Post-interview thank you notes - do you or don't you?

Nurses Job Hunt

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I was just reading an old thread here from about three years ago, when several people mentioned that they had never heard of sending post-interview thank you notes until they came here. Others are like "...wha? Of COURSE you send a thank you note!" I've always been in the "yes, always" camp, but my husband, also an RN, has never sent one (until this last job, when he was fretting about not hearing anything back yet, and I asked if you emailed the interviewer to thank him yet, and he said that was a GENIUS idea like he had never heard of it before).

For those of you who do send thank you notes, what format? In the past, I've always sent actual blank cards and just wrote a short note "Thank you for taking the time to meet with me, I really enjoyed learning about the job" type of thing. But then someone else in that old thread compared that to a post-baby shower thank you card and thought it was unprofessional. The last couple jobs I've had, I've sent thank you emails to the interviewer.

Anyway, just wondering what others do.

Specializes in Home Health.

I tried the thank you note thing for one interview. It was the weirdest thing sending it. I had already said what I needed to say after the interview, so to say it again in a stupid little card was pretty pointless. I see why some are in favor of them, but I probably won't send another one.

But... why?

If you open the gift in front of them, It stands to reason you also said something like "oh cool, thanks so much!" You're supposed to send a letter on top of that?

I look at it as: they spent time picking you out a gift and coming to whatever celebration you were having, the least you can do is spend a couple seconds jotting down a thank you note. But that's just me.

I had my interview yesterday and send a thank you email within 24 hours, and consider it a chance to ask for an in person interview and whatever else I forgot to ask during the phone interview.

With my previous job,I sent a thank you letter after a face to face interview, and been lucky to get that position.

So,there's no harm if we send this note especially when they are interviewing many applicants, this may contribute to be one factor to be considered. Just my thought.

Specializes in Cardiology, Cardiothoracic Surgical.

I haven't bothered since I got my first nursing job..mainly because the thank yous were directed to whom interviewed me (co-workers and manager).

Specializes in Home Health.

There's no harm in sending one, of course, and maybe they do help in certain cases. I didn't need thank you notes for my jobs, and it feels unnatural for me to send one, personally. So I choose not to. Again, like the above poster said, thank you's and appreciation are given during the interview. I don't see the need to reiterate the same sentiment in a cheesy note. It's obviously a personal choice whether you choose to send them or not, but I don't think they're that big in deciding whether or not you get the job.

Specializes in MICU, SICU, CICU.

Several years ago I interviewed for a position 400 miles away. I was greeted by a nurse recruiter who gave me a tour of the hospital and walked me to the unit where I was interviewed first by the manager, then by the staff nurses who had coffee and muffins. It was very nice and relaxed and I had a good vibe about that unit. When I got home, I sent notes to both the recruiter and the manager thanking them for taking the time to meet with me, and within a week I was offered the position, and with a significant relocation and sign on bonus.

If it feels forced, uncomfortable or if you think that thank you notes are cheesy, then don't write one. For some of us, it will set the tone for a cordial and professional relationship.

Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

I would definitely send one after a phone interview, owing to the fact that so much of personality or demeanor is lost with just voice contact. It could also be a way to highlight what you felt were the most well-received aspects of the phone interview.

It's a gamble. It may or may not help. It can also hurt if it's too generic. And no it's not true that it's quick and easy to write one. It takes effort, believe it or not. Thank you letter is no easy task, contrary to what others say. Any communication with employer is never easy or to be taken lightly.

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