What to write in a thank you note after a stress interview?

[QuinnTheEskimo]

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I had an interview recently where the guy basically ripped apart my application and pointed out every mistake I've made since birth. His comments were fair, and I feel I responded to them well...but I'm now struggling with how to write a thank you note to him. "Dear Dr. Smith, thanks for *****ing all over my application, I hope you accept me?"

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[Oso]

Just write what you would write in any other thank you note: thanks for the nice interview, some specific reference to the interview itself, the day increased my interest in the school, etc. etc. I wouldn't bring any attention to the fact that he verbally kicked your ass.

 

[QuinnTheEskimo]

Just write what you would write in any other thank you note: thanks for the nice interview, some specific reference to the interview itself, the day increased my interest in the school, etc. etc. I wouldn't bring any attention to the fact that he verbally kicked your ass.

I usually write about specific discussion points in the interview. In this case, basically everything he said was negative. That's what I'm struggling with. Maybe I'll just leave it out and tell him I'm highly interested in the school...

 

[Oso]

I usually write about specific discussion points in the interview. In this case, basically everything he said was negative. That's what I'm struggling with. Maybe I'll just leave it out and tell him I'm highly interested in the school...

I mean there must be something constructive you took away from what he said. I'd take that little bit and make sure to phrase it in a positive manner. Then talk about your interest in the school, etc.

 

[medmedman]

lol how about

"Dear Dr. Smith,

Thank you again for taking time out of your day to interview me. Having spent the day at [medical school name] I am more eager than ever to attend. Again, thank you for your time and and I hope to hear from you soon."

Best,
XXXX

Something along those lines. Again I wouldn't mention the negative comments. maybe say how you appreicate his hoensty blah blah.

 

[calgirl1234]

just don't write one. it's not going to make a difference

 

[Goro]

There's no need to write one. Personally, thank you notes do nothing for me. I throw away written ones, but oddly, will respond to an email with a thank you.

Don't expect to kiss ass thinking it will improve your opinion. By now the interviewer has already made and turned in his/her decision. Just be polite and say thank you and that you loved the school (assuming you did).

I had an interview recently where the guy basically ripped apart my application and pointed out every mistake I've made since birth. His comments were fair, and I feel I responded to them well...but I'm now struggling with how to write a thank you note to him. "Dear Dr. Smith, thanks for *****ing all over my application, I hope you accept me?"

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[QuinnTheEskimo]

just don't write one. it's not going to make a difference

I know, but it's kind of like tipping a waitress...you don't do it because you are gonna get something out of it, you do it cause its right.

There's no need to write one. Personally, thank you notes do nothing for me. I throw away written ones, but oddly, will respond to an email with a thank you.

Don't expect to kiss ass thinking it will improve your opinion. By now the interviewer has already made and turned in his/her decision. Just be polite and say thank you and that you loved the school (assuming you did).

I wasn't expecting a thank you to improve anything. I feel like a thank you is still the right thing to do.

On the other hand, I'm a little annoyed that I took a day off work just to be bludgeoned in the interview, lol.

 

[bunionberry]

If anything, you should just be sending a thank you letter to the admissions office of the school you interviewed at for giving you the chance to interview. There isn't really a reason to send thank yous to people who interviewed you; they weren't the ones who decided to give you that opportunity. And I wouldn't necessarily say that sending thank you notes is really the "right thing to do". There's no moral ground to be gained by sending one.

But if you really want to, I suggest what medmedman said. Just be concise and to the point and don't talk about the bad stuff that happened.

 

[QuinnTheEskimo]

If anything, you should just be sending a thank you letter to the admissions office of the school you interviewed at for giving you the chance to interview. There isn't really a reason to send thank yous to people who interviewed you; they weren't the ones who decided to give you that opportunity. And I wouldn't necessarily say that sending thank you notes is really the "right thing to do". There's no moral ground to be gained by sending one.

But if you really want to, I suggest what medmedman said. Just be concise and to the point and don't talk about the bad stuff that happened.

What? You don't send thank you notes to your interviewers? I've sent one to each of mine, I was told that's correct protocol. Similar to a job interview.

 

[xffan624]

What? You don't send thank you notes to your interviewers? I've sent one to each of mine, I was told that's correct protocol. Similar to a job interview.

I never sent one... Currently in medical school.

 

[bunionberry]

What? You don't send thank you notes to your interviewers? I've sent one to each of mine, I was told that's correct protocol. Similar to a job interview.

I don't know anyone who has. Sometimes for job interviews it can be helpful because the person interviewing you is often the one who decides to hire you. For med school interviews, it doesn't really matter. Unless you plan on seeing that person again or plan on forming a relationship with that person, there's no need to send one. The interviewers will have already made up their mind about you by the time they get your letter/e-mail.

 

[Escape_Goat]

Why not be professional and write the same thing you'd say to any other interviewer about how grateful you are for the opportunity to be interviewed at their school?

 

[medmedman]

just don't write one. it's not going to make a difference

I have to disagree. You should always write a thank you note. The point isn't about making a difference as much as it has to do with professionalims. Most of us realize taht writing thank you letters may not really make mcuh of a difference but it's still the professional things to do and its good practice for the workplace.

 

[mehc012]

I have to disagree. You should always write a thank you note. The point isn't about making a difference as much as it has to do with professionalims. Most of us realize taht writing thank you letters may not really make mcuh of a difference but it's still the professional things to do and its good practice for the workplace.

I have never heard of writing a thank you letter to a job interviewer. Med school interviews is the only place I've ever heard it come up, and I always just chalked it up to premed neuroticism.

 

[Jennyfishy]

Dear (Interviewer)

Thank you for making me sweat out of places I did not know could sweat during our interview. You can keep the tears I shed afterwards as a momento of our time together. Despite this, X school is still my #1 choice!

No love,

OP

 

[SN12357]

I have never heard of writing a thank you letter to a job interviewer. Med school interviews is the only place I've ever heard it come up, and I always just chalked it up to premed neuroticism.

Writing thank you notes (generally emails) to job interviewers is standard in many places. It is absolutely something that can come up in the discussion of whether or not to hire a candidate. Won't make or break a candidacy but if it's a head to head comparison between candidates it could end up mattering.

I actually think thank you notes matter less in med school interviews since the often interviewers are just providing a report (probably turned in before the thank you note is received, anyway) and the admissions committee is assembling a whole class of people, so they have different concerns than hiring the single best person in a pool of candidates. But sending thank you notes after job interviewers is common and highly recommended.

I wrote thank you notes to most of my interviewers because I felt like it but also doubt it mattered.

 

[medmedman]

I have never heard of writing a thank you letter to a job interviewer. Med school interviews is the only place I've ever heard it come up, and I always just chalked it up to premed neuroticism.

Haha. Well now you know! There are two things you should ALWAYS do on any interview.
1) Write a thank you letter (if nothing else, it demonstrates your professionalism)
2) Shake the interviewer's hand when you first enter and before you leave.

 

[mehc012]

Haha. Well now you know! There are two things you should ALWAYS do on any interview.
1) Write a thank you letter (if nothing else, it demonstrates your professionalism)
2) Shake the interviewer's hand when you first enter and before you leave.

Nope, not writing a thank you letter. I have never heard of ANYone doing that except on SDN. Hell, people don't even write thank you notes for presents anymore - at least, I've never known anyone to do so. I've only heard people seriously considering THAT after weddings (and it never panned out). Seems outdated and weird to me...maybe my Grandpa did so but that does not mean that I will.

 

[darkjedi]

It's not required for admission, but it is general etiquette and a good thing to pick up earlier rather than later. It absolutely reflects on your professionalism once you're in the real world.

 

[mehc012]

Maybe it's a regional thing, or an industry thing. At any rate, it's pretty irrelevant. Feel free to dock me as unprofessional if you ever interview me. I'll stick with what has worked for my grandparents, parents, aunts/uncles, classmates, and me (not to mention all of the people my mother has hired, none of whom ever sent her a letter). I would not want to receive a thank-you note if I were interviewing, and writing one seems awkward and brown-nosy to me, so I don't see myself writing one anytime soon. I imagine you guys will stick with what has worked for you, and the world will continue turning.

 

[crimsonkid85]

Having interviewed applicants, I can tell you I do not care one iota for thank-you cards one way or the other. They get delivered to us so late anyways that by the time I see it, I have no recollection of who you are. I dictate the interview note usually the evening of the actual interview, so it really does not make a difference on way or the other. Your fate lies in the hands of the whole committee anyway.

More pertinently, OP you shouldn't feel bad just because someone gave you a critical interview. For applicants who I really like, I like to have a candid conversation with them more than just normal platitudes, so I push them slightly harder in terms of trying to understand their motivations/experiences/thought process. Believe it or not if an applicant is completely unimpressive I try to give a very nice interview because -- what's the point? No reason to stress out an applicant you're going to reject anyway.

 

[DChef]

I don't know anyone who has. Sometimes for job interviews it can be helpful because the person interviewing you is often the one who decides to hire you. For med school interviews, it doesn't really matter. Unless you plan on seeing that person again or plan on forming a relationship with that person, there's no need to send one. The interviewers will have already made up their mind about you by the time they get your letter/e-mail.

It definitely matters if you're interviewing at a school where one of your interviewers is on the admissions committee. They will carry their opinion of you to that meeting, and if you liked the school, you want to be remembered positively. It's also just basic etiquette, since someone took time out of their schedule to interview you, but it's also possible that something traumatic happened to them that morning and they may reconsider and think about it if you write a nice note. Nice people can be absolute dinguses under extreme stress, give them the benefit of the doubt and let them know their time wasn't wasted interviewing you that day.