Dear Reader: After a job interview, what should your thank-you email state?

Let’s get back to basics. If you’re interviewing, in my opinion, you absolutely need to thank the interviewers. It’s a simple email, but it can be effective. First, it’s the right thing to do; you’re thanking the interviewers for their time and the opportunity to be considered. Second, you’re expressing interest in the job. And third, there’s no reason not to; it truly takes two seconds.

For some employers, the difference between sending a thank you and not sending one may tip the scales when it comes to extending a job offer. According to data from Accountemps, 80% of human resources managers said thank-you messages are factored into hiring decisions.

If you’re wondering whether to send something on social media or an email, go with an email. During the interview if you don’t have the interviewer’s email addresses, ask if it’s OK to reach out if you have any questions. In case you’re wondering if snail mail is still a thing, as long as you know the interviewer isn’t working remotely and they’re working from the office location, do both. Send an email, because it’s immediate, then send a handwritten note via the mail.

When I worked in recruiting, I only received two handwritten thank-you notes. That said, they went a long way! Days after the interview, one of the cards remained perched on my desk for weeks. It was a nice gesture. While a thank-you note won’t necessarily automatically grant you a job offer, overall, it leaves a nice sense of gratitude with the employer, and can help slightly set you apart from others. Every time I glanced at that note, it kept the candidate top of mind.

There’s no excuse not to send one. For email, send it within 24 hours of the interview and vary it slightly. I’ve seen interview teams forward the emails they received to each other, remarking on how impressed they were with the candidate.

These emails don’t have to be very long — succinctness is your friend. You can reference the job title and keep it short and sweet. The purpose is to thank them for their time and interest in your candidacy and express how interested you are in the position. You may want to include something that you connected with during the conversation such as a mutual hobby. Lastly, you can indicate you look forward to hearing from them soon.

I wouldn’t necessarily limit the thank-you email only to interviews. If you’ve had a meaningful conversation with someone for an informational interview, someone forwarded a contact to you, or for other reasons, those two simple words, “thank you,” can go a long way.

Vicki Salemi is a career expert for Monster, an author, a speaker and consultant, TV commentator and former corporate recruiter. For more information, visit www.vickisalemi.com and follow her on Instagram @vickisalemi. /Tribune News Service