A word on Thank You notes...

CHICAGO, Aug. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Writing a thank-you letter after aninterview doesn't just showcase a candidate's manners -- it can also make orbreak their chances of landing a job. Nearly 15 percent of hiring managerssay they would not hire someone who failed to send a thank-you letter afterthe interview. Thirty-two percent say they would still consider thecandidate, but would think less of him or her, according to a recentCareerBuilder.com survey.

The survey, "How to Get in the Front Door," wasconducted from May 17, 2005 to May 27, 2005 and included more than 650 hiringmanagers. Although most hiring managers expect to receive a thank you note, formatpreferences differ. One-in-four hiring managers prefer to receive a thank-younote in e-mail form only; 19 percent want the e-mail followed up with a hardcopy; 21 percent want a typed hard copy only and 23 percent prefer just ahandwritten note.

"No matter which format you choose, it's crucial to act quickly whensending a thank-you letter to your interviewer," says Rosemary Haefner, VicePresident of Human Resources at CareerBuilder.com. "Twenty-six percent ofhiring managers expect to have the letter in-hand two days after theinterview, and 36 percent to have it within three to five days. Sending theletter quickly reinforces your enthusiasm for the job, and helps keep you top-of-mind for the interviewer."