Interview follow up

maurice28

I've just gone through a two stage interview process but unfortunately didn't get the job, as I was just pipped to the post. It was organised through an agency so it's the agent who has told me I was unsuccessful and who has been my point of my contact throughout the process.

However, I'm tempted to drop a quick email to the person at the company recruiting for the role just to thank them for their time and consideration. Do you think this is a good idea or totally unnecessary. The agent said the company would be happy to talk to me about any future roles so wouldn't want to put them off doing that!

Just wondered if it's something anyone does or doesn't do?

Slinky

In the US, thank you notes or emails are very much the done thing. I don't see it will do any harm.

DomRavioli

I would find it impolite as you have come through an agency - perhaps let the agency know you would like to thank the company, as you didn't do it directly it can come across as desperate.

pmd123

This ^^^

If you want feedback, I'd ask your contact at the agency to request feedback on your behalf, but I wouldn't be contacting the company direct, it would come across as weird.

maurice28

Thanks all, that makes sense and I'll take that on board.

Slinky

I can't imagine the person at the agency will do anything with a request by a candidate to thank the company on their behalf. They've got too many other things pressing on their time (and it doesn't earn them any money).

InsideInsurance

I dont think the company will have any issue at all with it, its the agency that probably will.

Agents are always worried about being cut out of the equation and so losing their commission. Your CV they send will always have your contact details deleted, in some extreme cases they even remove your name. In practice this getting increasingly pointless as a quick search on LinkedIn etc will find the person and give a method of contact within 5 minutes.

If I were to receive a thanks note from someone I think, to be blunt, it'll get filed very quickly and wouldnt have any significant impact on me at all. I guess if you've an unusual name then theres a small chance it helps you to stick out if I see your CV again but my memory for names is terrible so I wouldnt suggest anyone holds their breath.

That said, feedback is often sanitized or simply not given any more. 90% of the time I take the first person who I think can do the job well enough and its very rare that I end up with more than one of them which I then have to choose between - admittedly when I used to do volume recruitment this was different.

fiscalfreckles

As an employer I would see nothing wrong with receiving such a note, as long as it was polite and not pushy. I'd look at it as one more thing they can judge you on and tread carefully. As they have said they might talk to you about future roles I think it might make them remember you, just make sure it's for the right reasons.