Not hired...because of post intervie thank you note..yes, really

[Gratefulprn]

Interviewed 2 weeks ago for a position that would work well for me given where I am at physically, emotionally and financially in life right now.....interview went fairly well though it was short. Also strange I knew one of the panel nurses having worked w/him a few years back..what was strange is he told the other interviewers I was mistaken that he and I had worked together in the past (when he introduced himself I said "we've met, we worked together for 3 yrs at ***** clinic. He said nothing...I thought..ok...) Anyway..was told I would hear something either way by the 7th. The 7th came and went no word. I planned to call this week to check on the status. Still thinking it was strange this former coworker acted as though he had never met me - we worked everyday almost together at this clinic. Neither of us have changed to any major degree. So, I have never sent a "thank you" note for an interview - ever. After reading many posts on here it seems this is now the norm so I did -the day after the interview. Fast forward to this a.m. I receive an email from one of the nurses in the interview (the panel had 5 people on it) - she states I will not be offered the position as they felt I was "too anxious" for the position because I mentioned knowing someone on the panel who tells them he did not work where I knew him from but he DID but mostly because I sent a thank you note to the hiring director on the panel and they all thought it was "too aggressive." ALL the note said was I appreciated his time as well as the others and looked forward to hearing from him one a decision was made. THAT WAS IT.

All I can think of is the former coworker has an issue w/me - though I can't imagine what because we worked together well, never had a problem..but after this I will never send another thank you note for an interview again. Though it may have worked for some of you, for me, it most definitely did not.

[OCNRN63, RN]

Thank you notes are now taught as standard and expected etiquette. In our senior nursing course, we had an assignment that required us to create a resume, cover letter, and post-interview thank you note. I made sure I had thank you notes in the mail the same day, right after each interview. I figured it might take an extra day for mail to navigate through a hospital's mail system.

They were taught waaayyy back when I was a student. This is nothing new.

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

I'm not positive, but she did mention it was the "pink hearts and flowers" style so if it had been a more business-like note it may not have had that effect. It's hard to imagine something as simple as a note making or breaking your chances. There are so many subjective cues people communicate (dress, tone of voice, body language, etc) during a first meeting it may have been other factors that caused the over-all creep-out, and the card was the most tangible thing she recalled.

Maybe even the fact that this is California where we tend to be less formal (so I'm told anyway :)) factored into it.

Pink hearts and flowers would add to my creep-out factor too :)

[diva rn, BSN, RN]

They were taught waaayyy back when I was a student. This is nothing new.

Exactly, It's certainly been ongoing for the last 20 years...I was very surprised at the former poster who said she/he had not heard of it until this thread...

I thought it was pretty much standard operating procedure and proper etiquette. When I was in the process of hiring someone, a thank you, definitely gave them an edge.

[Pug RN]

I'm a nurse with 14 years experience and glowing recommendations. I recently did not get a job I interviewed for because I was "too friendly." WTH? I think sometimes they have to try and substantiate a reason for not hiring someone who meets and exceeds all of the qualifications.

[AJPV]

I guess they don't realize they would sound a lot more competent just saying "There were many qualified candidates..." instead of making up a a stupid non-reason for not hiring you.