It used to be that the thank-you note was as sacred to the job search as the two-page resume was taboo.

But today the humble thank-you note is surrounded by controversy.

One popular career author says thank-you notes are not worth the paper they're printed on; almost every other career author says exactly the opposite; and even experts are not sure whether or not it's OK to send a thank-you note by e-mail.

Thanks, But No Thanks

Conventional career wisdom holds that a thank-you note should be sent after every interview, but at least one career author says otherwise.

"I think they're a bad idea," said H. Anthony Medley, author of Sweaty Palms, the Neglected Art of Being Interviewed.

Medley speaks not from a human resources perspective, but from that of a hiring manager -- the folks who usually make the final decision on whether or not a candidate is hired.

In his role as hiring manager, he finds thank-you notes to be "an irritant."

"All of a sudden," he said, "you get inundated with these thank-you letters. They're insincere. What do you do? Throw them away, file them, write them back?"

"I don't agree with him," said Katharine Hansen, a career author whose works include A Foot in the Door and Dynamic Cover Letters. "Most career experts advise job seekers to send thank-you notes."

Hansen estimated that only five percent of job seekers actually send thank-you notes.

"That's one reason why you should send a thank-you letter," she said, "because you'll stand out."

"I think thank-you notes are still important," said Kate Moody, Vice President of Human Resources at Oxygen Media, LLC. "It definitely makes an impression when a candidate takes the time to follow up."

E-Mail Thank-You Notes

People are increasingly sending thank-you notes the same way they send resumes: By e-mail.

"Experts are really not in agreement on whether e-mail thank-you notes are acceptable," said career author Katharine Hansen.

So, how do you decide whether you should handwrite your thank-you note or e-mail it?

"Be guided by the company culture," Hansen said.

"I think in today's era of e-mail communication, it's totally acceptable to have a thank-you note come by e-mail," said Kate Moody, Vice President of Human Resources at Oxygen Media, LLC.

"Simply the fact that someone takes the time to respond to the interview is important. Whether they do that by e-mail or hand is not as important," Moody added.

Being prompt, however, is key.

"If someone sends me a thank you more than two days after I met them, I may not make the connection," Moody said. "That's another way e- mail has an advantage."

For e-mail thank-you notes:

• Choose a legible, conservative font in black.
• Do not send the interviewer an e-card.
• Do not carbon copy or "CC" others.
• Spell check before sending.
• Handwritten Thank-You Notes

Handwritten Thank-You Notes

A handwritten thank-you note requires more time and effort than an e- mail, but it will almost certainly make you stand out.

"Nobody sends handwritten thank-you notes anymore," said Seraphim Carlson, a New-York based recruiter. "I've probably gotten five handwritten notes, and I've hired over 120 people."

"I like getting them," Carlson added, "and I still remember those five candidates."

Use these tips when creating a handwritten thank-you note:

• Write your message in ink -- not pencil.
• If you make a mistake, trash the note and start again.
• Have someone proofread your work.
• Mail the card within 24 hours of the interview.

If It's Not Worth Doing Right ...

A poorly constructed and error-ridden thank-you note will hurt -- not help -- your chances.

"Sending a bad thank-you note is worse than sending none at all," said Aleyda Robatto, Recruitment Manager for MTA New York City Transit.

"I think people really focus on their resume and cover letter, but for some reason they don't seem to have a chance to work on their thank-you notes."

"A good thank-you note summarizes what we spoke about [during the interview] and crystallizes additional points that may not have been brought up," said Robatto.

In the final analysis, the thank-you note is like any other tool. It can prove productive or destructive to your search depending on how it's used.