1. 10 THINGS YOU SHOULD NEVER WRITE IN A 'THANK YOU' NOTE
By Brittney Helmrich, Business News Daily Staff Writer March 2, 2015 06:53 am EST
Thank-you notes, while not mandatory, are a great idea if you want to get ahead professionally. Whether
you've just had a job interview or you're looking to impress your clients, sometimes all it takes is a short,
hand-written note to set you apart.
But while thank-you notes are important, writing the wrong thing could cost you that coveted job or the
client you really want to work with. Business News Daily asked business and career experts what things
should never be included in a professional thank-you note, and their responses may surprise you.
Here are 10 fatal thank-you note mistakes to avoid the next time you break out your stationery:
Never ask for anything
"In a thank-you note, you should never ask for something else. Asking detracts from your thank-you and
suggests that gratitude is not the real reason for your message." – Lynn Gaertner-Johnston, founder and
business writing specialist, Syntax Training
Never rehash your mistakes
"Do not apologize or mention any negative aspects of what happened in the interview or meeting that you
are sending thanks for. If you couldn't answer a question or called someone by the wrong name, don't
recall it in your thank-you message." – Anne St. Hilaire, marketing and PR coordinator, Recruiter.com [10
Body Language Mistakes to Avoid in Job Interviews ]
Never include typos
"Never have typos or crossed-out words in your thank-you note. It makes you seem like you were scatter-
brained when composing the note. Type out what you want the thank-you note to say, then hand write
your note. Typing out your note ahead of time will help you avoid mistakes when hand writing the note." –
Noelle Cipollini, resource manager, Kavaliro
Never turn down the opportunity
"[One should never] write that they are not interested in the role, even if they aren't. That doesn't belong in
a thank you note." – Taly Russell, CEO and founder, SilverChair Partners
Never give generic compliments
"Never tell someone that they are a great person. They know, and it doesn't matter. Simply be specific
about what they did for you, how it helped you and what you will do next." – Steve Langerud, principal,
Steve Langerud & Associates
Never bring up your salary
"Thank-you notes should never ask about salary or benefits, as in this marketplace, salary is most likely
addressed in the screening and then never discussed again until an offer is on the table. Don't let it
screen you out in the middle of the process, so don't mention it in the note." –Dave Denaro, vice
president, Keystone Associates
Never include negative feedback
"Don't qualify the thanks with anything negative — i.e., 'Even though you didn't get those reports in quite
on time, I still think you did a great job!' — make the moment all about the praise. You should aim for a
sincere, professional message with no ambiguity." – Cord Himelstein, vice president of marketing and
communications, Michael C. Fina
Never sound desperate

2. "[Steer clear of] any hint of desperation. Hiring managers and HR know that it's a tough job market, but
you won't close the deal by presenting yourself as a charity case. Instead, present your key offerings that
you bring to the position that help set you apart from other candidates." – Joey Price, CEO, Jumpstart:HR
Never say you're sorry
"Never apologize for something that you feel is lacking within your skill set or experience. People often do
this by writing, 'Although I do not yet have ... ' The interviewer had the chance to meet you and make the
determination if you are lacking something." – Lavie Margolin, consultant and career coach, LCJS
Consulting
Never include a sales pitch
"In a business setting, a thank-you note should never include a sales pitch disguised as part of the note. It
is not OK to include, 'By the way, I will be in your neighborhood next week,' 'If you know anyone who can
use my services ... ' or any of those tactics. Including a sales pitch dilutes the authenticity of 'thank you'
and voids the feeling of reciprocity that would normally take place." – Sherry Ransom, owner and
president, Sherry Ransom Productions
- See more at: http://www.businessnewsdaily.com/7800-thank-you-note-mistakes.html?
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