I have recently decided (thanks to the economic condition) to join the hunt for a new career position. I am very conservative in my business approach and while I think that email and the internet has had a very positive impact on business I wonder if it is acceptable to email a follow-up (thank-you) letter after an interview.

I think that email is much too informal for such a communication and usually opt to send a letter via snail-mail. However, in many cases the company has already met and made a decision about the interview prior to receiving the letter.

Recently I have begun emailing follow-ups and attaching an interesting article that touches on a topic that was discussed during the interview. I reason that email allows me to attach such a document which may be impractical in the form of a letter.

Any thoughts??

Like you, I think that email feels a bit casual for this sort of interaction. However, it is fast becoming an accepted form of communication, and many business deals are conducted through the use of email. I work in the IT dept of a company that has approx 100 employees and we (as a company) send/receive an average of 1200 emails a day!!

If you would like the speed of email, but the formality of a letter: Why not attach a Word document containing your letter? This way the email merely acts as an 'envelope' to deliver your real message in?

Good idea providing links to relevant articles etc. You could also send a recorded message (video or audio) or if you have a website then you could provide a link to that (that’s how I got my job!).

If you don't have a website, PM me as I could put a suitable one together for you without too much trouble (no charge of course!).

Anywho, good luck with the job-hunting,

Chris.

Wow Chris - that's a very kind offer! I do have a web-site that I use for my business (I'm a executive coach) and I never thought of sending a link to it!

Thanks!