peers and co-workers. While this behavior is perfectly acceptable in many scenarios, there are still some documents that have a greater impact when they are handwritten. One such document is the thank-you note.

Formatting

Job seekers should still take the time to ensure that the formatting of their thank-you letter matches their resume and cover letter. Not only does this consistency show a high level of attention to detail and self-motivation, but a package of documents that share the same format are far more aesthetically pleasing, as opposed to papers that contain varying fonts or formatting.

Choose the Proper Occasion

Next, make sure the occasion warrants a thank-you letter in the first place. When used to follow up with a hiring manager or recruiter after an initial interview, the thank-you letter can be a highly effective tool in your job-seeking repertoire. It can also be quite effective when delivered after accepting a job offer.

When used in the wrong scenario, however, a thank-you letter can actually work against your chances of landing a job. Sending too many thank-you letters, for example, can come across as annoying, bothersome or downright disrespectful. Instead of sending a letter after every meeting, make sure you pick and choose the occasions. Most importantly, be sure your thank-you letters are tailored to the opportunity you have interviewed for, never use a boiler plate approach.

Keep in mind that most interactions will only require one thank-you letter, which is best when delivered within a day following a successful or otherwise productive interview. A second thank-you letter, while completely optional, may be sent to accept or finalize a job offer at the end of the recruitment process.

Delivering the Thank-You Letter

If possible, the thank-you letter should always be delivered directly from your hands into that of the hiring manager or decision maker. Not only does this give you the opportunity to initiate a brief follow-up on a one-on-one basis, but it also serves to highlight your commitment and enthusiasm for the job and company as well

However, hand-delivering your thank-you letter to a supervisory or managerial official is not always a viable option. In this case, the document should be left with a secretary, receptionist or assistant. These staff members can ensure that your letter arrives at the proper destination in a timely and efficient manner.

Connect with a Top Long Island Staffing Agency

Although it is an important part of the process, especially when trying to highlight your professionalism or courtesy, the thank-you letter is only one step of the recruitment process. Long Island Temps can be a great source in  securing temporary, temporary-to-hire or direct hire employment on a part-time or full-time basis. Don’t hesitate to contact us today!

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