When you become a freelancer, you’ll find that plenty of opportunities await. No longer tied to just one company, you can opt to work with larger entities or even go it alone. The choice is entirely up to you! With so much freedom comes responsibility, though. You’ll need to be mindful of your actions and ensure that you always provide the best quality work you can.
In life, as in business, sometimes you need to say thanks. Without this, your gratitude may be lacking or, at the very least, not quite genuine. Your thank-you note is an excellent place to voice your appreciation for someone’s work and help establish a personal connection for future collaborations. In this article, we’ll discuss some important details about sending a thank-you note after leaving a job.
The Purpose Of The Note
A thank-you note is typically used to express your gratitude for something. This can be a person or another entity such as a business or organization. When writing the note, it’s important to keep in mind the purpose of the gesture. Is your gratitude directed towards receiving an excellent service or product? Did you appreciate a specific characteristic about the person or entity you’re thanking?
For example, if you’re thanking someone for giving you a reference letter that helped you get a job, you’ll want to ensure that your note expresses just how much you appreciate this gesture. The reference letter writer may expect something in return, such as a small gift or token of appreciation. You could handwrite a note expressing your gratitude and also include a small gift for the person.
The Format Of The Note
As mentioned above, a thank-you note is typically short and straightforward. You don’t need to go overboard with flowery language or write a novel to show your appreciation. The key is to express your thoughts in a way that the person reading the note will clearly understand what you’re trying to say. There are plenty of cheesy phrases and overused words that make a note harder to decode. This is why you should always avoid using colloquialisms or using words that might be misunderstood. Write in a way that is easy to comprehend by the person you’re writing to, but also ensures that your thanks are accurately communicated.
The Timing Of The Note
In most cases, you won’t need to write a thank-you note too soon after leaving a job. Unless the person you’re thanking is directly involved in your employment situation (for example, your manager or HR person), you’ll want to give the person time to process the information you provided and consider your gesture sincere. If you’re too quickly followed by another order or task, it may come off as disingenuous or even seem like you’re trying to rush them into saying thank you. Consider waiting a day or two before following up with another email or phone call.
The Delivery Of The Note
When delivering the note, you have three options: email, handwritten, or mailed. Handwritten and mailed letters of gratitude are both excellent ways to go. You might also consider sending a digital copy of the note as well. In today’s world, a letter isn’t quite as effective as it could be. There are way too many cases of people misreading or losing letters, especially when they’re handwritten. Although email is relatively secure and offers the added benefit of being open to the public, sometimes you just want something to be delivered in a way that is most suitable for the person you’re writing to.
If you work in an office setting and have a postal mail system that doesn’t require a signature, mailing a handwritten or stamped letter is the way to go. If you’re writing to someone who doesn’t have a physical address, you can also consider emailing or texting them your note. In some cases, it may be most effective to call the person you’re writing to and leave a voicemail message. You might also consider sending them a chat message via Facebook Messenger or Google Hangouts.
Some Final Thoughts
As you start your freelance career, keep in mind the purpose of your gestures. Is your gratitude directed towards receiving an excellent service or product? Did you appreciate a specific characteristic about the person or entity you’re thanking? If so, then by all means, write a thank-you note! Just keep in mind the purpose of your note and ensure that you write about something that will make the person reading it feel acknowledged.