Simple Things
Did your parents ever force you to write thank-you notes? I know that was my least favorite thing to do as a kid. Didn’t they know I was thankful for the gift? I opined, to no one in particular. Why do I have to write this letter?
The basic answer is: they’re one of the most effective things you can do to build social capital.
Cards
This week, I individually emailed 450 certificates to attendees of a client’s annual conference. Out of that number, only four responded to tell me “Thank you.” I still remember the name of the first person who responded!
Those four people represent a response rate less than one percent. Think about how much a simple action like that will set you apart! You cannot buy that kind of notoriety or name recognition. Writing a thank-you note after an interview may not get you the job you went in for, but it might result in them recommending you for another position.
Assuming you bring that kind of thankfulness with a “Throw me at the problem and I’ll find a solution” attitude, you’ll catapult yourself beyond 99% of the competition.