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To Write or Type, that is the question: Being the Memorable Candidate

Guest post by: Telaireus Herrin

Article Overview: This article provides advice on follow-up thank you letters after interviews.

To Write or Type, that is the question: Being the Memorable Candidate

I recently was on a short business trip in Singapore interviewing candidates. I interviewed a candidate on Wednesday and the candidate left a lasting impression based on his follow-up actions. I not only received an email that evening, the next day I received a “Christmas card” thank you note (it was the week of the Christmas holiday). The candidate knew I was in from our US corporate headquarters and he took the time to not only send an email, but came back to the office and dropped of a handwritten Christmas card-thank you note. I cannot say if the candidate is the top choice for the position, what I can say is he was memorable and moved to the top of the “pile” based on his follow-up actions.

I have a personal bias for handwritten notes. Handwritten notes are personalized and demonstrate care. Now I know some may say emails can be personalized, which I agree, but there is nothing like a tangible note that you have to physically open and read versus clicking an email icon or risk that the email is overlooked, deleted or sent to the spam folder. Remember, people do not “delete” or overlook a physical note or letter. When a letter or note arrives in the mail, with their name on it, people are intrigued and eager to open it and read it.

For your next post interview follow-up, consider this story and decide if you will write or type.

FYI, invest in some nice stationary today (I get mine from Embossed Graphics (Google them)– 50 Personalized note cards for $35, great quality).

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Article Tags: career, career advice, followup letters, Interview, interviews, thank you letters



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