Post-interview thank you

[rilte4]

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This has been hotly debated in pre-allo, with the general consensus being - skip the thank you notes. The nontrad in me struggles with this. I've sent thank-you notes following every job interview in my professional life, and in that realm, they were expected. I feel strange skipping them altogether, with my two main worries being "What if the majority of that interviewer's interviewees sent thank-you notes and I end up being noticed as one that did not?", and "What if it surprises them that, as a nontrad, I didn't follow the rules of professional courtesy?".

Did you guys send them? Would a simple email stating "Thanks for taking the time...I appreciated the opportunity...XYZ thing specific to the interview" be all that unsavory, even if it's just to cover my bases? Not the world's most pressing issue, I know, but my default was to send one, and now I'm unsure.

 

[ADSigMel]

Does it depend on where you live? Here in south Alabama, if you have a 15-minute conversation on the street with someone you don't see on a weekly basis, you better be sending a handwritten note within 24 hours, or else everybody will think you don't have any home training. Ok, so this is an exaggeration, but not by much.

 

[Mad Jack]

I've never sent a thank you note after a job interview. Nor after a medical school interview. I've been accepted by 12/14 jobs and 3/3 medical school interviews. They're largely meaningless in medical school admissions, but equally as meaningless in many job interview situations.

 

[rilte4]

Polar opposite responses. Maybe we'll just go with how I feel in the moment.

 

[Goro]

For the gazillionth time, Adcom members don't give a rat's ass about thank you notes.

By the time we get them, the decision has been rendered to accept, or reject.

Not once in > 15 years of being on the Adcom in my school did the paranoid fantasy you posit ever occur.

If you like sending them because you're a polite person, fine, send them.

This has been hotly debated in pre-allo, with the general consensus being - skip the thank you notes. The nontrad in me struggles with this. I've sent thank-you notes following every job interview in my professional life, and in that realm, they were expected. I feel strange skipping them altogether, with my two main worries being "What if the majority of that interviewer's interviewees sent thank-you notes and I end up being noticed as one that did not?", and "What if it surprises them that, as a nontrad, I didn't follow the rules of professional courtesy?".

Did you guys send them? Would a simple email stating "Thanks for taking the time...I appreciated the opportunity...XYZ thing specific to the interview" be all that unsavory, even if it's just to cover my bases? Not the world's most pressing issue, I know, but my default was to send one, and now I'm unsure.

 

[jl lin]

Does it depend on where you live? Here in south Alabama, if you have a 15-minute conversation on the street with someone you don't see on a weekly basis, you better be sending a handwritten note within 24 hours, or else everybody will think you don't have any home training. Ok, so this is an exaggeration, but not by much.

LOL. Personally, I have mixed feelings re; TY notes, even for job interviewing. IDK, it seems like people get so much paper clutter already. TY cards IMHO mean the most when they have a truly personal element, like after a baby shower, bridal shower, wedding, etc. So, to me it's about what is most genuine, and I am probably going to assess that in person. Sure, it can be done through cards; but again, that's really something more personal if it it to be given and received as truly authentic.

If there is no special, personal connection, what does it really mean? Probably just more paper clutter with which someone has to deal. Now, if for some reason, perhaps you felt that you really clicked with someone, well, maybe. But it isn't suppose to weigh in to the bottom line. So I guess, if you must clutter up something in order to show appreciation, send a brief, TY email that can be quickly deleted. But even emails get overly clogged, and it makes most people nuts.

Personally, I believe within the first so many minutes of meeting someone, given their CV/app and other info, people know which way they will probably lean towards a candidate, and often there is little one can do about personal biases of others. Do your best, hope for the best, and "...leave them to heaven...."

I will say that for some jobs and people involved in the hiring process, such things can make a difference. Never underestimate the power of charm and BS. It's not my cup of tea, but it's a part of how people may operate.

 

[Eccesignum]

I've been on seven interviews and sent thank you's twice; both were in situations where I felt a particular rapport (in one my interviewer was about to retire after a long career and I really liked him so I wanted to say hey, take care). I know both my notes arrived way after they would've filled out their reports so (as @Goro said) there was no influence where my status was concerned.

Of the two schools I've been admitted to so far, one was a thank-you note and one wasn't, so there you go 🙂 If the mood strikes you go on, if not it doesn't hurt you whatsoever.

 

[jl lin]

I've been on seven interviews and sent thank you's twice; both were in situations where I felt a particular rapport (in one my interviewer was about to retire after a long career and I really liked him so I wanted to say hey, take care). I know both my notes arrived way after they would've filled out their reports so (as @Goro said) there was no influence where my status was concerned.

Of the two schools I've been admitted to so far, one was a thank-you note and one wasn't, so there you go 🙂 If the mood strikes you go on, if not it doesn't hurt you whatsoever.

I think the point about rapport is a good one. Everyone is different. Some may not care about the little acts of kindness, and some may. I don't have to smile at people as I go into a room or store or whatever, but I do, and it is not at all forced. Southern mama though. 😉 I think whatever you do, it should be genuine. Let that be your guide is what I say. 🙂

 

[pageantry]

Of two admittances, one was a thank you. The one that offered me a full-ride scholarship was not.

Thank you's are a beautiful expression of the encounter between Ich and Du, what Buber described as the happening of God when two souls experience a real encounter of the other. But tbh nobody cares.

 

[rilte4]

I actually decided I'm going to start sending them to people I don't like as a form of punishment. The people I like will get alcohol.

 

[pageantry]

I *am* writing the crap out of thank you's to everyone who wrote me an LoR, tho.

 

[jl lin]

I actually decided I'm going to start sending them to people I don't like as a form of punishment. The people I like will get alcohol.

😆