Thank you email/note after an interview - still a good idea?

[NewJeffCT]

Way back when I got out of college in the late 80s, it was typical for an interviewee to send a "thank you" note to the people that she or she interviewed with ASAP after an interview, mostly to keep your name fresh in their minds. Of course, back then, Al Gore's internet still hadn't made email popular...

Now, with email so common, are thank you notes or emails following an interview still a good idea?

And, any good sites online that have sample "thank you" notes?

Thanks

[ewagner]

1. Yes

Manners never go out of style......

on edit....I have an old book...prolly 20 years old that I've been looking for called "The Inside Track which gives examples of thank you letters....

I can't find the bloody book but I remember the formula quite well (cause i use it to this day)

1. Thank them for the itnerview (not thier time) but the interview itself.
2. Higlight the points that you agreed upon.
3. Emphasize your strengths as they applied to the job. Minimize the weaknesses or rationalize or tell them you're willing to learn the weaknesses.
4. Tell them you WANT the job.

that's about all I can remember.

[Hugin]

2. Yes!

[jandrok]

3. ALWAYS a good idea.

Not sure I know of any canned notes sites, though. I say write one up yourself. People can often spot a generic response.

[MissB]

4. Great idea

Thank you for the opportunity to interview with your company.

(reaffirm the most positive skill or skills you can bring to the company)

If you have any questions, please feel free to call (email, whatever) me.

Sincerely,
you

[NewJeffCT]

8. as a follow-up

if you interviewed with 3 people, do you send 1 email to all 3 of them, or three emails, one to each of them?

[LastKnight]

9. 1 each. make em feel like individuals. nt

[MissB]

10. If you can't determine which one will make the hiring decision

then I'd be safe and send it to all three. I think it would sort of depend on the interview as to whether I'd personalize each one.

If it was a group interview, then one generic email would make sense - one email to all three. If you met with each individual person, then a personalized thank you would be appropriate. If you can draw in something that you discussed with each person, that would be impressive.

Even tho I'm in my 30's, I'm still old-school enough that I'd send a hand written card instead of an email, even if I had to deliver it to the receptionist to get it there quickly.

[NewJeffCT]

11. well, I'm posting on behalf of my wife

she had a panel interview today with 3 people asking her questions at the same time. Well, not the exact same time, but there were 4 people in the room....

[MissB]

12. Those types of interviews suck.

Buy her a bottle of wine, or drink of her choice. Or give her a massage.

I know they do those types of interviews to save time, but it can be intimidating to be interviewed by a group of people. My most memorable interview was 10 to 1 -- 10 of them, one of me. Sucked.

If she can pull in something for each of them, then do the individual one. If it was too nerve wracking for her to remember an individual comment for each interviewer, go with the same note to three people.

Good luck to her.

[NewJeffCT]

15. they were 3 men & my wife

I told her she should have worn a short skirt! ;-)

They gave her a case study at 9:00am. She had an hour to prepare a PowerPoint presentation on the case. At 10:00, she gave the presentation and answered follow-up questions from the 3 gentlemen, and then had the interview.

[MissB]

16. I love the opportunity to demonstrate

what I know. However, I much prefer having more time to prepare.

An hour? Wow. What (general) type of work?

[NewJeffCT]

17. Likely supply chain / purchasing / procurement / sourcing

It's a big company with many lines of business and it was men from 3 different areas of the company for a general interview to see where she would best fit into the company.

[northzax]

5. no, don't do it.

gives those of us that do an edge.

[LastKnight]

6. cant hurt.

i donno which i would choose though, email or a physical card. if its a actuial card, it could mean more to em. if its just an email, they may not think as highly of it. however email is almost garunteed to reach them in a timely manner.

-LK

[Lisa0825]

7. Absolutely!!!

As an employment counselor, I had contact with hiring managers, and three of them told me that getting thank you notes really impressed them, and could make enough of an impact to carry the candidate to the next round, providing they were already qualified.

[RebelOne]

13. Here's advice on sending a follow-up thank you letter

http://interview.monster.com/articles/thankyou/

[underpants]

14. Out of sight out of mind

Yes it is a very good idea. A letter would probably be remembered more for its uniqueness, in this day and age.