Dear Cindy – Should I Write a Thank-You Letter?

I just had an interview and my friend says I should write a thank-you letter. Should I?

Sincerely,

Living in Modern Times

The world has changed, and a thank-you letter is no longer standard practice. However, there is certainly nothing inappropriate about sending one, and, more importantly, for a number of reasons they are a good idea.

Like a good cover letter, a thank-you letter shows something of your personality, which can differentiate you from other applicants and hopefully make your more memorable. Further, a thank-you letter keeps you in the mind of the recruiter, is another opportunity to promote yourself, and allows you to clarify any misunderstandings, and/or reinforce positive information from the interview. And, ultimately, good manners never go out of style. I would recommend, however, emailing, rather than snail mailing a thank-you letter, as it's more likely to arrive before the final decision is made.

Also see The Thank-You Email.