Thank You Notes, Waste of Time ... ?

... Or must write?

I'm on the fence on this one 'cus I have never written a single thank you note for any of the jobs I was offered (7 and counting...)

Do you really think it makes a difference? Does one letter really sway a hiring manager one way or another when choosing between 2 or 3 candidates?

I would especially love to hear from someone who recruits for a living or was/is a hiring manager.

Re: Thank You Notes, Waste of Time ... ?

It absolutely can make a difference in whether or not you get hired - especially in this economy when so many people qualified people are looking for work. I've been on several hiring committees, and I've seen candidates eliminated because of their lack of follow through with a thank you - and I've also seen people put back in the running based on the thank you letter.

If two equally qualified people did well on the interview, and only one followed up with a thank you, it makes the hiring managers decision a lot easier.

Re: Thank You Notes, Waste of Time ... ?

It can make a difference.

Many years ago, I applied for a job and had an interview. Sent a thank you note to the main person I interviewed with (and mentioned the two other people I spoke with while I was there). I eventually got the job, in part, because they were impressed with the fact that I not only mentioned all their names in the note, but spelled them properly as well (they had unusual spellings). And this was before the internet was widely used (so I couldn't cheat and look it up after the fact).

The way I look at it...it never hurts to thank someone for their time.

Message edited 5/28/2009 9:50:30 AM.

Re: Thank You Notes, Waste of Time ... ?

It can make a difference, but it often depends on the industry. Honestly, my decision has never been affected by receiving (or not receiving) a thank you note. IMHO, you're either qualified and interviewed well or you didn't.

Re: Thank You Notes, Waste of Time ... ?

I am not sure how much of a difference it makes, but thank you notes only take a few minutes so you may as well do them.

I am on the recruiting committee at my law firm, here is my experience with thank you notes:

1) If you are snail-mailing a thank you, by the time it gets to us we may have already made a decision. For example, if our recruiting committee meets on Friday morning and you happen to have had a Thursday interview, by the time we get your letter the decision is done.

2) However, I do put thank you notes/emails in your file and let the recruiting managers know that you sent one. I don't know if this is common practice everywhere though.

3) If you send one, make it simple, short and not generic! If I get a thank you that specifically references something we discussed (like "thank you for taking the time to discuss your shopping mall project in the UK") then I pay more attention.

Re: Thank You Notes, Waste of Time ... ?

Posted by Kara

It can hurt if you send in a thank you note with typos, spelling errors, or grammatical problems. Bottom line, if you send a thank you note, it better be perfect, just like your cover letter and resume.

A thank you note with errors is worse than not receiving a thank you note at all. That said, I think a well-written thank you note is certainly never inappropriate. I would recommend doing it - I would just make darn sure to proofread it several times.

Re: Thank You Notes, Waste of Time ... ?

Posted by frosty

Posted by Kara

It can hurt if you send in a thank you note with typos, spelling errors, or grammatical problems. Bottom line, if you send a thank you note, it better be perfect, just like your cover letter and resume.

A thank you note with errors is worse than not receiving a thank you note at all. That said, I think a well-written thank you note is certainly never inappropriate. I would recommend doing it - I would just make darn sure to proofread it several times.

Of course! You should take as much care in writing a thank you note as you would in preparing your resume and cover letter.

I've been in the position of being part of a hiring decision, and I feel if someone is really interested in a job, then they will send a thank you note. In the past, I have interviewed for a couple of positions that I was ultimately not interested in at all, and didn't send a thank you note.

Re: Thank You Notes, Waste of Time ... ?

Never a waste of time ...I work in HR and MOST people do not send them anymore which makes me So when I do get one, that person stands out to me.

Re: Thank You Notes, Waste of Time ... ?

My current boss said after I was hired the reasons she choose me for the job and she ended with by saying how much she loved my thank you letter. She felt I really understood the job by it.

Re: Thank You Notes, Waste of Time ... ?

I just interviewed 3 people for 1 job this week. 2 of the 3 already sent a TY. It DEFINITELY makes a difference. The TY put their names back in my head and helped make me remember the things that I liked about them.

Re: Thank You Notes, Waste of Time ... ?

I can't get it through my head how writing a thank you note or not would help someone get a job in what should be a fair recruitment process. I have been working in recruitment for 10 years and I always would offer the job to the best candidate regardless of whether or not they wrote a thank you note.

Re: Thank You Notes, Waste of Time ... ?

Re: Thank You Notes, Waste of Time ... ?

i always write (hand written) thank yous. I read an article that advised to write them by hand unless you know that a decision is being made fast - then you do email, so I follow that rule. one employer (i got offered the job) complimented me on my determination and consistent follow up. i certainly don't think that a thank you is what would get you a job, but i definately think its a nice touch and a good way to keep you fresh in the employers head. if you've already left a good impression, i would like to think its going to help them remember you.