Giving thanks relies on tact

Is it the done thing to send thank-you letters after being interviewed for a job? Dr MARIE WILSON is associate professor of management at the University of Auckland, research director of the ICEHOUSE business accelerator and a veteran of 20 years in corporate management and small business.

Should you send a thank-you letter after an interview with a prospective employer, or would that be seen as greasing of the greasiest sort?

If it is OK, what would you write?

What are you thanking them for? Interviewing you is their choice and, presumably, to their benefit. If you don't get the job, or if it is offered and you do not accept, then a thank-you letter may be more appropriate.

This is particularly the case if they have done something a bit out of the ordinary in the recruiting and selection process, such as finding out additional or detailed information for you.

You may also want to say that you were impressed by the organisation and wish to be considered for future openings.

These leave a good impression, rather than the quick reply which may be seen as a greasy attempt to get the job.

I want to make a career in finance, having thought about it long and hard and measured up my competencies.

This might not seem such a big deal except my background is literary - I have a PhD in English, but also have lots of (university) teaching experience.

I'm thinking of doing an MBA to kick-start the transition but I wonder if my years in a completely unrelated field might be a barrier. I am 36.

You might want to test your resolve by talking to middle managers and those who would be involved in (potentially) hiring you after your retraining - what would they be looking for?

While your writing and communication skills may be seen as an asset in any business setting, you need to make sure that any education you undertake will adequately prepare you in your new specialisation.

The coverage of finance in an MBA, for example, may not give you enough depth to make a transition into finance, although it might be just the thing to build business skills and make a transition to a number of business roles.

Verify the adequacy of the preparation with potential employers, professional associations in the finance area, and with the university career advisory service or student adviser in the finance area. Then choose the best route to develop new skills.

Your time in another discipline should not be a barrier if you are adequately prepared in your new field.

Indeed, your knowledge of the public sector, and skills in communication and teaching would be excellent complements to newly gained technical expertise.

You should probably expect, however, that as well advanced in your career as you were in English, you will be starting lower down the ladder in your new career, although your experience should help to advance your career development.

* E-mail your questions for Dr Marie Wilson to answer.