Can you Send a Thank-You Note by Email?

Posted by in Career Advice




It's surprising to me that there is still some debate about whether it's appropriate to send a thank-you note after an interview. For some people, sending a thank-you note just seems wrong. In their opinion, employers ought to be thanking applicants for offering to help the company become more profitable. Others believe that your shot at impressing a hiring manager happens during the interview process and any further contact, like a thank-you note, only serves to make you look desperate.

Personally, I think that sending a thank-you note after an interview is just good manners. Yes, we are all busy and many courtesies seem outdated, but a thank-you note makes a great impression and shows that you understand how to be a consummate professional. Deciding whether or not to send a note is a personal decision and while I don't think that it will make an interviewer want to hire you instead of the person they were planning to hire, it certainly makes your interest in the job clear.

Once you decide to send the note, the next question is should the note be handwritten and sent through the regular mail, or is an emailed thank-you note better?

There are pros and cons to both. Before you decide, here are some things to consider:

Handwritten notes have a delay - The biggest advantage to sending a note electronically is that the interviewer will see it right way, while you are still fresh in their memory. A thank-you note sent snail mail takes a couple of days to be delivered. By that time, the interviewer may have forgotten who you are. Depending on the type of company you interviewed with, a formal letter a few days later can really stand out. If the company has a casual atmosphere, the traditional handwritten one might come across as stuffy and overly formal, making the interviewer uncomfortable.

Traditional thank-you notes can feel outdated - This is especially true if you are interviewing with a young company or have a hiring manager who is under 30. With electronic communication becoming so easy, many of the under-30 set view handwritten thank-you notes as old-fashioned and out of date. If there is a large age gap between yourself and the interviewer, sending your follow up via email will show them that you are comfortable using technology and that you understand business communication of today.

There is a lesser chance of reply - When you email a thank-you note, there is a chance that the interviewer will reply and give you some feedback. Email is quick and easy, making a reply much more likely. With a handwritten note, the conversation is closed. Depending on the situation, either option could be desirable. On one hand, continuing the conversation can keep you in the interviewer's mind, but on the other hand, sending a note through the mail with no expectation of reply leaves the interviewer to think about you each time they see the note.

In my opinion, both types of thank-you notes work, but for different situations. Either way, I think that you can't really go wrong by sending a quick note to thank the interviewer for their time. It isn't pushy and it can't ruin your chances at getting the job. Even though there isn't any strong evidence to suggest that it helps, it can be the thing that tips the scales in your favor when you're being compared to one other candidate.

When you are interviewing for a job, consider the corporate culture, the age difference between you and the hiring manager and the industry you will be working in to determine which way is best for you.



Do you send thank-you notes by email or snail mail? Why? Please share your thoughts in the comments.

 

"Image from dreamstime.com"



 

Comment

Become a member to take advantage of more features, like commenting and voting.

  • Melissa Kennedy
    Melissa Kennedy
    Thanks for the great comments. At least we all agree on the importance of a thank you note. While it's classy to send a note via snail mail, there is a delay and it's a bit outdated. Especially if you are young and trying to get a job with a very traditional company, sending it in the mail makes you look extra mature. However, if you are over 50 and think that you might be battling an age bias, then email is the way to go. As with anything, you should customize your approach to the type of company you're dealing with.
  • Annette S
    Annette S
    I do send thank you notes by email, and i always get a sincere response.  To me, it is a job closer especially if the employer has one or more candidates that they are undecided about.
  • Diane M
    Diane M
    I believe in thank you notes. My brother got a job with a big corporation because he was the only one that sent a note. I vote for snail mail because it is more personal.
  • Jill G
    Jill G
    I have heard it best to send thank you notes via snail mail. What wonderful ideas about snail mail being outdated and sending e-mail as as well. Thanks for the great tips.
  • Mike F
    Mike F
    omg.  Who mails letters anymore? Unless you're about 90 years old... nevermind, 90 year olds use email too. Anyhow,Its nice to show interest if interested.
  • daisy a
    daisy a
    thank you very much i hope i found a job
  • Robert C
    Robert C
    Having hired several people over the past 15 years, I'd say that responding sooner rather than later is important, so email is preferable.  Don't neglect to tell me in one sentence why I should hire you.  If you send a snail mail response, it may arrive too late to matter.   
  •  Destiny C.
    Destiny C.
    All candidates who are interested in landing a job should send a thank you letter.  To think that the employer should be thanking you for the interview is ridiculous.  This would be something the "entitled generation" thinks of.  Sending a thank you letter  shows definite interest,  the ability to follow through, preparedness, organization, professionalism, and good manners. You should be thankful of the time the employer spent with you.When hiring, I would always look at the candidates who sent letters and who didn't.....to me, it matters!
  • Carmencita C
    Carmencita C
    I send thank you by email and regular mail.  No matter how it is sent, I think it is a sign of good manners.
  • Richard A
    Richard A
    I always sent a hand written note in fountain pen. I have the notes in my car and write them right away - sometimes I go back to the receptionist to deliver by hand or in the nearest post office so it gets there the next day.If I don't get a note, I put that candidate to the bottom of the pile and is the tie breaker. Many younger workers are out of tough and have no concept of manners and professionalism.
  • Kieasha G
    Kieasha G
    Last, week I sent my first Thank you, note by email, because the company is in crunch mode and need to make a decision quickly. I base how to send my Thank you note on how long company say they will take with their hiring process or when they will get back to me. I do agree that a Thank you, note is good to send since we all value our time.
  • Camille Lynn M
    Camille Lynn M
    I send email thank you's because I truly am thankful to have a portion of a very busy person's time. And when I am in the hiring seat, I appreciate people realizing that my time is valuable and I think enough of them to give them a piece of my time!  When I recieve a person's email thanking me - I think more of them and realize, they also gave me a piece of their time!
  • Linda S
    Linda S
    I recently sent a thank you letter via snail mail. I interviewed at a law firm and I thought that it was appropriate  to thank the interviewer for her time.
  • Tom Van A
    Tom Van A
    As a Recruiter, it did not sway the hiring decision at all. That said, I see nothing wrong with sending an electronic thank-you note as a professional courtesy. After all, we are in the computer age.
  • Susan P
    Susan P
    I think a hand-written thank you note shows that a person took the time to write it and it is much more personal. Everything today is electronic. Sometimes being "old-fashioned" is just friendlier and seems more sincere.
  • John S
    John S
    In today's world of IT and electronics, it seems that everybody is communicating through email.  Having access to both personal and work emails on your cellphone is a handy way of staying in touch with today's business needs.  I have sent email thank yous after interviews simply because it's immediate and responsive.  The only issue is you are left to wonder if the person will reply or not.  Obviously if you are called for a 2nd interview and/or offered the job, it likely worked.
  • Patricia G
    Patricia G
    Great info ! Now i will send my thank you email !
  • Gregg M
    Gregg M
    Most people are inundated with email. Why run the risk of getting caught in the Spam filter? Email is just too easy. It can imply a level of laziness.While snail mail takes a couple of days, it clearly demonstrates INITIATIVE. You took time, money and energy to do what most people will not do. Say Thank you clearly and demonstrably. Set yourself apart from the rest of the candidates.Ask the "Gatekeeper", before you leave the premises, to confirm the correct mailing address for your "Thank you." Bring this person in the loop. How many times have we heard of candidates loosing a job or second interview, because the Hiring Manager asked the "Gatekeeper" for input about the candidates and got a less than glowing review. If you must send a Smartphone email to demonstrate tech savy, follow-up with a hand-written card. It will definitely get/keep people's attention! Why do half the job?

Jobs to Watch