Are interviews just more casual now?

[Anonymous]

I had a junior candidate show up to a virtual interview in casual workout style clothes, taking the call from her phone while walking around her home. Other candidates (same age) took the call from their computer wearing business attire. We opted for one of those with the greater sense of professional norms.

[Anonymous]

Please forgive tech tardiness. I have had calls I was confident I could just click the link on NOT work for various reasons.

It’s difficult to practice by getting on early too at a different company. You could jump on someone else’s call, or trigger a notification that the call has started!

[Anonymous]

I just took a job where I did a Zoom interview in my bedroom. I was afraid that it would be considered to be unprofessional, so I apologized at the start and explained that my bedroom has been my de facto "home office" for the last two years (I will note that the room was neat and the bed was made). I am male and did wear a tie, but not a jacket. i would have worn a suit to an in-person interview, but it seems kind of awkward to do that at home. This was for a tech job, though, not a banking or legal job. I guess that the setting didn't matter in my case. If I were on the other side, I would expect the candidate to dress professionally--hair combed, nice shirt, etc.

I do think that being on time is important. Being late is disrespectful of others' time, and I hate when my own time is wasted by people who are late to meetings. I could maybe understand tech issues pre-COVID, but I would hope that most people would have figured out Zoom (and other software of its ilk) by now.

I don't do thank-you notes because a job interview is not a one-sided expression of generosity. The company wants an employee and the employee wants a job. Under ideal circumstances, both wants are fulfilled. i've nver had a company send me a thank-you note for interviewing with them, so I see no reason to send them as a candidate.

[Anonymous]

I have had several virtual interviews and I interviewed other people in a virtual format as well.

Not dressing up seems so stupid since you really only have to be presentable from the shoulders up. I wore a solid cotton shirt for my interviews and sweatpants, but put on makeup and did my hair. I wore earrings to look dressy. No one we interviewed looked terrible.

Not everyone sent a note but it was noticed when they did send one. Sending a note is never outdated. No one will say “can you believe that idiot sent a note?” Most jobs require some form of communications skills and it gives you an additional way to show you have them. I can’t remotely understand why anyone wouldn’t do it, but people all over these boards make it seem like some “Boomer thing” that they’re above and that’s exactly why it’s important to send one…..to show you’re not one of those people.

Being late is extra dumb.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I don't do thank-you notes because a job interview is not a one-sided expression of generosity. The company wants an employee and the employee wants a job. Under ideal circumstances, both wants are fulfilled. i've nver had a company send me a thank-you note for interviewing with them, so I see no reason to send them as a candidate.

It’s to show them that you’re interested in the job, even after the interview. It shows YOU are not one-sided and provides an additional method of demonstrating writing skill.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I don't do thank-you notes because a job interview is not a one-sided expression of generosity. The company wants an employee and the employee wants a job. Under ideal circumstances, both wants are fulfilled. i've nver had a company send me a thank-you note for interviewing with them, so I see no reason to send them as a candidate.

It’s to show them that you’re interested in the job, even after the interview. It shows YOU are not one-sided and provides an additional method of demonstrating writing skill.

My manager lost a few candidates because the nature of the job - tedious and high attention to detail. So he didn’t follow up with the candidates who didn’t write thank you letters because he assumed they won’t be interested.

[Anonymous]

It's only the tip of the iceberg Op. There's no sense of accountability and a lot more entitlement.

[Anonymous]

Totally agree that thank you messages are a best practice. As a hiring manager, I appreciate them.

It’s a chance to confirm your interest in the position, highlight or follow up on anything mentioned during the interview, and leave one last good impression. As others said, you can also demonstrate your communication skills in a tangible way.

[Anonymous]

My manager lost a few candidates because the nature of the job - tedious and high attention to detail. So he didn’t follow up with the candidates who didn’t write thank you letters because he assumed they won’t be interested.

Fair enough, if he actually writes thank-you notes to candidates after interviewing them. Does he?

[Anonymous]

This thread is kind of surprising to me. Do you guys have no HR or crappy HR? Ours does a great job of screening candidates and doing phone interviews before anyone actually talks to a candidate. I have never had someone in an interview be unprofessional to this degree. Not the best fit....lower down in the rankings....yes, but HR should really be screening out people who make these obvious lapses in judgement (doing an interview walking around the house....what? I mean how did that person land the interview?)

Seriously, I'm going to send a note of thanks to our recruiters right now for not wasting my time with this crap.

[Anonymous]

I've had a few informational interviews and always dress up but no tie. Most of the time I'm better dressed than the interviewers. Interesting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I don't do thank-you notes because a job interview is not a one-sided expression of generosity. The company wants an employee and the employee wants a job. Under ideal circumstances, both wants are fulfilled. i've nver had a company send me a thank-you note for interviewing with them, so I see no reason to send them as a candidate.

It’s to show them that you’re interested in the job, even after the interview. It shows YOU are not one-sided and provides an additional method of demonstrating writing skill.

My manager lost a few candidates because the nature of the job - tedious and high attention to detail. So he didn’t follow up with the candidates who didn’t write thank you letters because he assumed they won’t be interested.

I refuse to work for any employer that doesn't send me a thank you note after an interview.

[Anonymous]

Thank you notes are outdated and a waste of time when you are ghosted by most interviews anyhow. As an interviewer, I never read them or even considered them, as they were usually sent by the weaker candidates.

Most of the stronger candidates also try to look more professional, but they may not wear a jacket on zoom interviews.

[Anonymous]

Re: thank you notes - most of my interviews have been set up through the recruiter, and I've asked for email addresses thank interviewers, and have only ONCE received those email addresses from the recruiter (a few, I've been referred in by former colleagues and have obtained email addresses that way). If people are wondering why I haven't thanked them, they can blame the recruiter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Re: thank you notes - most of my interviews have been set up through the recruiter, and I've asked for email addresses thank interviewers, and have only ONCE received those email addresses from the recruiter (a few, I've been referred in by former colleagues and have obtained email addresses that way). If people are wondering why I haven't thanked them, they can blame the recruiter.

PP again to clarify - this is the company recruiter, not a head hunter.