The Art of a Thank You Note or Email - What is the protocol?

What is the protocol of a thank you note or email?  Tough question, but I can tell you this, be sure to send one regardless which vehicle you chose - email or snail mail!!  

First, make sure it is timely:

• Thank you emails should be sent within the week of an interview. The latest is the following week, but I mean by Monday or Tuesday.
• If you are a late, my suggestion is to send a hand written card
• Thank you emails or notes should be sent after in person interviews unless you are having a phone informational with a recruiter or hiring manager.  Also, if you have a phone interview it is also appropriate to send a thank you. Just remember what you wrote as you need to differentiate for your in person interview thank you email or note. 

Email or snail mail?

• If you are going to send an email - send it within 24 hours to 48 hours from the day of the meeting; Feeling super excited about the job, then send it right away. 
• Thank you cards sent by snail mail should be sent that week so they will arrive either that same week or the following week.

What to include in the thank you?

• The thank you does not need to be long. A few paragraphs, thanking the person or interview team is great. If you met with different staff all day - try to differentiate your thank you to each person.
• Met with a team of people (all at once) - it is okay to address it to all, but keep in mind they all may not be in the same work space; In this case it may be best to send an email
• Include something from your conversations that you appreciated them spending extra time on or answering a question(s) that you had
• If you feel you did not excel in a particular skill set that you did not portray well in the interview, bring it up in the end with a positive example of your work experience. 
• Make sure to SPELL CHECK and read what you write. You do not want a typo to ruin your changes of being the top candidate. I have seen it happen when typo's ruin a candidate's chances as it reflects your attention to detail, grammar,  and professionalism. Proofread is the best advice I can give you and have an extra set of eyes review it.

How should I research if I should send an email or thank you note?

• Again emails are great. If a job will be filled quickly or you know you are one of the last candidates interviewed, send an email.
• Pay attention to how the company communicates with you - over the phone, very formal - not much communication via technology - then a handwritten note may be best; If they communicate via email for everything, then an email may be best  
• A handwritten thank you card can show a part of your personality in certain industries, so take some time to research the company. I have received hand made thank you cards when I interviewed curators, or candidates that have book binding, paper skills.  Just make sure your handwriting is legible. 

It's your call how you send your thank you note! It is nice to receive them in general and not all candidates regardless if it is an interview or informational send them. If you take the time to send a THANK YOU it gives you a bit of leg up if you are neck and neck with another candidate!