Sending a thank you note after interview?

Epic Eir Epic

I've been reading a bit of a book job hunting book lately, which strongly recommended this. I guess these days it would be a thank you email, rather than a thank you note. After my most recent interview I said I'd send one. I did feel a bit weird doing it. When I ran it by my dad (he wouldn't be a suck-up) that day, he said she'll think you spent your whole car journey home thinking about her. I said alright I'll do it in the morning.

Anyway, here's what the book said:

"If you want to stand out from others, send a thank you note – to everyone you met, that day. Ask if they have a business card, and if not, ask to write out their name and address. Do this with secretaries (who often hold the keys to the kingdom) as well as with your interviewer.

If you need any additional encouragement to send thank-you letters (besides the fact that it may get you the job), here are six more reasons:

First, you were presenting yourself as one who has good skills with people. Your actions with respect to the interview must back up your claim that you are good with people…

Second, it helps the employer recall who you are. Very helpful if they’ve seen a dozen people that day."

I think what the book recommends might not be in line with most people's personalities during the interview, and therefore I have to question the advice. However, if you were to send a thank you just to the person who interviewed you, then this might be a way of making sure that you might be on their mind... even if they think it's really cheesy.

OMM 0000

I think it's weird.

One of the things employers are doing during interviews is filtering out any risky people.

I can definitely see some employers thinking "that seems odd" if they received a thank you note for an interview.

Of course, there will be a minority who like it, but I think overall it will have negative consequences.

bigpink

Deffo don’t be weird

Creamy Goodness

I'd only do this if:

a) You got on well with them personally.
b) You're emailing the person directly (don't actually write a letter and post it, lol).
c) You write one line maximum, thanking them for taking time out of their schedule and leave it at that.

Kidkinobe

Was the book scribed by an American by any chance?

dazed+confused

Kidkinobe wrote:

Was the book scribed by an American by any chance?

+1 on this. The job market is very open at the moment, there's very few job with hundreds of applicants that would necessitate dozens of interviews.

They say if you get called to an interview that you already have the skills they want, so the only thing you can do is talk yourself out of the job.

This seems like a good way to do it!

tvjunki

If you really want the job or like the company then send a note. I went for a job many years ago. They had someone inside they had to offer the job but needed to be seen to offer outside the company. I was over qualified for the role which I found out after. That could be your case.

I had the interviewers email address and manager. I sent a note thanking them for taking time to interview me. A few months later got offered an interview and then another job.
This was a large company
When I was interviewing people those that did send a note it will jog your memory.

tomwaits48

Weirdo / desperate alert for me - wouldn't recommend doing this at all. I'd be worried you'd be "too intense" as an employee, that type.

EdgeCase

Definitely don't so that. It'll either look desperate, weird or grovelling.

Some parts of the US gave a very odd approach to things like that. I wouldn't recommend doing that even in NY or Boston and DEFINITELY not Ireland.

SeaFields

Leave your interview do the talking in terms of your suitability for the role - leave out the American style recruitment gimmicks .

Redser87

Just adding my voice to the chorus of 'don't do it'. I know someone who spent a long time job hunting because they brought a portfolio to every interview they had and managed to find a way to show it to the panel every time. From talking informally to people who do the interviewing, don't provide, send or bring anything that isn't requested.

Keyzer

I would advise against this - it would come across as weird behaviour to me.

If you want to reach out, a simple email to your contact in the company thanking him/her and everyone else for the time is sufficient.

seamus

Yeah, this comes across as not only American, but also old-fashioned.

If you want to stand out from others, send a thank you note – to everyone you met, that day. Ask if they have a business card, and if not, ask to write out their name and address. Do this with secretaries (who often hold the keys to the kingdom) as well as with your interviewer.

Maybe...MAYBE if your role was to require sales or some other kind of professional networking, would you go around asking other people for business cards. But nobody has business cards these days. Imagine what you'd look like in the course of an interview walking around an office with a little black book taking down everyone's name....(!)

First, you were presenting yourself as one who has good skills with people. Your actions with respect to the interview must back up your claim that you are good with people…

Modern interviews are more than just making sure you weren't lying on your CV and throwing a few hard questions at you. The primary purpose in most companies now is to make sure that you're not a weirdo, that you can get on with people.
If you didn't prove that you're "good with people" in the course of the actual interview, then introducing yourself to everyone and asking for business cards won't prove it.

Second, it helps the employer recall who you are. Very helpful if they’ve seen a dozen people that day.

Which is true if all they have is a stack of CVs on the desk and nobody took any notes in any interviews. In which case you probably don't want to work there.

The appropriate time to say thanks is at the end of the interview and when the employer calls you to say whether they're going to continue with you.

If you think you probably bounced off one interviewer well (got into some conversation about sports or something), then by all means send them a DM on LinkedIn to say thanks. But even an email is a bit much.

If I brought someone in for an interview and they went around asking names and sending thank yous afterwards, I would think that they're overcompensating for being a poor candidate.

Epic Eir Epic

Kidkinobe wrote: »

Was the book scribed by an American by any chance?

Yes

Epic Eir Epic

seamus wrote: »

Yeah, this comes across as not only American, but also old-fashioned.

Maybe...MAYBE if your role was to require sales or some other kind of professional networking, would you go around asking other people for business cards. But nobody has business cards these days. Imagine what you'd look like in the course of an interview walking around an office with a little black book taking down everyone's name....(!)
Modern interviews are more than just making sure you weren't lying on your CV and throwing a few hard questions at you. The primary purpose in most companies now is to make sure that you're not a weirdo, that you can get on with people.
If you didn't prove that you're "good with people" in the course of the actual interview, then introducing yourself to everyone and asking for business cards won't prove it.
Which is true if all they have is a stack of CVs on the desk and nobody took any notes in any interviews. In which case you probably don't want to work there.

The appropriate time to say thanks is at the end of the interview and when the employer calls you to say whether they're going to continue with you.

If you think you probably bounced off one interviewer well (got into some conversation about sports or something), then by all means send them a DM on LinkedIn to say thanks. But even an email is a bit much.

If I brought someone in for an interview and they went around asking names and sending thank yous afterwards, I would think that they're overcompensating for being a poor candidate.

I feel like I burned that bridge by sending the thank you note. Think the fella who wrote the book was from the bible belt.

seamus

Epic Eir Epic wrote: »

I feel like I burned that bridge by sending the thank you note. Think the fella who wrote the book was from the bible belt.

I don't think you necessarily burned any bridge. But if you were in any way marginal in terms of a hire, the note would be more likely to lose you the job than get it for you.

If they had already decided to hire you, then a thank you note wouldn't change their mind.

porsche boy

I'd view that as a VERY American thing to do. If your interview & experience didnt get you the job then a stalker type note a day or two after the event wouldn't be doing much IMO.

EdgeCase

Be very careful about doing that with public service jobs as it could disqualify you if it's interpreted as canvassing.

Duane Dibbley

I dont know why anyone would want to send a thank you note after being interviewed.

Triceratops Ballet

there's absolutely nothing wrong with sending a thank you note, it's not weird or desperate. That's like the idea that you shouldn't text or call someone the day after a date in case they think you're too interested. Like if you're interested so what if they know it's the truth!

If you want something, why not show you want it and make a case. I did it once after an interview for a job I really wanted. The interview had gone really well and I wanted to make sure I had an edge. So I emailed the guy who interviewed me, saying thanks for taking the time to meet with me, it was great to find out more about the role, and it was an opportunity that I was really interested in. I got the job and when I went in to sign my contract, he told me he had thought it was a nice touch. I'm now in a position where I interview people all the time and the candidates who stay in touch after an interview (even if they didn't get the role on that occasion) I'm more likely to go back to if another opportunity that suits them comes up, because I know they're invested and interested in working with us.

lainey_d_123

OMM 0000 wrote: »

I think it's weird.

One of the things employers are doing during interviews is filtering out any risky people.

I can definitely see some employers thinking "that seems odd" if they received a thank you note for an interview.

Of course, there will be a minority who like it, but I think overall it will have negative consequences.

Smacks to me of Baby Boomer advice. I see a lot of really dangerous and dodgy advice given out by people who were looking for jobs in a very different climate.

ADVICE
"Go in person and ask for the hiring manager"

REALITY
They would think, "who the hell does this person think they are, coming in unannounced and bothering me when I'm busy". Massive red flag and shows you have no concept of boundaries.

ADVICE
"Send a thank you note after the interview"

REALITY
Looks OTT and as if you're a lick arse. Borderline creepy, even.

I'd totally discount advice from anyone who hasn't applied for a job in the last decade or even 15 years. It's a totally different world now.

OMM 0000

lainey_d_123 wrote: »

Smacks to me of Baby Boomer advice. I see a lot of really dangerous and dodgy advice given out by people who were looking for jobs in a very different climate.

ADVICE
"Go in person and ask for the hiring manager"

REALITY
They would think, "who the hell does this person think they are, coming in unannounced and bothering me when I'm busy". Massive red flag and shows you have no concept of boundaries.

ADVICE
"Send a thank you note after the interview"

REALITY
Looks OTT and as if you're a lick arse. Borderline creepy, even.

I'd totally discount advice from anyone who hasn't applied for a job in the last decade or even 15 years. It's a totally different world now.

"After your interview, ensure your wife is waiting outside with freshly baked cookies. Ask her to pass them out to your potential colleagues. Then go have a Marlboro; remember, they're good for you!"

noveltea

I live in Canada and it's very popular here. I thought it was totally weird when I got the thank you emails from all the people I interviewed. It's how they eliminate potential candidates over here. Saying all that, I would never do it in Ireland.

Grumpypants

There is nothing wrong with it, but only do it if that's who you are.

You are selling yourself, if you are the type of person who takes the time to thank someone, then it's fine. If you send thank you notes for gifts etc. But if you are reading a book and grabbing at any ideas that you are uncomfortable with, then it will come across as insincere.

Prob better to do the work before the interview through linkedin etc. Get the know the company and reach out to anyone who can help.

I've done tons of interviews, it's a grind. You ask the same preset questions to people who can"t really understand the role in your company/nor can you fully understand their previous company experience.

The only things that really helps you stand out apart from being good and knowing your ****. Is having great follow up questions when the interview ends. This is where you leave your impression as someone who has the personality to fit in. Don't ever leave this part saying I've no follow ups. Ask about what it's like to work here, talk about something cool you saw on the way in (award, canteen, fancy coffee machine) you want to get them comfortable and to the point where you are having a chat.

What's it like to work here?
What's the best bit, what would you fix if you could wave a magic wand?
What problems are you trying to fix with this hire?

Best interview I had was 20 mins long then we filled the next 40+ mins just talking. It was such a relief from the mundane it still sticks out 4 years later.

The Bishop Basher

I find it weird and off putting when people do this but everyone is different so probably best to gauge from the interview.

Quite a few people have also started sending LinkedIn requests which I find even creepier.

Just go do the interview and leave it at that.

TCM

I interviewed many people and never once got a thank you note from an interviewee. Say your thank you when leaving the room and leave it at that.

SomeSayKos

TCM wrote: »

I interviewed many people and never once got a thank you note from an interviewee

Awww

Thank you... there ya go now

Grumpypants

TCM wrote: »

I interviewed many people and never once got a thank you note from an interviewee. Say your thank you when leaving the room and leave it at that.

Maybe you failed their interview .

dudara

I get this quite a bit, although the follow-up is usually via LinkedIn message.

I see it as someone further demonstrating their interest in the job, so in that sense it’s a good thing. However, it may not have a massive impact on the hiring selection as by that stage I will have already written up my interview notes and sent them off to HR.

If nothing else, I have a LinkedIn contact for the future who may be a good candidate for another role. I personally find it odd, but I also put that down to the fact that I’m in the “older generation” / “senior management” category, and trends/work attitudes have changed hugely in the younger members of the workforce.

JustAThought

I try and keep my LinkedIn personal contacts only & I know a lot of senior mgrs that are reluctant to linkin because of the amount of sales/selling contacts it leads to & the sales churn that leads to.

Re physical notes I would think that is a very old fashioned or american thing to do and although I note the thank you emails I get I do consider it sucking up - having said that all things being equal for candidates it does go in their favour conceptually as them being proactive/engaged/good networkers /polite -SO LONG aS they dont include an annoying obvious question in it or keep emailing me.

On an aside I was recently renting out a house & was really surprised at the amount of people who emailed me a bit about themselves when asking to view (totally unasked for) - it really went in their favour as it made it easier for me to differentiate them from the masses and feel a bit of a connection with them. Having said that - references and ability to paY were key regardless of niceness of character - but when the oersoj backed out at the last minute it was the ones who had emailed who I remembered and contacted again - just sayin!!!

Good luck in your jobsearch OP