Post interview thank you's

[jane70]

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Hi,

Minor question but as I was sitting down to write some thank you notes I wondered if perhaps in 2007 it's OK to email thank-you notes? Or is that tacky and not personal enough? Just curious what other people are doing.

 

[Chimed]

I sent e-mail thank you notes. Some might think this is tacky, but i thought it worked well. If anything, I think you're far more likely to get feed-back from the PD or interviewers with an e-mail reply. Just my opinion...

 

[jjbmsiv]

I didn't write any thank you cards to anybody. I got in at my number one. Take that for what you will, but the groupthink that you HAVE to kiss ass like this in order to even be considered is erroneous. It may be nice, polite, etc, but it isn't strictly necessary.

 

[Chimed]

I didn't write any thank you cards to anybody. I got in at my number one. Take that for what you will, but the groupthink that you HAVE to kiss ass like this in order to even be considered is erroneous. It may be nice, polite, etc, but it isn't strictly necessary.

Yeah. You might be right. I'll have to admit that part of my motivation with an e-mail was to see what kind of response I'd get. 😉. I'm a sucker for instant gratification...at least sometimes.

PS. For those applicants that do send an e-mail and don't get a response, PLEASE DON'T FREAK OUT! Some PD's just don't respond...

 

[OldPsychDoc]

I didn't write any thank you cards to anybody. I got in at my number one. Take that for what you will, but the groupthink that you HAVE to kiss ass like this in order to even be considered is erroneous. It may be nice, polite, etc, but it isn't strictly necessary.

And I would add that going overboard--being too obsequious, or worst of all, sending something incoherent or incomprehensible--can actually hurt you. (Yes I have seen it happen! 😱)

Just a simple "Thank you. I'm very interested in your program." is quite acceptable.

 

[Chimed]

sending something incoherent or incomprehensible--can actually hurt you. (Yes I have seen it happen! 😱)
.

OHHH, pleeeease share with us some of those notes!?!

 

[sikegeek]

I wrote personalized thank you notes. Seemed classy, plus it was a chance to buy stationery. They didn't gush or anything. I put thoughtful details about our conversations and what my impressions were of the program. If I was in an interviewer, I would love to know that I made some kind of specific impression on an applicant and that they were paying attention.
I got a bland thank you for interviewing letter from one program and I didn't like it. I'm sure it was a form letter the secretary sends to everyone. blech.

 

[whopper]

Thank you notes, as superficial as they sound do work.

Remember, several programs gets dozens to hundreds of applicants. After maybe 10, the mind starts to put the applicants into the old dreaded pile mentality people learn about when applying to college (they make a pile for people with SATs above 1500, then another pile for 1400s, etc).

The human mind can only hold so much, after a handful of applicants, several of them start to blur into each other. You will stand out if you right a thank you letter.

But as OldPsychedoc mentioned, don't go overboard. Someone who applied to my program last year came off as a major butt kisser and gave a thank you note that was a bit overboard. I think it gave the opposite effect of what he intended.

 

[sikegeek]

😀Just to follow up-

I recently had an interview and sent the PD a thoughtful detailed hand-written thank you note. The same day it arrived, or so I assume, I got a really great, detailed email from her telling me what they liked about me and that they thought I would be a good fit for their program. It wasn't a generic form email. I've gotten those too. This was great.

I assume it didn't change my initial ranking, but it probably changed how open they were with me and the fact that I got feedback. Those things are actually pretty important considering this is a tough decision anyway and it wll help my spouse plan how serious he will be looking into jobs at certain areas.

Also, it doesn't assure me that I will definitely be ranked among their highest, especially since this is still pretty early in the season. I think it's a good sign though.
😀