I had an interview today for a job I’m extremely interested in getting. It went well and I have high hopes.
Is it professional to send an email thnking the 2 interviewers for their time, or is an actual letter preferable? This company is somewhat conservative and caters to wealthier clientele, so I can see the call for a letter. However, I’d like to let them know I’m interested sooner rather than later, so that by the time the letter arrives, the position isn’t already filled.
Managers, HR people, and everyone else, what would you do?
I’d send a letter today, driving to the post office if necessary to make sure it gets moving by the last pickup. One day, or maybe two to get there? That’s OK, and I agree entirely that if the company is more staid, you want to do a letter.
I fall into the “everyone else” category, just so’s you know.
Here’s how I’ve handled it, and gotten hired, even! Use snail mail to send thank-you cards to everyone you interviewed with.
Use email to send follow-up questions, ideas or comments you have to the lead interviewer. Even if you don’t really have any follow-up questions, send an email to further explore whatever issues about the potential job you might have discussed during the interview. It keeps the dialogue going and keeps you top-of-mind for the people you want to impress. (Just be sure to proofread the hell out of anything before you send it.)
For a conservative-type job, I’d definitely send a letter. I don’t think there’s a problem with reiterating your interest sooner rather than later, so long as they aren’t instantly deciding and so long as you send your letter promptly.
I send a thank-you letter the day after an interview (letter, not note: short but professional). The only time I personally would send an e-mail instead (or in addition) is if I was interviewing on, say, Wednesday, and they were deciding on Friday. Then I’d probably send the letter same as I otherwise would, but also drop an e-mail as well.
OK, I’ll send a short email today thanking them, and mail out a letter tomorrow. It’s too late for the mail today.
Now, should I send one to each interviewer, or address the both with one letter? They work in the same office together.
I’ll take a different approach and say email before snail.
A couple of months ago, I had a phone interview, with one person asking the questions and two listening in quietly. Right after the interview, I searched the agency’s website for everyone’s email address (I had written down everyone’s name when they were introduced) and promptly sent three different email thank-you notes.
After the second interview, as I got on the elevator to leave, the man who will now be my supervisor said everyone was impressed with my ability to find everyone’s email address. Snail mail wouldn’t have made such an impression.
I’d say definitely go with email if the decision will be made soon.
I’ve hired a lot of people and the follow up letters were never considered.
People who called might bring themselves to mind, but usually I wouldn’t have as much recollection of them as they had of me, so it was sometimes awkward if they weren’t prepared for that.
But email is probably better these days. Not to formal, not too slow, and doesn’t chance embarrassing the hirer.
Agreed. In this day and age, you might have run into… 20 different people during your visit. Make a point of letting them know that you appreciated their time.
Make sure you e-mail everyone involved in the process, from the administrative assistant to your actual interviewer.
When I returned from my last interview, I e-mailed everyone, mentioning something they had said or a common interest we shared. Virtually everyone e-mailed back - a very good sign. I got so much positive feedback from one of the senior profs that I was certain she was letting me down easy. I actually got the official word that I got the job a day or two later! And after the snail mail thank yous arrived, I had another slew of e-mails, and people offered me a good deal of advice about negotiating my offer.
I got the job! It’s been a nerve-wracking week, but I finally got the call I’d been waiting for.
Better opportunities, even if I have to wait a while to get them, closer to home…it’s also $4000 more a year than I expected. Yay me! I’m going to celebrate tonight!