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BLUFF: What are thoughts/opinions on including a typed note inside of a proper thank you note?

I'm pretty sure the base answer is no. I'm just wondering if there is any leeway or ways to make it work.  

Background: I serioulsy injured my hand when I was younger. It doesn't affect most things, but when it comes to physical writing it is both painful and looks aweful. Doing one thank you note, with only a half dozen lines can take me close to thirty minutes and advil is required afterwards.

I was thinking of doing a simple one/two line thank you note and include a typed note in the longer, interview thank you format.

Thank you,

Joel BC

mmann's picture
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Considering your circumstances, I'm impressed that you write them at all!

 The type written note is way better than not sending one.  Do that for now, perhaps reserving the hand-written note for the actual hiring manager.  Consider asking a friend to write them for you.  Strategically, you may want to consider learning to write with the other hand.

  Good luck!
--Michael

stephenbooth_uk's picture

 I have a similar, though possibly not quite as severe, issue resulting from a congenital disability (Dyspraxia).  If the recruiter is aware of your problem with writing then I doubt they would ding you much, if at all,for a typewritten note, so long as the note clearly wasn't just a standard 'boiler plate'.  I think 'top and tailing' the typewritten note would probably be better than just leaving it entirely typewritten.

 Personally I tend to go for brevity in the hand written note, I can usually manage a few lines reasonably legibily.  Obviously your situation may be different and you are the best judge of your situation.

Stephen

--

Skype: stephenbooth_uk  | DiSC: 6137

"Start with the customer and work backwards, not with the tools and work forwards" - James Womack

 

Mark's picture
Admin Role Badge

until you can have an admin hand write them and only if you want to at that point.

Mark

jbancroftconnors's picture

Thanks to everyone for the responses.

Joel Bancroft-Connors
7-5-2-1

pedantix's picture

Lucy Kellaway at the FT writes a great weekly comment on management. One of her recent pieces covers Mike and Mark's handwritten-is-best advice to a tee. In one case, a manager wrote 30,000 thank-you notes. They're always appreciated. If it's done by hand.

Have a read here: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/ae0e089e-46ab-11e0-967a-00144feab49a,s01=1.htm...

DHumble's picture

I suppose the typed note is ok, but if it's important why not ask a friend to write out what you've typed?  They can even sign it for you.  That way the signature and ink matches the writing.  If anyone was ever so observant as to notice that the thank you note you sent from the interview didn't match your handwriting I'd be impressed.  If they asked me it would give me an opportunity to tell them that I have an injured hand, and I think a hand written note is the platinum standard, and they're important enough for me to have it written out.  Talk about an opportunity for us high D's to build a relationship!  I'd be inclined to hire that person on the spot.  Not only do they go the extra mile to build relationships, but they find solutions gracefully.  It is the pinacle of etiquite to go the extra mile to make someone else feel appreciated and comfortable.  Even as a high D telling me that I'm important enough for you to overcome problems and execute a solution before I even knew there was a problem is golden!

Also, later on after I hire you and find out that it's a challenge for you to write the hand written note will be that much more valuable to me, becuase without asking I'll know you went the extra mile. 

GlennR's picture

My two cents: The important thing is that the thank you note is written and mailed. I seriously doubt the hiring decision is going to come down to handwriting vs typed. The content of the note should be the larger factor. When I'm hiring, I'm focusing on how effective a communicator the person is, not whether or not he or she hand writes a note. As they say in the blogosphere, "Content is King." So, to me, a well-written typed thank you note trumps a poorly worded handwritten note.

I too have a disability. In my case, it's partial blindness rendering me without depth perception and lousy eye-hand coordination. That results in perhaps the world's worst handwriting. I've actually had a doctor laugh at my writing when he saw me making notes on the inside cover of a book.

I would recommend you  learn to write with the other hand as Michael suggested above. I broke my wrist some time ago and within a week could write at least as well with my off hand as I could with my primary. (So for anyone else, it might take you a month:-)

I also follow MT format for writing thank you notes. I use a Moleskine journal for all of my note taking (hey, it has never crashed on me). I first write a draft of it in the journal, then I hand copy it onto my personal stationery that has my name embossed on it (since no one can read my signature.) Copying the draft means I focus on my penmanship, not making up the content as I go along.

When I travel I take a quart-sized storage bag and put about half a dozen notes, envelopes, and stamps in it. I generally try to mail the thank you note from the same city where I met the person I'm thanking. Back in the day, it would arrive the following day, now with postal service cutbacks it might take 48 hours. I write notes during down time between appointments or at lunch if I'm eating alone.

Glenn

 

 

 

crumbwasright's picture

 I really wouldn't worry about hand writing it anymore...  Most business is done via e-mail these days, so why not just write your thank you note via e-mail.

Its a little less personal, but just as effective I think.

http://www.thank-you-notes.com

Jrlz's picture

Hi Joel BC,

Normally I would say hand written only.  However, with issue you have with pain in your hand I would say typed is acceptable.  It is a very rare breed that even sends thank you notes and evena a typed one will set you apart.