Interview thank you letters - good or bad idea?

Mr_Maths

What are peoples thoughts?

KatrinaWaves

Mr_Maths said:

I've seen arguments for and against sending a thank you letter. On one hand, it's one way of standing out from other candidates because most don't send one and apparently some people would only consider hiring candidates who send one. On the other hand, they would have made up their mind from the interview and a thank you letter won't change that so there's no point.

It's not something I've really thought about until recently. I know it would be a waste of time more often than not, but if there is the possibility it would give me the edge over another candidate or the hiring manager would only consider those who send one, then maybe it's worth doing. My concern however is what if the hiring manager sees a thank you note as a bad thing, if it can go against you then maybe its not worth the risk.

What are peoples thoughts?

Apparent to who exactly... I dont think this is true of anyone. No hiring manager is sat waiting by the post box. No one is picking candidates based on thank you letters, most will have told the candidate who got the job before a letter could have even feasibly arrived...

[Deleted User]

Cheesy and a bit cringeworthy - I think it's only the Americans that do that.

AskAsk

You should do the thank you when it matters, not when it no longer does.  When you have already received a rejection letter then it is too late to do anything more. 
The time to say thank you is when the interview finish.  You say to them before you leave, in as sincere a tone, that you would like to thank them for giving you the opportunity to come to the interview.  Thank them for considering you for the job.  That would go down much better than just leaving.

CocoM2020

Couldn’t this be construed as canvassing? 

MalMonroe

"it's one way of standing out from other candidates because most don't send one and apparently some people would only consider hiring candidates who send one"

As someone who has both interviewed and been interviewed, I'd be more inclined to discount anyone who sent a thank you letter because, as CocoM2020 says, it can construed as canvassing. I certainly wouldn't consider hiring anyone who sent one in the hope that it would give them any advantage over others.

You most definitely will stand out from other candidates but not in a good way. 

The point of any interview is so an employer can find out whether you can do the job and if you have the right attitude for the organisation you've applied to, as well as for you to consider whether you think they would be a good employer. A polite "thank you for seeing me" at the end of any interview goes a long way. That's all you need to do. 

Malthusian

apparently some people would only consider hiring candidates who send one.

Name three.

It's cringeworthy. Instead of sending a pointless letter about a job application that's already over, spend the time sending off your next job application instead.

[Deleted User]

Don't do it.
Anyone who is employing people based on thank you letters is not someone I'd want to work for.

As others have said "thanks for inviting me to an interview" and being generally polite is enough.

From the side of the employer I would never expect to receive one, I don't think it would make me any more likely to choose one candidate over another, nor would it put me off, it's just a bit odd in modern society.

Same goes for Easter cards and presents (chocolate egg are exempt) and receiving a thank you letter for birthday / Xmas presents from anyone over the age of 12

Malthusian

I've named one, I'm sure you could find three if you look hard enough, but the point is there are some even if it's the exception rather than the rule.

You're the one asserting that "some people would only consider hiring candidates who send one", the onus is on you to give us some examples if it's actually true.

One journalist isn't evidence. In the absence of evidence that it's a widespread practice, it means someone invented a controversial point to generate clicks for her magazine.
Liebman rehashes her "the no. 1 job interview mistake is to not send a thank you letter" article every few years - she wrote the exact same article in 2014 and 2012. After eight years of rehashing her article for another round of clicks I think we can safely say that it's just her.

Unless you are applying for a job at Business Insider it's a waste of time that you could spend on your next job application.

JReacher1

Seems a bit of a weird thing to do. Personally I would probably not hire anyone who sent me a thank you letter as I would think they were trying to brown nose me 😀

MinuteNoodles

Given that employers are drowning in applications to go through they're not really going to appreciate getting a load more mail that will get opened, quickly glanced at then put in the recycle bin.