• by Beverly Weinstein , March 16, 2009

My first instinct is that handwritten anything is outdated. But I decided to check with a cross section of hiring managers to get their opinions. To my surprise, most of my informal survey group said it was a good idea.

Included in my sample were men and women from traditional and digital businesses, agencies and media organizations, ages ranging from late 20s to late 50s, and all at least at a director level.

Most everyone agreed that handwritten notes are more thoughtful, personal, warmer and a surefire way to stand out from the pack. The downside is timing. The U.S. mail is slow and may not always be reliable. Take note though, it only seemed to be an issue for digital executives and by no means all of them.

Here are some specific comments on the pluses of handwritten responses:

"I think a handwritten note in today's "always on" world is the most thoughtful and productive way to thank someone." ( Digital Sales VP, mid-30s)

"If it's someone I've never met or a young person, it's a great way to follow up and show interest. It carries a lot of weight with me but only about 10% of candidates do it." (TV Sales EVP, mid-50s)

"I really love getting a written note but if the candidate isn't right for the job, in the end it doesn't matter." (Digital Agency Director, mid-30s)

"I like it but I don't expect it. It is definitely a positive whereas email is a neutral. I think it shows good manors and that someone is willing to put in more effort." (Traditional Agency EVP, mid-50s)

"I think follow up is pretty key. A handwritten note has a positive effect in the long term. It's not just about the job at hand; it's also about the next job that becomes available". (Digital VP, 30s)

But not everyone was as enthusiastic. There was some cautionary advice about the importance of a timely response, all of which came from executives in the digital space. Here's what some of them had to say:

"I think email is fine. It's the defacto communication medium of today. The most important thing for me is actual response on the same day. If they email me the day after, I may have already forgotten about them." (Digital Sales SVP, late 20s)

"Email gives you instant feedback. I always think if I don't hear back from the candidate right away there probably isn't interest". (Digital SVP, early 50s)

"A few months ago I interviewed three candidates back-to-back for an opening I had to fill in a week. Two candidates sent me an email follow-up the same day. The third sent a handwritten note that took two to three days to arrive. I would caution that the response time is relevant when all things are equal. I will admit though, that I thought the handwritten note stood out." (GM Digital, late 30s)

Bottom line, the handwritten note definitely gets you the attention even if it doesn't get you the job. Digital candidates beware, you may want to double up with an email and a handwritten thank you.