Whether it's your first or fifth interview in a line of job applications, the thank-you note may swiftly become a lost art among Millennials, who already hear enough about how we are killing manners. Is this little note actually worthy of a yes or no from a prospective employer, should it be? Admittedly, it probably won't make or break your employer's decision if the competition is real or if you got caught lying in your interview.

However, assuming your future hiring team is unable to decide based on blatant disqualifications, sending the thank-you note may be a lost courtesy that weary, burdened job seekers are overlooking, and maybe just that nudge you need to set yourself out.

First and foremost, thank you notes will bring out the best of you. Impressions are everything, everyone knows you're judged from just the instant you walk into an interview (the first five minutes set the tone for the rest of your hiring process, so work on that handshake).

Additionally, adding on employees for not-cheap positions is hard for companies of any tax bracket to undertake, wealthier businesses want to hire only the best, and mid-tier to low want to keep their money close which they could use toward projects or other expansions for their brand.

Taking on additional staff is a burden for all employers, and the letter addresses this by showing how grateful you are for the chance and for the opportunity, for the time they’ve taken out of their meetings and charting, and the stress it takes to choose between applicants.

Give the HR department a little wink and a nod, implicitly telling them they’ll make the right choice… won’t they?

So, what should you actually include this little xoxo to your future employer? According to business newsweekly, the ideal thank-you note hits the points of “thank you for meeting with me,” “thank you for a great interview, *say why*,” “I’m grateful for the position for this and this reason,” “thank you for asking me about concerns you might have if I take this position,” and lastly “thank you for *small details regarding your interviews* and I look forward to your reply.”

You want to include these points because they each say that you’ve reflected on the interview, you’re humbled by the opportunity, you’re reminding them that you’re a great candidate, and you’re showing that you’re a considerate person.

These are all the traits that you’re leaving behind without including the note because anyone will apply, do the email exchange, have the interview, and be afraid that the interview didn’t go well/be afraid of rejection and not want to send anything. It’s the risk you take that shows you’re still thinking about the employer and reminding them to think about you.

Thirdly, the note is not a means for you to correct what you fucked up in the interview. If you made a major error, like flipped out on a question, vomited during the interview, had a phone call in the middle of it which you then took and proceeded to leave the interview to take.

The thank-you note is not your back up plan or your fail-safe to try to secure the position. Discussing a marred question is off the table, but what you can do is address a concern that may have come up in the interview, like maybe that you had been terminated from a past position and how you’re grateful they’re considering you for the position knowing this and that you’re correcting your behavior. A shortened version of what you said in the interview.

It is not a way for you to show off how awesome you are for the hundredth time. They’ve heard enough of that, don’t mail them a handwritten letter to the PO box with sealed ink telling them you’re the best. The fact that you’re sending the letter already addresses this, they already know you’re taking the position seriously as well as the time it takes to hire someone.

Finally, if you forget the note despite all that has been written in this article, it’s probably not the end of the world. Send a response after you receive the rejection email or phone call, or that you’ve been chosen to join the team. Show them strength of character and thank the employer’s for making the right decision, yes even if they didn’t hire you. And move your amazing, grateful self on to better places.