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Re: Interview follow-up note: First or last name usage?
Subject:Re: Interview follow-up note: First or last name usage? From:David Neeley <dbneeley -at- gmail -dot- com> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com> Date:Sat, 24 Sep 2005 14:01:58 -0500
Despite the observations of others as to the near-ubiquity of first
names in American business, I would suggest the "Dear Mr. Smith"
approach for the thank you note. You can hardly go wrong with the
polite approach--he may in response "correct" you--but despite the
feeling of collegiality, the fact remains that it was a job interview
and this gentleman is your prospective employer (and the one with the
liability, should it come to that).
If you are not "corrected"--you may assume you have done the right
thing in being more formal in your note. If that is the case, the
negative feelings that accompany the "wrong" address would not be
worth doing when it is so easy to avoid them to begin with.
You have probably observed in the past that in many cases someone in a
superior social or business position may use first names with those
below, but they often still use the more formal title going upwards.
Until and unless it is clear otherwise, I would be willing to err on
the side of caution.
Note, too, how you would address the gentleman or refer to him with
clients. Being too informal in that context might not be so well
tolerated.
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