BamaTanya Posted August 29, 2012 Share Posted August 29, 2012 I have some white note cards with my first and last names in a cursive black font on the front. Would you use these for a professional thank you note? Or should I pick up some plain note cards for this? I'm saving my smiley and kitty note cards for other occasions. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbmamaz Posted August 29, 2012 Share Posted August 29, 2012 Unless you are interviewing for something very hands-on or crafty or a very small business, most professional communication is done by email these days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beth S Posted August 29, 2012 Share Posted August 29, 2012 I'm old-fashioned. Love the handwritten aspect, and MAYBE that card with your NAME on the front will be a visual prompt to remember your name & hire you. :-) I guess if you're applying to be the CEO of Google, then use gmail! Ha. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
In the Rain Posted August 29, 2012 Share Posted August 29, 2012 Unless you are interviewing for something very hands-on or crafty or a very small business, most professional communication is done by email these days. Not to be argumentative, but I'll present the opposite opinion. ;) Although my husband (in a professional job) does 99% of his communication by email, he feels strongly that a job interview thank you should be handwritten. I've been out of the job market for so long that I don't really know what is done any more. :tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sebastian (a lady) Posted August 29, 2012 Share Posted August 29, 2012 Unless you are interviewing for something very hands-on or crafty or a very small business, most professional communication is done by email these days. Which is one reason why an actual note stands out. DH has been in the habit of writing notes after interviews or when senior people have taken the time to sit down and spend time to discuss his record and make suggestions. When he was chosen for his last promotion, I was impressed by the senior people who took the time to send an actual note of congratulations. I do interviews for my alma mater. This is for a college that provides a full ride scholarship, monthly stipend and a guaranteed job after graduation. I'm always surprised by the number of candidates who do not even send an email saying that they appreciated the interview. I think the notecares described sound lovely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elfknitter.# Posted August 30, 2012 Share Posted August 30, 2012 I can't help but wonder of this is a regional thing in the US. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grover Posted August 30, 2012 Share Posted August 30, 2012 I've never heard of sending a 'thank you' after an interview... this is an interesting concept. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hannah Posted August 30, 2012 Share Posted August 30, 2012 I can't help but wonder of this is a regional thing in the US. I've never heard of sending a 'thank you' after an interview... this is an interesting concept. I've never heard of it either. It is not done here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrothead Posted August 30, 2012 Share Posted August 30, 2012 I've never heard of sending a 'thank you' after an interview... this is an interesting concept. I've never heard of it either. It is not done here. It is a trend that started about 10 years ago as a way to make oneself stand out among the competition. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathryn Posted August 30, 2012 Share Posted August 30, 2012 Unless you are interviewing for something very hands-on or crafty or a very small business, most professional communication is done by email these days. I disagree. As others said, it's precisely because of the overuse of email that a handwritten note is the way to go if you want to stand out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QueenCat Posted August 30, 2012 Share Posted August 30, 2012 Handwritten knows are common in professional fields. I can remember helping dh word them when he made his first big move, almost 25 years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dobela Posted August 30, 2012 Share Posted August 30, 2012 I advise my clients to send handwritten notes after a job interview. It's personal, unusual enough to stand out positively, and just plain nice. If time is of the essence, of course, email is the better choice. My dh just read this suggestion a couple of weeks ago on a professional website telling prospective employees what they can do to stand out from the crowd. An email can be glossed over, deleted, ignored. A handwritten card however shows class, attention to details, and requires the attention of the recipient. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbmamaz Posted August 30, 2012 Share Posted August 30, 2012 i suspect region and industry/job type do play a role. I know the last boss who hired me hated getting anything on paper, it just cluttered his desk and had to be PUT somewhere Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simplyme99 Posted August 30, 2012 Share Posted August 30, 2012 I always use a nice quality, plain note card ... specifically Crane. :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BamaTanya Posted August 30, 2012 Author Share Posted August 30, 2012 It is a trend that started about 10 years ago as a way to make oneself stand out among the competition. Actually, it was part of my professional training 25 years ago. My impression was that it was a longstanding practice. My major was professional writing, so YMMV. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TranquilMind Posted August 30, 2012 Share Posted August 30, 2012 Not to be argumentative, but I'll present the opposite opinion. ;) Although my husband (in a professional job) does 99% of his communication by email, he feels strongly that a job interview thank you should be handwritten. I've been out of the job market for so long that I don't really know what is done any more. :tongue_smilie: Another vote for handwritten. It sends a message that you care enough to go the extra steps of stamping and mailing, after taking the time to write a message. An email is just so...easy. I wouldn't do that. But I'm old-school. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TranquilMind Posted August 30, 2012 Share Posted August 30, 2012 It is a trend that started about 10 years ago as a way to make oneself stand out among the competition. No, it's quite longstanding, not recent. I sent notes when I was first looking for a job back in the 70's. I know my Mom did too, in earlier years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happypamama Posted August 30, 2012 Share Posted August 30, 2012 I think the OP's cards sound tasteful, elegant, and professional, but I know nothing about job interviews, so take that with a grain of salt. I would think that a handwritten note would be a nice way to stand out over emailed notes, except for two things. One, if your handwriting is really terrible, I'd consider going with email. Two, if there had already been significant email contact (like a questionnaire emailed to you and returned with answers via email) before the actual interview, following up via email might be fine too, though I can't imagine a paper note would hurt. Oh, and three, if the interviewer travels a lot, maybe email would be most appropriate -- I would think the worst would be if the paper note arrives while the interviewer is away from the office, and the interviewer ends up thinking that the applicant didn't send a note at all (especially if other candidates sent email notes). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwik Posted August 31, 2012 Share Posted August 31, 2012 Interesting the differences between countries. I have never heard of anyone doing such a thing. Doesn't it make you seem a little desperate? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hannah Posted August 31, 2012 Share Posted August 31, 2012 Interesting the differences between countries. I have never heard of anyone doing such a thing. Doesn't it make you seem a little desperate? I hire new staff occasionally and if I got a handwritten note this is what I'd think. It's definately not the norm here. We typically shortlist a maximum of five people per position, so I would remember everyone I've interviewed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kalanamak Posted August 31, 2012 Share Posted August 31, 2012 I've never heard of sending a 'thank you' after an interview... this is an interesting concept. REally? I think of an interview as a two way street. I want to know if they have a boor doing the interviewing, I want to see how interested they are in me, I want to get a feel for the place. I think a note reaffirming your interest or even a note saying you have decided against it is important. Perhaps not for McDonalds, but any job of any seriousness. It is also a great moment to plug something you forgot to, or to mention, after the meeting, how you would really fit in with the organization, or how pleased you were to find the place well-run and productive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kalanamak Posted August 31, 2012 Share Posted August 31, 2012 It is a trend that started about 10 years ago as a way to make oneself stand out among the competition. I wrote them, or rather typed them and signed them, back in the 70s. After my parents died, I was going through their papers, and my father's mother, widowed and looking to apply her college degree to support 4 young children, had practiced, on both sides, composing and spacing a letter on a typewriter, obviously after an interview. (She got the job. And later campaigned for an elected position in the courts, and my father's very, very elderly cousin said her poster had photos of her four children and the caption: 4 reasons to vote for Florence Steussi. She won that position, too.) This would have been right around 1920. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BamaTanya Posted August 31, 2012 Author Share Posted August 31, 2012 This conversation has been interesting to me! My assumption was that I would send a thank you note. I have done that for every professional job interview I've had. My question was only about the appropriateness of my stationery, since I don't have any undecorated note cards on hand. (Simplyme99, I remember purchasing Crane ecru cards during college. I should buy more!) I was taught that it was the right thing to do, and that, even if it isn't typical, employers would notice your good manners at least. I've done some google searches on getting jobs, and the thank you letter is mentioned on almost every one, usually in the section about acing the interview. I appreciate your different perspectives. I sent the note yesterday. Wish me luck! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathryn Posted August 31, 2012 Share Posted August 31, 2012 Good luck! And I'll add my agreement that it's not a recent trend. It's a long-standing tradition in professional settings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Momma2Luke Posted August 31, 2012 Share Posted August 31, 2012 I know that this is a long standing tradition in the private sector... but have never heard or seen personalized notecards being sent after an interview in public/gov't sector... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grover Posted September 1, 2012 Share Posted September 1, 2012 Interesting the differences between countries. I have never heard of anyone doing such a thing. Doesn't it make you seem a little desperate? yes, this is what I was thinking too - if I received a "thank you for the interview" note I'd think "wow, pushy much?". I was discussing this with some friends at work, two of whom have been on hiring committees and one who is a recruiter by profession. They all agreed that it is simply not done here - ok to send something after you've had a response yes or no, but not before. Isn't it interesting how different things are in different parts of the world. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwik Posted September 2, 2012 Share Posted September 2, 2012 I think it's the small differences that are most interesting sometimes. Hope you get the job! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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