Are thank you notes an outdated concept?

Absolutely not. Interviewers always look for applicants who have as much EQ as they have IQ. Courtesy and respect are often as valued as intellectual skill, interpersonal savvy, and interactive ability.

E-mail, snail-mail, or fax? If your earlier communications have been via e-mail, e-mail your note of appreciation. If the company is more formal and you’ve corresponded through the postal service, mail your thank you as you would a business letter. Fax? Bad idea.

Proofread your work and ask someone with a critical eye for grammar, punctuation, spelling and sentence structure to proofread as well. You don’t want the goodwill you mail to fail.

Content: Write a three- paragraph thank you letter. In the first paragraph, thank your host for taking the time to inform you of the challenges and opportunities the position and the company offer. In the second paragraph, highlight contributions you can make quickly, and contributions you envision making over the longer term of your employment. In the closing paragraph, affirm your strong interest in the position, capability to do the job, and desire to make significant difference in the future of the company.