yes. you should mail a physical notes after interviews as a professional courtesy, even if it seems 'old fashioned'

i agree... at a minimum you should follow up with an email... but i'm old school and always try to follow up with a hand written note...

i don't notice if you don't, but i do notice if you do.

Don't bother, unless you want to give the edge to competing job candidates who will write a thankyou letter.

what if you have horrible hand writing - is email ok?

Type a letter, print it, sign it, mail it.

yes, writing thank you notes is soold-fashioned...kind of like having a real job is old-fashioned too.

By the way, the better reason to send a letter (beyond the courtesy issue) is that it reminds your interviewer of you a few days later, without you calling, emailing, or otherwise pestering them. It's free publicity, in a sense.

i don't know about the older folks here but i prefer e-mail. i don't write snail-mail and find it odd when i get it too. technology is something i enjoy, however. maybe that is odd.

but as far as it goes...a thank you letter is a positive common sense step. not sending something is a missed opportunity, for all the reasons mentioned above.

I do it after all the interviews by email.Usually within 24-48 hours after the interview. I haven't even gotten a single rejection call or email from them. The resession wiped out lots of businesses, I say in one aspect it is a good thing because most people don't know how to run businesses here, about those employers who didn't bother to call/email me back, I hope their businesses fail and they understand what is it like to go bankrupt and need a job.

Definitely do a one-page typed thank you letter, hand-signed and mailed, that summarizes your conversation and notes your eagerness to work at the firm. Why is this even a question? It's good manners, and signals to your potential employer that you are civilized enough to be presented to clients because your parents taught you basic manners.

I hosted a "meal and drinks" office party at my expense at my home several years ago, as a good-will gesture to my team members. Party was a great success, well-attended, and everyone stayed and looked happy. Two people sent thank you notes afterwards, a senior partner and a very junior staff person with impecable "good breeding" manners in all his interactions. Believe me, a typed and mailed thank you letter will make your application stand out.

It most certainly is NOT old fashioned. There is no question you send something. I usually just sent emails because they get their faster and they are more than likely to read it since they are constantly checking their inboxes. And theirfore they are more than likely to send you a response of some kind.

And since they are your superiors, you address them with Mr. or Ms until they specifically request that you call them by their first name.

Absolutely send a thank you note. This is typical networking - think about the number and quality of "touches" you make with someone (in this case a potential employer). I always LOOK for excuses to touch base with someone, whether it is sending them a note, a quick email, call, etc. and a thank you note is an obvious one.

Also, try not to send a typical, generic thank you note. Try to take something unique about your conversation and reference it in the note to show that you were really paying attention and were engaged in the interview.

Good luck.

Agreeing with the thread that a follow up letter is a big part of the interview process. Email seems okay these days, but I would make it a proper email letter of multiple paragraphs not a one-liner.

Likewise, in my office I have noticed that people occasionally send a thank you card. This seems terribly unprofessional to me. If you are sending snail mail (which I always do) send a business letter--you are not thanking someone for a dinner or a gift.

This is a business transaction--you are trying to get hired. As said above reiterate elements of the interview that make you a good fit for the office. If it is an informational interview reiterate your interest.

snail mail? seriously?

in this market it's likely the job will be long gone or moved on to the next round of interviews before they even get the letter.

given the relative ease/speed/widespread acceptance of email, i find it much more likely for an employer to think you simply forgot to send a thank you note than to expect to be getting something in the mail.

my advice: send an email 1-2 days after.

that's why you drop it off when you get back home.

Thanks all for your advice. I sent a thank you note (typed) by snail mail the morning after the interview so they probably got it either yesterday or will get it today.

I figured since when firms send rejection letters they send them by snail mail then it was appropriate for me to use it too. I think it's more formal/professional way of doing it.

When I send thank you notes for gifts I send them by regular mail so why not for an interview?