I’m not a doctor, but I write like one
May 19th, 2009I must have struck a chord last week, because my blog had more comments than ever before. I appreciate all of the feedback, mentorship certainly hit home for a lot of people.
In job search news, I had an interview today for a very interesting job. I don’t want to share too much information at this point, but suffice it to say that it is much more interesting than it first appeared, and I really feel like I made a good impression on the interviewer. As my fellow job seekers know, this is a clear sign that it went horribly wrong!
More importantly, this interview finally gave me an opportunity to plunge headlong into the wonderful world of thank you notes. Prior to today, I have been emailing thank you notes to people with whom I have interviewed. In this day and age, it seems like a no-brainer. That said, I’ve had a nagging feeling that I was walking the thin line between convenience and laziness.
Does using a universally accepted method of communication indicate laziness? If you want to contact me during the day, I would suggest the most efficient way would be via text, or email. Since I’m not going to text a thank you note, it has to be email. However, email is very easy. Heck, I’m sure that’s why it’s so popular, along with the fact that it is basically free. I feel like I need to do something more. I can’t afford to send a gift card to every interviewer along the way, but I can afford to send a personal, hand-written thank you note.
Let’s think about the purposes of the occasionally maligned thank you note:
- To express genuine thanks for the person’s time. And additionally, though not written, thanks for actually pulling your resume out of the pile of hundreds!
- To remind the interviewer of why you are the best candidate for the job
- To show you are interested in the position
- To show that you understand the laws of courtesy in the interview process
My new approach now goes like this:
- Thank you via email, same day. In this note, I express my thanks for the time, reiterate my interest in the position, and refer to anything I might want to highlight from our conversation. Maybe apologize for an F-bomb as necessary*
- Hand-written card sent within 24 hours, but preferably the same day
Good intentions are all well and good (hence the name), but here’s where we hit a potential roadblock. My handwriting is atrocious. Well, not unreadable, but certainly not evidence of my ample time spent in finishing school. I am embarrassed that it is so poor, but I am hoping the obvious effort and care put into a hand-written note will carry more weight then the quality of my penmanship. I can’t even call it penmanship, for that is too flowery a word for my Times New Chicken Scratch.
I am a programmer. I spend most of my time on a computer. I have written hundreds of pages of documentation in my life, but I don’t think I have hand-written a letter since 1994. Need I be so ashamed that my grasp of the “written” word has drifted so far from what would once have been considered acceptable? Don’t even get me started on cursive; it might as well be Latin for its application to my daily life.
Am I right to think that a handwritten card trumps the fact that it appears to have been issued from the desk of a five year old? Have you run into this same dilemma? Do you now see why I don’t send hand-written cards around the holidays?
* F-bomb did not actually happen. However, if this ever happened, I don’t think I would mention a slip like that in a thank you letter. Better to let such things fade into oblivion!
Tough font!
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Great idea! A hand written note is entirely appropriate and I strongly encourage you do so. Good penmanship is a rarity today so don’t sweat it. Take your time and be sure it’s legible. The post above is just fine.
Mike
A family failing with other members having MUCH worse script than you. Indeed, by comparison yours ranks in the top half! But having said that, a personal handwritten, albeit somewhat illegible, (think your mother) is always impressive especially to the older generation. Whether that is true with your own age group I cannot say unless, of course, they were as well brought up as you!
PS: to above comment. I have received some beautifully written thank you notes that caused me to say “oh, there is someone who was educated by the nuns!” only to realise that it was written with a type that resembled the written hand. However the letter did express appropriate thanks and came in an envelope with a stamp!
Big, big believer in thank you notes and handwritten cards. Feels great to write and send a heart-felt message. Feel even better when I receive them from others. Kudos on a nice article.
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The handwriting isn’t that bad. I’ve seen much worse!