# Interview etiquette question (Thank You notes)

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interview-etiquette-question-thank-you-notes/250653>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [June 16, 2004, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interview-etiquette-question-thank-you-notes/250653 "2004-06-16T14:29:38Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\
**Post date:** [June 16, 2004, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interview-etiquette-question-thank-you-notes/250653/1 "2004-06-16T14:29:38Z")

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I have an interview today, applying for my boss’s position. (She’s returning to her home state, and I will miss her.)

I usually mail a Thank You note after the interview, but that seems unnecessarily formal, since I’m just walking down the hall, not driving to a business to meet with someone for the first time.

Would it be appropriate to e-mail a thank you note? Or should I drop off a handwritten note with his admin assistant?

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**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\
**Post date:** [June 16, 2004, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interview-etiquette-question-thank-you-notes/250653/2 "2004-06-16T14:37:13Z")

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Ooooooh…tough one. Under these circumstances, I think I’d forego the formal note. Maybe an e-mail? I’m probably wrong…

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**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\
**Post date:** [June 16, 2004, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interview-etiquette-question-thank-you-notes/250653/3 "2004-06-16T15:11:08Z")

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I would prefer to err on the side of formality and drop off a handwritten thank-you note at the interviewer’s office. Regardless of the distance to the interview, the person did take the time to talk to you.

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**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\
**Post date:** [June 16, 2004, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interview-etiquette-question-thank-you-notes/250653/4 "2004-06-16T16:00:14Z")

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How well do you know the person interviewing you? If he or she is someone you’re more or less friendly with, I’d do an email – if he or she isn’t someone you know well, I’d drop off the handwritten note.

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**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\
**Post date:** [June 16, 2004, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interview-etiquette-question-thank-you-notes/250653/5 "2004-06-16T16:15:28Z")

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He’s my boss’s boss, so while I know him enough to nod hello in the hallway, it’s not like I go down to his office and chat during slow times.

So, it sounds like I drop of a handwritten note this afternoon.