Interview 'Thank You Letters'

[pjlee]

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Did anyone write their interviewers a "Thank You" letter? Whether it be via email or airmail? I've just been thinking if it would be appropriate or not.

 

[jessica525]

I didn't write any.....I feel they are unnecessary and look like you are kissing assss 🙂 You should rock the interview and feel like you don't need to send anything to your interviewers. They really don't give a crap about your thank you, honestly.

I got into 2/3 of the schools so far (including my #1 choice UCSD!!)...still waiting to hear back from UCSF though

 

[PharmDnPhD]

I disagree, for the simple fact that these interviewers put a lot of time and effort into these interviews and they should be recognized for such. I sent emails to the people that interviewed me and I was accepted to both schools! I don't think it "makes or breaks" you but I certainly believe that it is a nice gesture. I do think it needs to be sincere and not just a general "thank you". Good luck!! 👍

 

[BelmontUSOP2]

Thoughts from the interviewer side of the question:
Proper etiquite requires that one should thank a host for their time (party, interview, tour, etc.); thus spoke my grandmother and my mother 🙂

Additionally, pharmacy is a professional discipline, and one should demonstrate that one had the basic social skills to make a smooth entry into that community. Thank you notes (written, not emailed) are one small expression that, as my mother would say, "He/she wasn't raised in a barn."

Invest 5 minutes and one first class stamp. Make your momma proud.

Eric H. Hobson, Ph.D.
Associate Dean
Belmont U School of Pharmacy

 

[redley]

I was going to send them after I find out if I got in or not. I know it's a little late, but it makes me feel like less of a kiss ***.

 

[jessthafacts]

When should you send the thank you letter? I've received several acceptances before I could even write my letters. The schools called, sent an an email or letter within the following 3 days of my interviews. Should I still write them?

 

[redley]

jess:
yes, you should.

 

[lwang81]

It's professional to write one. If it was a job interview, people wouldn't question it. Why not pharmacy school?

 

[FuturePharmD69]

Think about this. What if you're last on the accepted list, but you're tied with someone and only one spot is left? Who do you think will get accepted...The individual who sent a thank you letter, or the one who didn't send anything at all?

Keep in mind that the interview is "subjective" and schools can reject you for any reason at all because "you had a bad interview" and not tell you specific information other than "bad interview".

In addition to my cynicism, the guy above from Belmont U. is correct IMO. It's the nice thing to do.

 

[Ethyl Methyl]

When should you send the thank you letter? I've received several acceptances before I could even write my letters. The schools called, sent an an email or letter within the following 3 days of my interviews. Should I still write them?

You should treat your interview for pharmacy school like you would your interview for a job. It is my understanding that thank you letters should be sent right after the interview (usually within 24 hours) and not only after an offer is made. The longer you wait writing the letter the more awkward it will be. You should thank them for spending time with you and not only because they decided to extend an offer to you. You can certainly write another thank you letter after getting an acceptance offer but that should be a separate gesture. Also keep in mind that if you wait too long to write your interviewer a letter, he/she might no longer remember you or your conversation. So, send the letter as soon as possible.

 

[DoctorRx1986]

Did anyone write their interviewers a "Thank You" letter? Whether it be via email or airmail? I've just been thinking if it would be appropriate or not.

I didn't write anything any thank you notes. Instead, at the end of the interview, I said "Thank you very much for the opportunity to interview", smiled, and shook both interviewers' hands. That's about it.

 

[kismet]

How do you guys get contact info to send a thank you letter? Do you just search the interviewer's name on the school's website and send it through the school? Do you ask the interviewer for a business card, or ask for their address and jot it down?

It seems a little awkward to me, but then again, I haven't interviewed yet, so I think the whole thing is going to be a little awkward.

 

[Ethyl Methyl]

How do you guys get contact info to send a thank you letter? Do you just search the interviewer's name on the school's website and send it through the school? Do you ask the interviewer for a business card, or ask for their address and jot it down?

It seems a little awkward to me, but then again, I haven't interviewed yet, so I think the whole thing is going to be a little awkward.

You can do it either way. On my first interview, my interviewer offered me her business card herself since I had a lot of questions and time ran out. But I still had to look up contact info for the adcom members who were present. For my second interview, I had to ask the interviewer for her business card but she didn't have it so I just wrote down her info. It just takes a little guts to do it.

 

[pjlee]

Hi all! Thanks for your feedback! I've decided that I will write a letter via email; however, my memory has failed me and I can only remember one of my interviewers' names and couldn't figure out who the other one was!! Should I just write to one and not the other???!!! 😕

 

[AbsoluteEthanol]

Hi all! Thanks for your feedback! I've decided that I will write a letter via email; however, my memory has failed me and I can only remember one of my interviewers' names and couldn't figure out who the other one was!! Should I just write to one and not the other???!!! 😕

good decision, email is always the best way to go! it's personal, but not stalker status! It shows that you were thankful to have received the interview and also remembered your interviewer(s).

Send the email to at least the person you remember, one "thank you" email is better than none!

 

[jessica525]

I didn't write anything any thank you notes. Instead, at the end of the interview, I said "Thank you very much for the opportunity to interview", smiled, and shook both interviewers' hands. That's about it.

Exactly. This is how it should be. In a way, you are interviewing the school too in order to find out if this is where you want to be for the next 4 years. So should they send you a thank you.....no. Thank you's are said at the end of the interview. I mean, it wouldn't hurt to send thank you's, but honestly the interviewers DO NOT CARE if you don't. I actually had this topic with my interviewers because SDN came up and they were in a way making fun of how everyone comes on here for advice, when really they shouldn't be worrying about what EVERYONE ELSE is doing. Should I send thank you letters and what should I wear to an interview were two threads we joked about.

Think about it....a thank you would be nice, but the interviewers are NOT making the decision of whether or not you get accepted. By the time you send the letter, their feedback has already been submitted and you have been scored. It will NOT help you get into pharmacy school, even if it does come down to the last 2 people and only 1 sent a thank you letter.

think about it, does it really make sense?

thank you's are nice but the school really doesnt give a ****, they are way too busy to really put you ahead of others or think more highly of you because you sent one in. Thank you's should be done at the interview.

 

[Ethyl Methyl]

I agree with Dr. Hobson's (associate dean for Belmont U) take on about this issue. He is coming from the other side of the fence and is in the best position to say whether thank you letters should be written or not.

Thank you letters are just professional courtesy and nothing more. Don't expect that the adcom will accept you just because you wrote the letter even though you bomb the interview. It just doesn't work that way.

 

[inquirer89]

I think it's good...if anything, it'll separate you from the crowd. I would send a thank you letter to a job interview, so the same to school interviews. So it may not be a requirement, but it may improve your chances. And anything should be done to do that

 

[crusherfist]

I wouldnt send a thank you letter to increase your chances of getting into that school. I doubt it will have ANY effect on that. I think its something you should do if you truely are thankful for the interview opportunity. I personally thank the interviewers after the interview and do not write letters. I am of the opinion that most interviewers probably don't care, but they certainly would not be offended that you took the time to thank them.

 

[ittybitty]

i think writing thank you letters are something everyone should take time to do. every 5 minutes a person takes out of their day to talk to you really is a large amount of time. its apart of being professional and if you've ever taken a business class... its basic etiquette. you should send letters asap after your interview, because faculty members interview one person after another. you want to get them a thank you letter while they still remember you. i wrote mine the next day and mailed them out immediately. send by mail rather than email. but thats my personal opinion. and make sure your letters are proofread!

 

[PharmDcandidate]

What about if the interview was a month ago and you found out you just found out you got accepted 3-4 days ago?? I feel like I should of done this a while ago. But what now??? should I still go ahead and send the thank you letters?

 

[Ethyl Methyl]

What about if the interview was a month ago and you found out you just found out you got accepted 3-4 days ago?? I feel like I should of done this a while ago. But what now??? should I still go ahead and send the thank you letters?

IMO, it's too late to send thank you letters to your interviewer/s. They probably won't remember you now. But maybe you can include a short note to the dean of student affairs when you turn in your letter of intent to secure your spot.

 

[alum]

I agree with EthylMeth, it's definitely too late now. But at least you'll know next time to send them out quicker... 🙂 That happened to me also a long time ago...

What about if the interview was a month ago and you found out you just found out you got accepted 3-4 days ago?? I feel like I should of done this a while ago. But what now??? should I still go ahead and send the thank you letters?

 

[ericn2k3]

Quick but very serious question pertaining to the thread:

Lets say after an interview, you sign a form that you read and checked off stating things such as: you were interviewed, understand that interview does not mean an acceptance, etc. However, the last item states something to the like of: You will automatically forfeit your application if you attempted to contact your interviewer. <---Something like that.

Now, would a thank-you letter/card constitutes as such? I would imagine so. What is your take on this?

 

[Ethyl Methyl]

Quick but very serious question pertaining to the thread:

Lets say after an interview, you sign a form that you read and checked off stating things such as: you were interviewed, understand that interview does not mean an acceptance, etc. However, the last item states something to the like of: You will automatically forfeit your application if you attempted to contact your interviewer. <---Something like that.

Now, would a thank-you letter/card constitutes as such? I would imagine so. What is your take on this?

If they explicitly told you not to contact your interviewer then don't send anything --letter/card/email.

It's kind of a weird stipulation but I wouldn't let anything jeopardize my application even if it means forgoing professional courtesy.

 

[alum]

Again, I agree with Ethyl. You've worked too hard to fail now... Don't do it if you're told not to.

Quick but very serious question pertaining to the thread:

Lets say after an interview, you sign a form that you read and checked off stating things such as: you were interviewed, understand that interview does not mean an acceptance, etc. However, the last item states something to the like of: You will automatically forfeit your application if you attempted to contact your interviewer. <---Something like that.

Now, would a thank-you letter/card constitutes as such? I would imagine so. What is your take on this?

 

[caren90]

Send your thank you letter by email rather than regular mail.It is the fastest way to send and acceptable these days.Regardless of how you send your thank you letter,write it profesionally in a business format

 

[azPharmD2B]

Send your thank you letter by email rather than regular mail.It is the fastest way to send and acceptable these days.Regardless of how you send your thank you letter,write it profesionally in a business format

Acceptable based on what? Do you have some sort of reference on these matters? Sorry, but most of the admins and interviewers I have come across are 40+ which means they didn't grow up with email. Back in the good ol days people sent cards/letters in the mail.

 

[DieHardRX]

say you hand in thank you cards to your interviewers at the end of the interview. How do you find time to write down their name on the card? Do you wait till all interviews are all done or you simply hand them cards without their names?
thanks

 

[pharmdoc2012]

...

 

[Farmer83]

Acceptable based on what? Do you have some sort of reference on these matters? Sorry, but most of the admins and interviewers I have come across are 40+ which means they didn't grow up with email. Back in the good ol days people sent cards/letters in the mail.

I agree. Sending cards/letters in the mail is more meaningful than writing an email. It says more when people handwrite letters rather than type it up.

 

[Ethyl Methyl]

😕i have had 3 interviews for pharmacy school and i sent thank you letters.. but no one every responded to them. it was short sweet and professional but not to general. but no one responded is that a good or bad thing. someone please respond.

It's neither bad nor good. Most of the time, interviewers don't respond to thank you letters so don't worry.

 

[Ethyl Methyl]

say you hand in thank you cards to your interviewers at the end of the interview. How do you find time to write down their name on the card? Do you wait till all interviews are all done or you simply hand them cards without their names?
thanks

I personally would not do that. If you do it like that (where the only thing left to do before handing in the the card is to write their names) then your letter/card is probably too generic. Google "how to write a thank you letter" to see how you should probably do it.