Thank-you letters are so boring. You feel compelled to write one because the career books, career counselors, and HR managers tell you that’s what you are supposed to do. If you don’t do it, then you failed to show professional courtesy. If you do send one, it is rarely the defining factor that gets you the job.
Instead what you should do is send a value added response that may actually be of use to the person receiving it. This might get you noticed as somebody who is thoughtful and probably will increase your chances of getting the job.
When you’ve achieved a higher profile with the value added response, you want to keep your favorable position. Call, write or personally visit your potential boss once a week with a value-added benefit. Do this until you land the job or they tell you the position has been filled. Some career strategists think this is overkill, but my client track record of success teaches that persistence pays off. At the very least, you will usually learn where you stand.
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