When to send a thank you

I saw this recent survey about thank you's after an interview. While I agree with most of its findings I do think that you should follow up with a thank you note within 24-48 hours of the interview. Two weeks to me is too long to wait. If you really want the job, a quick email to the interviewer should be the next immediate thing you do.

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MENLO PARK, Calif., Feb. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- It's a common quandary for job seekers: Are you being pushy if you contact an employer after submitting a resume? A new survey suggests the opposite may be true. Eighty-two percent of executives polled said job seekers should contact hiring managers within two weeks of submitting application materials. Only 5 percent said professionals should refrain from communicating once a resume has been sent. The survey was developed by Robert Half International Inc., the world'sfirst and largest staffing service specializing in accounting, finance and information technology. It was conducted by an independent research firm andincludes responses from 150 executives with the nation's 1,000 largest companies. Executives were asked, "How long should a job seeker wait to follow up with the hiring manager after submitting a resume?"

Their responses:
One week or less.......................37%
One to two weeks.......................45%
Two to three weeks......................9%
Three weeks or more.....................3%
Don't follow up.........................5%
Don't know..............................1% 100%

Executives also were asked, "In your opinion, what is the best way for ajob seeker to follow up with a hiring manager after submitting a resume?" The top three responses were via e-mail (38 percent), telephone (33 percent) and a hand written note (23 percent). "Employers value initiative and enthusiasm, and thoughtful post-resume communication underscores these traits," said Max Messmer, chairman and CEO ofRobert Half International Inc. and author of Managing Your Career ForDummies(R) (John Wiley & Sons, Inc.). Messmer added that the method for contacting a prospective employer is less important than the message itself. "Whether communicating in writing or over the telephone, job seekers should demonstrate their knowledge of the company while reinforcing their qualifications and sincere interest in the position.

This extra step can give professionals a significant advantage overless-proactive candidates." Robert Half International Inc. has more than 330 locations throughoutNorth America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand, and offers online job search services at http://www.rhi.com/.