Thank You Card Debate, continued!

OK, here's an odd one. I have an interview tomorrow. I REALLY want the job. I'm taking thank-you cards with me (really expensive, Crane & Co. ones) stamped and ready to post from the train station because my interview is late in the day and I want to make sure the arrive the next day - if I wait until I get home they won't make tomorrow's post.

BUT I only have 2 cards left and the panel is 4 people. And I don't have any money left, my credit cards are maxed out and dh just gave me his last 20 quid to get into London for the interview....

So do I just mail one to the person who appears to be the Main Guy. Or do I wait until I get home and write letters to each of the four and just send those the next day?

I have no idea about most anything in the UK and do not know about the whole thank you card thing, but what if you don't send them all one and at the water cooler one guy says to the next, "hey, nice girl we interviewed, how about the lovely thank you she sent? And of course the guy didn't get one.

What about taking some stationary with you and hadnwriting all four at the train. Is stationary an option or this not done and is hadwriting them on stationary an option?

Just my 2 cents.

Is it totally uncool to address the card to one main person and ask them to convey your thanks to the rest of them? Is  one of them an HR person anyway?

Is it totally uncool to address the card to all 4?

No idea...

Regardless, lots of good vibes for you!!

Hmm. I could go the stationary route. I have some somewhat nice small format stationary, though it's blue and not as professional looking as the cards....

I also did think about addressing it to one person and conveying thanks to all of them in it....

Hey, what about addressing it to the "hiring committee" or the "hiring panel"? I could then, inside, write something like "Dear Mr x, Ms. y, Mrs. J and Mr. L" or something like that....  Damn, damn, damn - why did I have to run out of cards???!!!

Hmm, how about sending one card to the whole team?

When I used to do interviews,what used to impress me most (apart from qualifications)was the ones who took the trouble to say "Thanks for seeing me"after the interview.Never received a card,and I don't think I would have bee too impressed if I had. Just a thought.


Dave

Is it totally uncool to address the card to one main person and ask them to convey your thanks to the rest of them? Is  one of them an HR person anyway?

Not uncool at all! Not in the US, anyway. I can't really comment on what's considered appropriate in the UK. But in the US, I was on a lot of hiring panels and we'd often get a thank you card addressed to the CEO (or whoever was the "main" person), which included a line about thanking the rest of us. If you do this, Anne, make sure to include the other people's names in your note. I think that would be totally fine.

Good luck tomorrow!!

Anne... this is only my opinion, but i wouldnt send a card, if i were you.
I know you have the best intention with the idea, but it could read 'OTT American' to some British people. 
It's just not the done thing here.

I agree with Otterpop...I asked my husband and he says it might work against you...Good luck in your interview.

I agree with otterpop.  You may just want to send an email afterwards thanking them for their time and reconfirming your interest in the role.

I agree with otterpop.  You may just want to send an email afterwards thanking them for their time and reconfirming your interest in the role.

good thought...actually

I think it depends. I've done thank yous here and they were very well received. Anne, I think it will depend upon the vibe you get from the panel. If it seems very structured and formal, maybe not. I did one panel interview and it was formal (with HR there as well) so I didn't do one. Another panel felt a lot more informal so I did.

FWIW, when I did send mine, I started with a sentence that noted that this was an American custom but since I'd enjoyed meeting them so much, I hoped they'd appreciate it, too. That's very poorly worded but you get the jist. I can't recall what phrase I actually used!

I have to agree with the people that suggest not sending one in this instance, unless it is done in the way Balmerhon has suggested and you will only be able to tell that after the actual interview.

Can almost guarantee that a thank you card/note/e-mail will not sway opinion in your favour in this instance and may do more harm than good, despite your very best intentions.

Your "competition" in this instance, will be relying solely on a combination of their qualifications/experience/potential and interview, it's just not the kind of position where it will put you on top-they will (and should have) the confidence to expect to be considered solely on that criteria alone.

I would advise engaging them at the end of the interview to thank them for their time though.

GOOD LUCK !!

I say send the card to the whole group (addressed to the Ms. Main Gal et al) and be sure to mention names in your thanks inside.

I have had great sucess in the UK with thank you cards.  Maybe because of my industry (PR/Marketing) but it does get you noticed!