Eighty-eight percent of executives say that sending a thank-you note following an interview can boost a job seeker's chances, and most executives prefer a handwritten note, according to a survey by the staffing firm Accountemps.
The survey found that more job candidates are sending thank-you notes after an interview. Executives polled said half (51 percent) of the candidates they interview send thank-you notes afterward, compared with 39 percent five years ago.
The survey also asked executives about how they prefer to receive thank-you messages from candidates following interviews:
- 52 percent said a handwritten note
- 44 percent said e-mail
- 3 percent said they prefer to receive both an e-mail and handwritten note.
"Regardless of how someone believes he or she performed during the interview, sending a short thank-you note afterward demonstrates initiative and courtesy," says Max Messmer, chairman of Accountemps. "Conveying appreciation in a well-written message is not only polite, it also can distinguish a job applicant from others vying for the same position."
Messmer added that the best strategy often is to send an e-mail shortly after the interview, followed by more formal correspondence. "E-mail ensures immediacy, but hiring managers still favor the personal touch of a handwritten note," he said.
The survey included 150 senior executives--including those from human resources, finance and marketing departments--with the nation's 1,000 largest companies.