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Thnx 4 Ur Time, I Can't W8 2 Work 4 U :)

by Terrence O'Brien on July 31, 2008 at 12:30 PM


If you have ever sent a thank you note to an interviewer that read anything like the above headline, you probably didn't get the job. Increasingly, candidates are sending off casual thank you e-mails and even text messages -- unfortunately, we're not joking -- that incorporate IM shorthand and emoticons. The problem is that many younger job-hunters don't realize this may be costing them that dream job they interviewed for.

Shorthand and casual communication such as text messaging and notes sent via social networking services like Facebook and MySpace are still considered extremely unprofessional (and rightly so). While this method of communication has become the norm for many personal interactions, hiring managers frown upon the practice.

Avoiding thank you note pitfalls is easy, just follow these simple suggestions:
  • Don't use IM and SMS shorthand (this includes emoticons). Remember, this is a job interview.
  • Don't ask to be friends with the hiring manager on MySpace or Facebook. They're not your buddy.
  • Sit at the computer and write out a proper thank you note, and don't just fire off a quick message from your BlackBerry. It'll show you really care about getting the job.
  • Do address the hiring manager by name. Being personable is good, but remain professional.
[Source: Wall Street Journal]

Tags: e-mail, im, instant messaging, InstantMessaging, interview, jobs, sms, texting

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