Thank You -- Email It. Write It. Tweet It. Just Say It.

In the old days (pre-1996), the thank-you note was a staple of the job search process. The job seeker was expected to send a handwritten note to each and every person they met while interviewing. Anything less was seen as not savvy, and somewhat rude.

These days, it's somewhat rare to receive a thank-you note from interviewees. I'm not sure why -- colleagues have pointed to various "millenial" arguements, use of various online job search tools, and the ease of /commodization of communication -- but one thing is clear: sending a thank-you note is a no-brainer for the smart job search.

Why?

* It's the final opportunity to thank the interviewer for their time and express your interest, once again, in the position and the company. It allows you to make one final point before the company makes their decision -- you get the last word.

* You'll stand out. Like I said above, we don' t receive many thanks-yous. If you take the time to craft individual notes it will be noticed. And if it's between you and one other person for the position, it might very well put you over the edge.

* It could be a dealkiller. The people empowered to make hiring decisions are more likely to be of the mindset that the thank-you is a critical part of job search protocol and be put off if it doesn't arrive. I've seen offers not extended because the candidate did not send a thank-you.

* It's the right thing to do. Especially in this day and age, time is precious, and thanking someone for taking their time to consider you for a position is appropriate.

* It's easy. Handwritten notes are no longer necessary (but still make an impact). Write a thoughtful email instead.

In the job search, it's important to make the most out of every touch point you have with a hiring company, and the thank-you note is a gimme.