I send an email thank you not to the hiring manager on behalf of my wife after an interview 15 years ago. She didn't know that I did that and she still doesn't know I did it. She got the job. The hiring manager told her (about 6 months after she was hired) that he wasn't sure if she could do the job.... but.... because of the thank you note he decided to give her a chance. She called me and told me what her manager said and then told me "but... I didn't send a thank you not... I wonder what happened" I kept my mouth shut... because... I know she doesn't take direction very well.

Interesting. So email is an acceptable way of sending thank you notes now?

I've always wondered about that, especially at some places where they make hiring decisions within a day or two of the interview.

When I first went into the job market, one of the tips I received was to always send thank you notes after interviews. So it's been something that I've always stuck by.

More recently after a couple of interviews, I'd have someone whisper to me to make sure to send a thank you note to the main decision maker. But those were more old fashioned organizations.

As others mentioned, it wouldn't hurt to send a thank you note so would go ahead and do so.

*note

I mailed thank you notes after an interview a few years ago. I even sent one to the HR lady that scheduled the interview. The hiring manager didn't select me; however, the HR lady called and told me that she would put me in for another open position. I don't have proof that it was because I sent her a thank you not... but... I suspect she hardly ever gets them and it is unusual for HR to help someone.

Anonymous wrote:Solidly in the couldn't hurt to send them, could really hurt to not send them category. I don't care about receiving thank you notes for interviews (honestly, it feels weird to receive a note thanking me for doing something that is just part of my job) but some people feel very strongly about them and will penalize heavily for not sending them.

+1

I am a hiring manager and personally don't care if you don't send one, but many others do. So I definitely recommend to do it.

Solidly in the couldn't hurt to send them, could really hurt to not send them category. I don't care about receiving thank you notes for interviews (honestly, it feels weird to receive a note thanking me for doing something that is just part of my job) but some people feel very strongly about them and will penalize heavily for not sending them.

Anonymous wrote:

I don't think they make a difference, however if you do it, send it via email.

They do make a difference. My boss will ding anyone who does not send an email thank you note within 24 hours of an interview. It is not an absolute deal breaker, but it definitely weighs into her decision process. We are in client service, so politeness and taking the extra step to show respect is important.

Same here. Also, email is a must. We've occasionally had an applicant to old-school and send a hand-written thank you note but those take a while to get to us with the internal mail system. A couple years ago we were hiring and one candidate was clearly ahead of the pack but the lack of a thank-you note was a notable ding against her, and seemed out of character. Sure enough a few days later her snail-mail note showed up.

Anonymous wrote:My understanding is that sending one doesn't really help you but not sending one definitely helps you. Thus, my advice would be to make sure you send it within 24 hours, be polite and be brief.

Ack. "not sending one definitely hurts you"

New advice. SPELL CHECK and REVIEW before submitting.

My understanding is that sending one doesn't really help you but not sending one definitely helps you. Thus, my advice would be to make sure you send it within 24 hours, be polite and be brief.

I don't think they make a difference, however if you do it, send it via email.

They do make a difference. My boss will ding anyone who does not send an email thank you note within 24 hours of an interview. It is not an absolute deal breaker, but it definitely weighs into her decision process. We are in client service, so politeness and taking the extra step to show respect is important.

I don't think they make a difference, however if you do it, send it via email.

Best advice?