Interview thank you letters - good or bad idea?

Annisele

I think this is very much cultural. According to Alison Green over at the askamanager blog, in the US hiring managers will look askance at candidates who *don't* send a thank you note. In general hiring managers over here will think it's weird if you do send one. I think you just need to know the norms in your industry/country, and follow them.

sazaccount

I do think its a little weird to send a thank you note after an interview. What you could do though is at the end of the interview say thanks, push in your chair and ask where to leave/wash any glass/coffee cup you may of used. I've been the person who does the resetting of meeting rooms and you never know who that person talks or comments too...  

AskAsk

Mr_Maths said:

@AskAsk I'm talking about straight after an interview rather than after a rejection letter, although I have replied to rejection letters to thank them for their feedback and consideration just as common courtesy. I do agree that if you say thank you at the end of an interview it seems pointless thanking them again on an email.

Then definately no.  Someone mentioned earlier, this is too cringy and make work against you.  reminds me of those guys who are always thanking people, like 1000 thank you, when you know they are saying it like a robot and do not mean it.

Doshwaster

Sending a physically letter might come across as a odd but there are times when I've sent an email after an interview to let them know when I was available for a second interview. In those circumstances it would be rude not to thank them for their time and interest so far. 

TELLIT01

Far better to thank the interviewer at the end of the interview for granting you the interview and express the hope that you will meet them again.  That is more likely to stick in their mind than a thank you letter after the event when they probably won't even be sure who you are.

TBagpuss

It seems to be common in the US so if you are interviewing with an American company and a US hiring manager ./ interviewer then it would make sense, otherwise no, it  is very unlikely to have a positive impact and could easily have a negative one. It looks like you are trying to circumvent the normal interview / hiring process. 

eamon

On the surface it seems a nice thing to do but I wouldn't do it.

Kathy535

The majority of people I’ve interviewed over the year have not sent a thank you letter and I’ve not thought anything of it.  A few have and it’s a sweet gesture but has no bearing on hiring decisions which are usually made very quickly after all the interviews are complete.  No recruiter is going to favour someone with the wrong qualifications or experience over more suitable candidates just because they send a letter.

That said, if it makes you feel better then by all means go ahead.  Just don’t do it in the hope it will increase your chances, because it won’t,

AskAsk

Mr_Maths said:

@AskAsk I would question how many people really mean it when the interviewee puts a lot more time and effort into it than the interviewer.

when i thank someone, i always mean it and i think people do recognise this.

i never put any effort into interviews, i just turn up and wing it, lol.  i may go on the employer's website to look at what they do, but that is about it.  i never do any preparation or think about it until i am actually travelling there.  so for me, it is all about the actual interview itself.

[Deleted User]

AskAsk said:

Mr_Maths said:

@AskAsk I would question how many people really mean it when the interviewee puts a lot more time and effort into it than the interviewer.

i never put any effort into interviews, i just turn up and wing it, lol.  i may go on the employer's website to look at what they do, but that is about it.  i never do any preparation or think about it until i am actually travelling there.  so for me, it is all about the actual interview itself.

This might work for you, but I don't think it's a good idea. Fail to prepare...and all that.