Frequently job seekers ask me if it is appropriate to email a thank you letter after an interview or if snail mail is the preferred method. It is perfectly acceptable to email a thank you letter and sending the letter electronically carries many benefits including:
- Immediacy. I recommend sending a thank you letter within 24 hours of a job interview. Email allows you to reconnect with the hiring manager quickly following the interview. Doing so helps you remain top of mind with the hiring manager.
- Reciprocation. There is a greater likelihood that a hiring manager will respond to an email than snail mail. By keeping the dialogue open with the hiring manager, you strengthen the relationship and improve your chances of being called in for the next round of interviews.
- Efficiency. When you email your thank you letter, the hiring manager can follow your response electronically and easily share it with other members of the team. There is less chance of the document getting lost or misplaced as well.
It also proves that you can use the most minimal form of technology and one of the largest tools in your work (e-mail).
Don’t blow that e-mail — proving that you can use e-mail effectively is a big deal to a potential manager.
Scot,
That’s a great point! Employers expect candidates to be comfortable with technology and they may question a job seeker’s technology competency if all the candidate’s follow up communications are sent via snail mail.
I’m always on the fence about this. On the one hand, all of the points you and Scot make about e-mails are true. On the other hand, actually writing a letter, printing it out and putting it in the old-fashioned male demonstrates a willingness to take an extra amount of time and care to make a more personal effort. And, so few people do it today, it can be a sure way to stand out from the crowd. I think it’s worth doing when you really want that job.
Mark,
You’re right…some people still like the personal touch of a paper letter. In addition to sending an email thank you letter, I often recommend that my clients keep in touch with people they have interviewed with by sending supplemental materials such as a relevant news article to reconnect. This can be a great way to combine the benefits of the email and snail mail campaigns and make the most lasting impression on the interviewer.