The Great "Thank You note" debate

For the U.S.A, would you please share your thoughts/advice on the sending of thank-you notes after interviews, is this only for "professional" positions?

Also opinions on follow-up calls. Pursuing a job aggressively is not my style, but I am persistent and sincere and I won't be able to rely on my instinct alone whilst it's new to me - which is where you guys come in.

I will be looking for standard office work to start with~ secretarial/P.A positions and would appreciate any suggestions/tips/personal experiences you can share with me.

Thanks

I worked as an HR Rep in Silicon Valley before coming over a few months ago. I worked for a high-tech company and can tell you what the management and HR was like there. A follow-up call is much better than a thank you note. Calling up to find out what the status of the position is and re-expressing your interest can help. Just don't make the mistake some people do by calling several times or you run the risk of getting on their nerves. One phone call will do. We had some people who would call every single day and it gets REALLY annoying.

Depends. If the job is handled strictly thru HR the above is probably good advice. If you meet with your potential boss in the interview and have a good chat with them, I'd send a thank you without a doubt. I've got at least one job just because I did that. In the thank you I always reiterate a couple of my skills and how I think they relate to the specific job and I might also address something that was discussed in the interview to reinforce my ability in that area.

Thank you for both responses ~ very much appreciated and also to the person that PM'd me and offered assistance. Valuable advice that validates my gut instincts, but always good to hear it from people that have more experience.

Now I just need to learn how to sell myself over Americans, can't be relying on accent alone!

Little bit disappointed, 96 views and no other advice? I was waiting for Americans on the other side of the Atlantic to wake up, hey guys are you all still asleep or hungover today

Hi Sheril,

I've been out of town since Thursday and got back a little while ago...

It's been several years since I've worked, but I always did the thank you note.  Basically, I kept it short, thanking the person for their time and possibly used it to reinforce a selling point, based on my evaluation of what the company was looking for.

I always felt it was a good way to show your enthusiasm without being intrusive. 

I always sent a note.  I always got the job.  (I don't think it's for that reason, but it does not hurt)

I always send a brief letter - thanking for their time and reiterating 1. my interest and 2. my confidence that I can do the job well for them. My usual ending line is something like "having spoken with you I am now certain that I would make a valuable and lasting contribution to your team in this role." It's always worked a charm - until now I've rarely been turned down for jobs. But I guess our luck has to run out eventually, eh? 

I always send a brief letter - thanking for their time and reiterating 1. my interest and 2. my confidence that I can do the job well for them. My usual ending line is something like "having spoken with you I am now certain that I would make a valuable and lasting contribution to your team in this role." It's always worked a charm - until now I've rarely been turned down for jobs. But I guess our luck has to run out eventually, eh? 

Thats amazing, it's almost word-for-word what I would say myself here in the UK - spooky 

Anne - your time will come, your situation is a little different in that it's a niche type of role in social care/education, they are out there, but just not often enough. Fingers crossed and chin up

Thanks everyone, your contributions are much appreciated.

Thats amazing, it's almost word-for-word what I would say myself here in the UK - spooky 

Not spooky at all. Great minds think alike. 

And thank you for the pep talk - I need that desperately from time-to-time!! Mondays are always particularly bad 'cause there're so few new listings. I'll be positive again by Wednesday when I get my hands on Society Guardian.... 

Definitely send a thank-you letter.   
I have a friend in a management position.  After she interviews a string of candidates, she selects the most qualified, etc.  But then she waits to see if she receives a Thank-you letter.  If not, then that candidate doesn't make the final cut. 

Thank you JillPhil, it's interesting to know that despite being the best qualified, the lack of a note would actually lose you the job. I find that quite disturbing personally, but I know that many people have their own final, personal criteria.

Oops, so sorry JillNPhil

Employment agencies in the US sometimes supply job candidates with Thank You cards to fill in, just in case they forget.

oh wow, never heard of that. That's pretty well organised!

Thanks SP

I'm still in school and in a business fraternity (NO, it's not a cheesy, stereotypical one like in Animal House   it's more an organization)  We have representatives from companies and recruiters come all the time to speak.  Every single one has mentioned something about making SURE to write a thank you note.  A couple have even said that it was how they picked the right person for the job because they were the only one who bothered to write it (out of the qualified candidates).  So, in my experience and opinion, I just feel that it can't really hurt and can only help.  So I always make sure to write one. 

One more thing, all of the recruiters said that an email is an acceptable form to write a thank you.  I think that it's much easier to go that route.   

Very interesting Luxie- thank you for sharing the info. It's very important to me that I get it "right".

My next question was going to be about an e-mail version due to delays in the mail etc, so you have answered that one as well.

Cheers