Call me old school -- I'm using my fountain pen
As I was writing thank you notes to eleven attorneys who interviewed me as well as the recruiter who organized everything last week, it occurred to me that I hadn't received a thank you note myself in a while.
After my interview, instead of debating over e-mail versus snailmail, I decided that handwritten notes were the right thing to do, and if the people I wanted to thank thought I was antiquated, so be it -- it would mean it wasn't the right workplace for me. I did fret a bit more than I'm letting on, after all, the economy has been through some major changes since I left private practice, and the market I'm trying to get back into is about 7000 lawyers smaller. But, how could I go wrong by sending a note? Who doesn't like a handwritten note?
Truth be told, I enjoyed writing the notes, trying to pick up the tone and a thread of my conversation with each person, that I decided to send a few personal notes as well.
I dropped one off in my neighbor's mailbox to thank her for a dinner party. She called me and warmly thanked me for the note, and invited me to a 4th of July picnic at the home of one of the other dinner guests. Score!
And, I sent a handwritten thank you note to Ellen, of Soft Spikes fame, for some purple large Soft Spikes she found for me. You can't adequately thank someone for a gift like that in an email.
But it occurred to me that I had two gifts outstanding with no thank you notes. Eventually, I got a two-sentence email thanking me for a gift from a high school friend whose wedding I couldn't attend. And, I had to follow up on the gift to another friend -- it had been so long, I had to make sure it didn't get lost in the mail. A week after my email, I did get an email thank you. That was a baby gift, so I suppose I should give the sleep-deprived parents a non-judgmental break.
No matter. Fully in line with living my life in the world the way I'd like it to be, I decided I needed to be even more of a thank you note writer. I marched down to Vroman's stationary store to look at personalized stationary options. At $4-9 per card & envelope, it's not in my future. I am, however, considering getting an embosser with my name on it so I can pay once and use forever. And, I do love writing notes with my fountain pen.
What was the last handwritten note you wrote? Received? Thoughts about e-mail versus snailmail?
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13 of your thoughts:
I've never hand written a thank you note and until just now I hadn't really paid attention to the opportunities I may have had to do so. I will be mindful now.
At every opportunity, I give handwritten thank you notes. I keep 2 small boxes in my desk. They are really cheap, but cute and once someone sees that you actually took the time to write a note to them personally, it sends not only a thank you message, but also shows how appreciative you really are.
I save email for everyday chit chat. Like, meet after work for happy hour.
I haven't sent a handwritten thank you note in ages!
I was just talking to my husband about the dying art of writing. I've considered finding an online penpal group that requires all corespondence to be done long hand. I've gotten so rusty that I have forgotten how to write some capital letters in cursive! LOL
I confess that I am not the most diligent writer of thank you notes, but when I do remember I hand write them. I, too, keep a box of cards at my desk specifically for that purpose. As a manager, I especially appreciate receiving a handwritten note from a candidate, although I don't hold it against those who merely email their gratitude.
The art of the pen is not what it use to be but since I've discovered cardmaking it's become more profound. It makes people feel so special to look in the mailbox and find a personal note from someone as you know that they took time out to seriously think of you.
P.S. Stopped by your eBay site to try out your hairties and it's blank are you no longer making them?
I sent handwritten notes to the professors who wrote my letters of recommendation for school. And I always send thank you notes after interviews. I use inexpensive note cards from Target.
I lovelovelove sending cards and notes and thank-yous! I have invested in stationary over time and its always a pleasure to choose the perfect paper for the person...not to mention, I have a personal embossed stamp (like this: www.stationeryxpress.com/stationery-p/TD1600)which gives card-writing even more excitment!
What could be better than getting a card in the mail? Sucks that stamps are 44 cents now and I'm piecemealing my postage together....but oh well!
i love handwritten letters and notes. i still try to write people that way. in fact, i write sogent little love letters (thought we see each other everyday) with doodles and things, and he looooves them.
btw-my coworker is starting a business (by the end of the month he'll be official) doing this very thing for people who are too busy to write their own.
Thanks for the comments (and link!) everyone.
@knitgirl: Yes, the hair tie store is closed. But lots of others are making them now.
A lovely post, and an even lovelier gesture on your part! When you find a card you like, and they're on sale, buy a bunch of them and save them for future use. I have about 200 cards of various types, and can usually find an appropriate one to use for just about any type of correspondence I need.
And Glymmers, thank you for the link on the embosser!!
Its becoming a forgotten art for sure. My sweetheart handwrites me from the Navy and his sweet words are so carefully written and beautifully small and neat. I so cherish his spirit coming through the ink and after all this time can discern his mood and gentle heart with the stroke of his pen. It means alot to take the time out of our crazy schedules to sit and hand write a note...beautifully done its a gesture of love.
I am a note card fan too! You can also get stationery & more from www.Vistaprint.com.
Hey I was having problems leaving a comment the other day, I hope it will go through this time. I was saying I found it endearing that you decided to give out handwritten notes because this adds the human touch that would have been missing from typing some email. Would I do it? No, my writing would probably end my chances, but then that is just me. :)
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