Majority of executives OK e-mail f ollow-ups after interviews

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According to a recent survey developed by Accountemps, it is acceptable to send post-interview thank-you notes to hiring managers via e-mail.|ret||ret||tab|

In the survey, which was conducted by an independent research firm and included responses from 150 executives with the nation's largest companies, 78 percent of the respondents considered e-mailed thank-you messages appropriate. |ret||ret||tab|

However, 22 percent indicated that e-mail notes following a job interview are inappropriate.|ret||ret||tab|

"Sending an e-mail immediately following a job interview demonstrates initiative, but candidates should follow up with a traditional, more formal letter," said Max Messmer, chairman of Accountemps. |ret||ret||tab|

"Sending a personal, handwritten note offers applicants a chance to express their enthusiasm for the position and reinforce the reasons they feel they're a good match," he added.|ret||ret||tab|

Thank-you notes and messages may also give job seekers a leg up on the competition, according to a related survey question to which 86 percent of executives polled answered that they consider post-interview thank-yous helpful when evaluating candidates. |ret||ret||tab|

According to the executives polled, though, only 39 percent of job applicants actually follow through with that courtesy. |ret||ret||tab|

Messmer noted that thank-you e-mails should be no more than one paragraph and he added that handwritten letters need not be long, either, as two or three paragraphs are acceptable. |ret||ret||tab|

Both handwritten and e-mail thank-you notes should express gratitude, reinforce the candidate's interest in the job and recap his or her strongest selling points, Messmer said. |ret||ret||tab|

Accountemps, a temporary staffing service for accounting, finance and bookkeeping professionals, has more than 325 offices throughout North America, Europe and Australia. |ret||ret||tab|

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