It is now proper job-seeking etiquette to send your interviewer a thank you note when the first meeting is over. In fact, many hiring managers will take notice if you don’t follow up with some sort of acknowledgment. Not only is a post-interview thank you note a great way to network, it can also help you clarify information that was discussed during (or omitted from) the meeting.

Handwritten Cards

The most common post-interview thank you notes are sent via snail mail. Any local greeting card store will sell a variety of thank you cards, but you don’t need to be creative here. Avoid anything humorous or unprofessional. Ideally, you should choose a thank you card with a conservative cover and nothing written on the inside. You will handwrite this part.

Email

If you have been corresponding with your would-be employer through email, it would not be deemed inappropriate to follow up in this fashion. Virtual correspondence is more commonplace in the business world than ever before. While you do not want to email a thank you “ecard,” you can write a professional email to follow up and thank your interviewer for his or her time.

What to Say

Whether you are using snail mail or email, the sentiment will be the same. You will want to express how much you enjoyed meeting with your interviewer and thank him or her for the opportunity. You may wish to reiterate why you feel you are a good fit for the position. If you feel you left the interview without clarifying certain points, do so now.

Thank you notes can even give you a forum to do some damage control. If you were five minutes late to the interview due to traffic, for instance, you can express your regret again for the faux pas. Remember, this will be a hiring manager’s last impression before he or she makes a decision. Use this medium wisely and you could increase your prospects of being short listed for the position.

This article is contributed by Heather Johnson, who regularly writes on the topic of career exploration. She invites your questions and writing job opportunities at her personal email address: heatherjohnson2323@ gmail.com.