Personally, I am a huge proponent of thank you cards. Not only do they come in many different adorable patterns, themes and colors but they are also one of the most sincere ways to say thank you.  Nothing expresses gratitude better than a hand written note. Thank you cards can be used for a variety of occasions or reasons but incorporating them into your work routine can be a small but powerful way to get noticed.

A hand written thank you is possibly one of the best follow-ups to an interview. It not only shows your future boss that you are serious about the opportunity but it also demonstrates that you are both respectful and courteous. Sending a thank you card can make you stand out above other candidates you are competing against and could possibly be the deciding factor on whether you get the position over someone else.

Another great opportunity to send a thank you is when a co-worker goes above and beyond. Did someone really help you out in a bind? Did someone step up to ensure a project deadline was met? A thank you card can be an unexpected and unique way to communicate how grateful you are for their efforts.

No matter the reason, a thank you card is always appreciated. I constantly see thank you cards displayed proudly on my co-workers desks as they are kept as mementos of appreciation. When you get ready to write your next thank you, make sure you keep these helpful hints in mind:

Be timely – Ideally, a thank you should be sent or presented to the recipient within a week of the thank-provoking action. However, don’t let this discourage you if you somehow get caught up, the old saying applies ‘better late than never.’

Be specific – The perfect thank you directly acknowledges the reason for the card. Make sure you tell the recipient exactly why you are so grateful.

Be polished – To be most effective, make sure you dot all your I’s and cross all your T’s by checking that your spelling and grammar are correct. A sloppy thank you can mask its true purpose and quickly be disregarded.

Be you – Any card that is aligned with your personal brand and can remind your recipient that you sent them this sweet note is a plus. It will be an everyday reminder of your graciousness.

Be prepared – Always have a variety of thank you cards at your desk. This allows you to be prepared and able to write a quick thank you when the opportunity presents itself.  Having multiple styles of thank you cards also lets you personalize your thank you for the individual recipient. This makes it feel heartfelt and not generic in nature.

So, who will you be sending your next thank you to?