I'm a nanny, and I think the thank you email is important for a lot of reasons. Obviously it's polite, and is the type of thing most etiquette books will tell you to do. But it also reinforces your interest in the position. There have been a lot of interviews I've gone on where I realized that for whatever reason the job wasn't right for me. I often don't send a thank you email for those, but a proactive e-mail in cases where I do really want the job can make my interest to MB/DB very clear. It also serves as a reminder for a busy MB/DB. Even if they said they'd follow up with you at the end of the interview, many might forget. An unanswered e-mail in their inbox might serve as a reminder that they need to get back in touch with you.

MB here. Keep in mind that thank you notes are often a regional thing as well as a cultural thing. I am friends with someone who grew up Puerto Rican, in the Bronx (no, not Jennifer Lopez) and she'd never even heard of thank you notes until she became an adult.

For me, a lack of a thank you note is not at all a deal breaker.

What if you only interview over the phone ? Should you send a follow up thank you for that after the first phone interview or the second ? Any suggestions ?

MB here. I hire a lot in my full time work, though only once have hired a nanny.

A follow up thank you is incredibly important/valuable to me. It shows you want the job, can demonstrate that you have thought about our conversations, and let's me know that you're professional and polished.

It would potentially be very significant to me.

Hi MB and/or DB,

It was great meeting with you yesterday. DC1 is super adorable and DC2 has such an imagination. (Assuming you met the kids and played with them.) I'm looking forward to hearing from you once you make your decision. Please let me know if you have any further questions.

Thank you,
Your name

I saw on here nannies say to write a follow up email after an interview. I've never done this and have had no problems getting jobs. Just curious if this is normal and expected and also what do you write them after the interview? To me it seems like it would come off as desperate.