Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think "thank you" notes/emails after interviews are soooo lame! What is the point??

I agree. Are you a woman, OP? I cannot imagine a male executive being bothered by this.

Ding ding ding - we have a winner!!

+1

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can't imagine rejecting a candidate on this basis. Perhaps it could make the difference between two candidates if everything else -- EVERYTHING else -- was so closely matched that you couldn't otherwise make a decision. But to reject a candidate, supposedly on merit, because of a thank you note? My god. Perhaps you need to be volunteering at the Junior League, not conducting interviews supposedly based on merit and skills.

Um, I never said I would do that. In fact, I categorically would not. - OP

You questioned it though and that's sad enough. Also, to be highly turned off by them? Really?

Yes, I'd consider it a negative, all else being equal. I wouldn't reject a great candidate because of it, but I would note it. I really don't think that's that unusual or that big of a deal. Most of them did send one, so it can't be that out of the norm. Surprised at the vitriol.

If you see vitriol here then no wonder you were upset for not getting a thank you note after a phone interview. Sensitive much?

For a phone interview? I wouldn't care. I've sent follow-up notes for in-person interviews, but never for an intermediate-stage phone interview.

I would give some thought to hiring based on qualifications and ability to do the job. Just an idea.

No, I wouldn't expect a thank you note for a phone interview. I was a recruiter for 8 years and don't think I ever received a thank you note or email for a phone interview, and if I did, I would think it's desperate.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is what you said, OP:

That wouldn't be a factor in my decision at this stage. I would go ahead with an in-person interview with the best candidates.

What you said implies (to me) that it WOULD be a factor in your decision at some stage.

I didn't say that. - OP

Well then you've got me totally confused, OP. You started a thread entitled "Hire someone who doesn't send thank you?" Seemingly, your question.

But you now deny that would factor at all into your decision????

OP here - You sound strangely angry. I think it's a little unprofessional and I would note it. Would I not hire them as a result of it? Most likely, I would still hire them. Just wondering how others felt.

It may depend on the job they are being hired for.
If they need to do a lot of interactions with other folks (i.e. sales, marketing) where these skills are necessary, maybe a consideration.
Other jobs (engineering, IT, accountant), not at all considered.

Anonymous wrote:HR Bitch here: many people don't do thank you notes because they see it as an opportunity to accidentally have a typo, or they've had prior bosses who do handwriting analysis and so they don't want to "give away" the personality traits that might show up in their handwriting.

I would absolutely consider someone for employment even if they don't send a thank you.

OP here - I was thinking more along the lines of a casual email. Can't remember the last time I saw a handwritten thank you!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is what you said, OP:

That wouldn't be a factor in my decision at this stage. I would go ahead with an in-person interview with the best candidates.

What you said implies (to me) that it WOULD be a factor in your decision at some stage.

I didn't say that. - OP

Well then you've got me totally confused, OP. You started a thread entitled "Hire someone who doesn't send thank you?" Seemingly, your question.

But you now deny that would factor at all into your decision????

OP here - You sound strangely angry. I think it's a little unprofessional and I would note it. Would I not hire them as a result of it? Most likely, I would still hire them. Just wondering how others felt.

Anonymous wrote:It likely wouldn't be a deciding factor in hiring, but it would leave a negative impression. I expect people to know how to conduct themselves professionally, and basic courtesy is part of that.

This. If that were the only issue in an otherwise excellent candidate, I'd probably let it go. But particularly for a senior-level position requiring lots of client contact, I'd want someone with strong interpersonal skills (and basic courtesy).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is what you said, OP:

That wouldn't be a factor in my decision at this stage. I would go ahead with an in-person interview with the best candidates.

What you said implies (to me) that it WOULD be a factor in your decision at some stage.

I didn't say that. - OP

Well then you've got me totally confused, OP. You started a thread entitled "Hire someone who doesn't send thank you?" Seemingly, your question.

But you now deny that would factor at all into your decision????

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can't imagine rejecting a candidate on this basis. Perhaps it could make the difference between two candidates if everything else -- EVERYTHING else -- was so closely matched that you couldn't otherwise make a decision. But to reject a candidate, supposedly on merit, because of a thank you note? My god. Perhaps you need to be volunteering at the Junior League, not conducting interviews supposedly based on merit and skills.

Um, I never said I would do that. In fact, I categorically would not. - OP

You questioned it though and that's sad enough. Also, to be highly turned off by them? Really?

Yes, I'd consider it a negative, all else being equal. I wouldn't reject a great candidate because of it, but I would note it. I really don't think that's that unusual or that big of a deal. Most of them did send one, so it can't be that out of the norm. Surprised at the vitriol.

NP here. I don't think anyone has expressed vitriol toward you, just their opinion. I think there is also a difference between a phone interview and an in-person interview. I might be a little put off had I spent a lot of time with a candidate, but on a phone interview where I have made it clear that it is only the first of many stages, no. But in general, I think email thank you notes after interviews are stupid and pointless. If someone makes an effort to show up for the interview, they are "excited" for the job.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think "thank you" notes/emails after interviews are soooo lame! What is the point??

I agree. Are you a woman, OP? I cannot imagine a male executive being bothered by this.

+1 We hire based on the interview and have our decision made long before thank you notes are received. They immediately go into the trash.

+2 We also hire based on the interview, and I am sorry to say the thank you notes go into the trash unread. However, we did have one applicant that dropped off cookies (it was not a random gesture - it related to a conversation during the interview). Now - those did NOT go in the trash, and the applicant was hired (but decision was made before the cookies).

It likely wouldn't be a deciding factor in hiring, but it would leave a negative impression. I expect people to know how to conduct themselves professionally, and basic courtesy is part of that.

HR Bitch here: many people don't do thank you notes because they see it as an opportunity to accidentally have a typo, or they've had prior bosses who do handwriting analysis and so they don't want to "give away" the personality traits that might show up in their handwriting.

I would absolutely consider someone for employment even if they don't send a thank you.

Anonymous wrote:This is what you said, OP:

That wouldn't be a factor in my decision at this stage. I would go ahead with an in-person interview with the best candidates.

What you said implies (to me) that it WOULD be a factor in your decision at some stage.

I didn't say that. - OP