Tip No. 192
Q. Why is it important to write a handwritten thank you letter, I think an email thank-you is preferable in our world of cyberspace?
A. In our everyday world of email, it is a temptation to dash off a thank-you on your computer. First, ask yourself the question, “how many emails do I generally receive on a daily basis, and how many handwritten letters or even letters receive in traditional mail delivery do I get daily”? Now ask yourself the question, “Which sender of which correspondence will I most likely remember”? Since there may be many candidates for the position you are seeking you want to be remembered by the prospective employer. Also, it is more difficult for most people to throw away a handwritten letter than it is to delete an email, hence a handwritten letter may sit on a prospective employer’s desk for quite while keeping your image as a reminder to the employer of your availability for a job opportunity. Your letter does not have to be long, but it should set the stage for you to be remembered favorably. Be sure that in your thank you letter, you specifically note something that was discussed during your meeting that was of importance to the person with whom you met. That will give you the opportunity to reinforce pertinent points that were made in the meeting, or to expand on points that were briefly discussed.
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