Thank you card after job interview question?

[jrnunzio3]

Hi all,
I went on a job interview today. From what I was told prior to the meeting, I was meeting with "X". I get to the meeting today "X" is there, but so are "Y" and "Z". "Y" is her boss and I am still really not sure how "Z" fits into the picture.

Who do I send a Thank you card to? All 3 of them? Just the one that I set up the interview with? "Y" did bring me around the office and introduce me to everyone (I don't even have the position yet, they will get back to me next week). So do I send one to "Y"? I just don't know, I have never interviewed with 3 people at once.

Thanks for any help.
Jenny

 

[XYSRUS]

Had the same thing happen to me except there were 5 extras. I sent an email to the primary interviewer and asked her to please extend my thanks to 1-2-3-4and5. I got the job!

 

[NotUrsula]

I always thank them all, and I never use a card; always a letter, on the good resume stationary.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

Hmmm, I have never thanked (afterward, in a letter or email) someone who interviewed me, nor been thanked by any of the thousands who I have interviewed...

 

[mjkacmom]

I'd say all, and a letter, not a note.

 

[JamieW]

I e-mail thank yous to whoever interviews me. I would send cards or e-mails to all three.

 

[NMAmy]

Send one to all three of them. I always get a few thank you notes or letters after interviewing and I think it's a nice touch.

 

[NotUrsula]

Hmmm, I have never thanked (afterward, in a letter or email) someone who interviewed me, nor been thanked by any of the thousands who I have interviewed...

Depnds on the industry and the style of interview. I think that in some cases it's not so common in the kinds of fields where an interview is typically an hour or two, but it's never a bad idea -- it sends a good impression.

I'm in academe, and our interviews are typically two full days long. The folks who agree to serve on a search committee put in a whole lot of time.
In my world a thank you letter is pretty much expected, though in recent years I've noticed that younger candidates, especially, sometimes don't send them. While not sending one won't lose you the job if you are the obvious choice, I've seen the thank-you note used as a tie-breaker more than once.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

I like both of these.

Had the same thing happen to me except there were 5 extras. I sent an email to the primary interviewer and asked her to please extend my thanks to 1-2-3-4and5. I got the job!

I always thank them all, and I never use a card; always a letter, on the good resume stationary.

And definitely a formal letter, not a card.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

While not sending one won't lose you the job if you are the obvious choice, I've seen the thank-you note used as a tie-breaker more than once.

This is just a good thing to note in general...setting yourself apart from the others. I interviewed 3 realtors when selling my mother's house...I chose the one who provided me with important information BEFORE I chose her and also called to followup if I had any other questions. I never heard from the other ones again.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Ooh! I was JUST reading about this! It's too late to give you the "lean slightly forward (because it implies positive interest to the interviewer)" tip, and the "firm handshake (because it's not normally expected from women so it makes you stand out)" tip... but I can still give you the "send a thank you note via regular - not e - mail (because so few jobseekers do this, it, too, makes you stand out)" tip!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good luck!

 

[lovesmurfs]

I have elegant note cards that I hand write after an interview. I would send a note to each of the ones you spoke to, and be sure that you write something different in each one (if they're decision makers, they'll compare). Match and confirm your skills and how you'll meet their needs.

Best wishes!

 

[yoopermom]

I've always interviewed for teaching jobs, and what I do is catch their names as best as possible during the interview, then stop at the secretary's desk on the way out and have her confirm spelling/etc. I've alway sent individual personalized formal thank yous, and have been told that it's what tipped the scales a few times.

Terri

 

[jrnunzio3]

Ooh! I was JUST reading about this! It's too late to give you the "lean slightly forward (because it implies positive interest to the interviewer)" tip, and the "firm handshake (because it's not normally expected from women so it makes you stand out)" tip... but I can still give you the "send a thank you note via regular - not e - mail (because so few jobseekers do this, it, too, makes you stand out)" tip!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good luck!

Great tips! I actually did the Lean slightly forward (now that I think about it, I sat on the edge of my seat the whole time) LOL....and made sure that I introduced myself to each of them with a handshake and thanked them with a handshake at the end. I also shook hands with the entire office when I was introduced to them. I only know 2 of their full names, but I can verify the 3rd persons in the morning.

OK....now help with the letter (since I worked in H.R. they always said a card, but you all say a letter). I don't want it to be a 2 sentence letter.

I would like to thank you for taking the time to interview me for the postion of part time assistant....It was very nice to meet you... HELP!!!

 

[dare2dream]

Follow up with a note to each person. I think a handwritten note would work as well as a letter. Also make sure you SPELL the name of each person correctly. After my interview I sent my note to Lucy XXX, I was actually interviewed by LUCI. Bad move. I did not get the job and I called about about the job before she sent out the 'you did not get the job' email.

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

Always send a note - and I would do all three.

I would not hire someone who did not send a thank you note - I do not have time to teach office etiquette.

 

[yoopermom]

OK....now help with the letter (since I worked in H.R. they always said a card, but you all say a letter). I don't want it to be a 2 sentence letter.

I would like to thank you for taking the time to interview me for the postion of part time assistant....It was very nice to meet you... HELP!!!

It doesn't have to be a 2 sentence or a 2 page letter. I usually do a sentence reiterating how well the interview went, a sentence or two specific to that person ("I could tell that you're really interested in how I would handle at risk students. Here's what I've done..." or even "Thanks for asking about my extracurricular interests. I would be very interested in coaching...".). Then a few sentences about why you are the best person for the job. Thanks for your time, etc, etc.


Terri

 

[bumbershoot]

I would not hire someone who did not send a thank you note - I do not have time to teach office etiquette.

I think you might loosen that up. Regardless of this thread, in the outside world, very FEW people even know that it's something to do. DH finally did it during his last job search, and none of the hiring people had even thought of such a thing.

I'd just hate to lose a really good person, simply because they never even thought to send a thank you note.

Follow up with a note to each person. I think a handwritten note would work as well as a letter. Also make sure you SPELL the name of each person correctly. After my interview I sent my note to Lucy XXX, I was actually interviewed by LUCI. Bad move. I did not get the job and I called about about the job before she sent out the 'you did not get the job' email.

It's been ages since I interviewed...but do interviews generally have a way to find out how the interviewers' names are spelled????

I surely hope that someone wouldn't get things in a knot just b/c of a different spelling of someone you met for half an hour or so.

 

[Forevryoung]

Aaaaaaah I caught this thread almost "too late"

I interviewed today also (good luck OP!) and now I want to send a "thank you"

hand written or typed? (I have neat handwriting if it matters)

I leave for vacation at 9am (and it's 1am) so I better get busy. Ugh I was going to sleep!

 

[jlima]

I was interviewed by two people for the job I started back in June - my boss and the IT Director. I asked for business cards before I left and planned send some kind of a thank you letter; and I happened to stop at Trader Joe's on the way home and there were blank greeting cards at the checkout line. I bought two different ones; and hand wrote something different on each one. I mailed them that night. I got the job.