r/etiquette • u/StationIllustrious94 • 2d ago
Card of appreciation?
I literally am now just starting my career path and i got some great advice from someone and want to give them a card of appreciation. Do I do this? Do I slip in money or a gift card. This has never happened to me where people are actually nice to me so I don’t know what to do or say.
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u/detentionbarn 2d ago
Card only. Absolutely no money! Pay it forward and also keep this person in mind in the future.
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u/Any-Soft-5487 2d ago
A card is very nice to acknowledge the advice you received was helpful. The gift card makes it too quid pro quo.
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u/CastleSpearse 2d ago
A thank-you card is always a good idea and always much appreciated. No money is necessary in this situation.
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u/Mordecai_Gist 1d ago
A note would be lovely but money in this situation would be crass and flag you as unethical. Just jot down a quick note of appreciation and send it by mail.
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u/BuddyOk4531 1d ago
Very thoughtful and there are appropriate cards. I would not do any money or a gift card but might offer to take them to lunch.
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u/LindenTeaJug 1d ago edited 1d ago
I think at the most I gave a box of chocolates and a thank you card to someone who wrote a recommendation for me when I was very young, and this was a lengthy recommendation. At some point I wrote a recommendation for a student (college intern), a lengthy written one for their portfolio, and they sent me flowers. If I had just given some advice I would not have even expected a thank you card. Possibly if I agreed to let someone list my phone number as a reference, but some of these things are really just things that people in the workforce would do quite often for the people they work with. A simple thank you card is usually plenty.
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u/IllContribution9179 2d ago
I think that it’s always nice to gift a little treat, like a cup of coffee or a gift card to a close by or well liked lunch/treat spot. I usually go between $10-20 at most. I have a lot of intelligent, incredible friends who are all well along or well developed in their careers and the amount of people who reach out to have similar conversations is honestly astonishing to me! They notice the people who will offer to pick up the coffee, or bring a little something as a thank you for their time and advice!
If you found value in the conversation and want to further develop the relationship (which you should!! This is great networking), this is also a good move.
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u/StationIllustrious94 2d ago
I settled on a card and a 25 dollar gift card
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u/Babyfat101 2d ago
Why post here and then NOT take the advice? You will make the “relationship” awkward.
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u/StationIllustrious94 2d ago
Maybe I just won’t give anything then. I’ve never given an empty card before
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u/Major-Fill5775 2d ago
Buy yourself some personal stationery and start using it to write thank you notes. That’s something you’ll need to do regularly as you look for work. A gift card is entirely inappropriate here.
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u/Reasonable_Mail1389 2d ago
You can buy a blank card and write a personal note of thanks in it. It’s very normal. Not every expression of gratitude deserves a gifted thing attached to it. In fact, the vast majority don’t. Use your words to convey how much you appreciate this person’s time and advice and in taking an interest in your career growth. Words matter more than things, and gifts in this kind of situation are unprofessional and inappropriate.
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u/rinconblue 2d ago
Just write them a hand written thank you for the advice they gave you. This is a nice thing to do and you do not (and should not) add any money or a gift card to your note.