E-mail thank-you letters put your name in front of the interviewer on the same day, even within hours of your interview.

Some statistics:

• According to a recent Monster poll, 65% of Monster employers say they expect a thank-you note of some kind and 36% say they actually prefer thank-you notes sent by e-mail, surpassing the 29% who would rather receive the traditional letter.
• In a survey conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, three out of four employers said that an e-mail thank-you note is acceptable.

Guidelines to consider:

• As with all e-mail correspondence, pay special attention to the length of the note. A couple of brief paragraphs thanking the person and reinforcing the fact that you want the job and that you have the qualifications required, is sufficient.
• The same formal wording should be used for paper correspondence including using the appropriate salutation and ending with a signature that includes contact information.
• The e-mail subject line should indicate what's in the content of the note (i.e., "Interview Follow-up" or "Thank You for the Interview”).

To e-mail or not to e-mail:

• As with any job search strategy, take into account your specific circumstances and weigh them in making a decision whether or not to send your thank-you note by e-mail. If you have done all your correspondence with the company by e-mail, it will definitely be appropriate to send your thanks by the same route.
• On the other hand, if the company is formal and traditional, the old fashioned method of mailing a hard copy thank-you note should be considered.