letters and e-mail

[Anatole Wilson <awilson -at- VNET -dot- IBM -dot- COM>]

I don't think you can generalize about this any more--it depends upon the
individual interviewer or manager.  If all previous contacts have been
through the regular mail, it probably is better to write a letter.  If
you've been communicating with the interviewer through e-mail, an immediate
e-mail note followed up by a letter may have more impact.

When I was a grad student in Pittsburgh, I interviewed with several companies
in California.  Regular mail takes 5-10 business days to get across country,
so several of the people I interviewed with suggested I stay in contact with
them through e-mail, since it was faster.  One manager I now work with said
he was annoyed that more students he interviewed at job fairs didn't
follow-up with e-mail, especially since he had encouraged it, and he also
had to make his recommendations within a week after the fair.

The easiest way to be sure, of course, is to ask the interviewer, if it's
alright to maintain contact through e-mail; a question like, "what's the
best way to keep in touch with you to see if you have any more questions?"


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Anatole Wilson                       "We are all interested in the
Sr. Assoc. Information Developer     future, for that is where
IBM, Santa Teresa Labs               you and I will spend
awilson -at- vnet -dot- ibm -dot- com                 the rest of our lives."
all company disclaimers apply        - Criswell, Plan 9 From Outer Space
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