Thank you, and you and you

I am a teacher. Many, many years ago when I did my student teaching we had a guest speaker (a superintendent) as a guest speaker in one of my classes. He told us that often times interviewees have very similar qualities and the choice is difficult. He said that often times the one difference is the person that sends a handwritten thank you note to the interviewers. This was in the 60's. It is a piece of advice I never forgot. Last year when I interviewed for a new position - I sent a note to each educator on the committee that interviewed me. Yes, I got the job! Great advice in these economic times.

You used the wrong "there" in the third paragraph on the answer....

You're writing in a newspaper, and can't even use "their" correctly??
"You may want to mention someone you had only a brief interaction with, and may not warrant a letter of there own."
I guess the Globe cut editor positions, and you're all relying on spellcheck. Bad enough that high school students write this way, but this is supposedly a major newspaper (or at least it used to be...)

i dont think so nrf

"Please express my appreciation to Scott - his coordination of the logistics of our meetings were masterful.”

This end of this sentence should read "was masterful."

no she didn't.

As a project manager, I can attest to the positive impression made on me by receiving a handwritten thank you note. On one occasion, I was fortunate to end up with two equally qualified candidates after two rounds of interviews. One candidate sent me a handwritten note after each interview (and the cards were different, the kind that is sold separately, not in a pack, you can tell by the price on the back of the card), the other person made no follow-up contact. Given otherwise equal qualifications, I hired the person who sent the notes, assuming that anyone who put in that kind of effort likely was serious about getting the job. Such was the case, and that person is here four years later and an integral member of my department.

Former President George H. W. Bush once said that a thank-you note is the most important writing one can send as it is remembered if received, and recalled if it is not.

Good job, posters! Looks like the Globe revised its copy to correct the gramatical errors! Good writers are hard to find. Good editors even more scarce.

On the subject of thank-you notes, I make it a habit to always send them as needed, and am teaching my kids to do the same. They don't always land you the job, but they do showcase professionalism, common courtesy and good manners. Surely we can use more of these attributes in the world!

My first job in the "real world" was the result of a thank you letter. I interviewed a few times, but ultimately I was not offered the position. I wrote (another) thank you letter that thanked those I interviewed with for the experience. Letter was mailed (pre email, but I think letters are best even today!). Two days later my phone rang and I was asked "how soon can you come down here?" My future employer was very impressed with my follow-up and offered me the job!
Thank you notes/letters are very powerful and IMO demonstrate good manners in general; unfortunatley the younger folk, for the most part, seem to be lacking in general regarding manners! (and good communication skills/command of the English language (I hope I don't have too many errors in this post!)

You didn't quite catch all the errors, though. In the 3rd paragraph of the post (2nd of the answer), 4th line down, YOU tell ME what's wrong with ". . . that persons contribution . . ." cuz its knot up two me too tell ewe

I will say this about handwritten thank you notes after interviews. In today's world, the decision about whether to bring someone for a second interview or hire them is often made within hours or few days at the latest. In these cases, a handwritten note may not have time to make the desired impact. So, I think a thank you e-mail is just fine.

"...acknowledge that persons contribution to the process."

Make that:
"...acknowledge that person's contribution to the process."

Yeah, I know, the apostrophe is easy to miss.

To all of those who thought he used the wrong homophone--how wrong you were! Not only was it not supposed to be "there", it shouldn't even have been "their". Thanks, Globe, for fixing it correctly to "his or her". It was certainly the possession of only one. I guess the writer sees plurals everywhere. The "was masterful" was another good catch by a reader.

Question for the commenters (especially Project Manager)...

I just interviewed for a position at a company that I've had my eye on for several years. After the phone screen, I sent a thank you card to the HR manager I spoke with. It was the kind you purchase at Hallmark individually. After the actual interview, I sent the hiring manager and the other interviewer thank you cards, but they were the kind you buy in a pack. Is that a faux pas I didn't know about? They work in the same department, so they will know they got the same card, though I did write different messages on the inside.

I'm also nervous sending a thank you card because I'm always worried that it will get lost in the company mail. I'm hoping to hear today about a second round of interviews!

Umm... if you're going to correct someone's grammar, it helps to be sure you're right. Otherwise you look a little silly.

I thought the "masterful" compliment was a bit over the top. I find people who over-praise just a little bit creepy.

I work for a luxury travel firm and when I interview candidates, I look for a thank-you note simply as evidence that the candidate has some appreciation of the personalized service we provide to our guests. But, a three-line email saying "thank you" doesn't cut it. The email needs to reflect something of our meeting. 100 points to the candidate who writes a handwritten note on nice-quality paper. I have also had a friend who recruits for high-paid finance jobs say that this is also a touch that works in that industry?