Thank you card after interview?

Bababooey · May 9, 2011

It can only help your chances. There are several threads on these forums that give great suggestions on writing a hand-written thank you note. I used the hospital's stationary and wrote a note thanking the manager for taking the time to speak to me, and telling her why I wanted to work on her unit and why I think I would be an asset to her team. Keep in short and to the point. I hand-delivered it several days after our meeting but most say to do it within 24 hrs. Use snail mail if the facility is not local, just get manager's name, unit, and address of facility. I don't think an email will leave as lasting of an impression but it's better than nothing.

Misskala · May 10, 2011

I send emails. I did some research on "job hunting" websites, and it seems acceptable to use email nowadays, we are so techno driven. Make sure you have a professional sounding email address, no "powderpuff at yahoo dot com, ya know! I was given the business cards from the hiring managers who interviewed me, and that is how I got their email addresses. Go for it! I think a note, either way, is a great touch!

ICUSkeenRN · May 13, 2011

Absolutely! My Unit director said he hired one person JUST BECAUSE she was persistant. She sent him a thank-you card, a Christmas card, and a New Year's card. By January, she was working with us

senseiRN · May 17, 2011

Really? I feel weird writing a thank you note via e-mail. It seems insincere. Has it worked for you? Do they reply back?

hiddencatRN, BSN, RN · May 17, 2011

I've done both note and email. Email when time is of the essence and I think it should get there ASAP, otherwise handwritten. Address is usually the hospital's address with ATTN: Interviewer, Department.

haunani, BSN, RN · May 20, 2011

I ALWAYS send a thank you card, preferably hand-written (if you have deplorably messy handwriting or it's a highly competitive position, I'd do e-mail).

A thank you card does a few things...

-it lets them know you're really interested in the job

-it lets them know you are diligent and pay attention to details

-it keeps your name and details in the forefront of their mind (which is why you include specific details of the interview in the thank you note)

I sent a thank you card to each of the 3 people I interviewed with for my job: the HR recruiter (1st interview) and each of the unit managers individually (2nd interview - conference call). In my case it was more of a thoughtful action, as they made me the job offer before I could even get them written, but I still wanted to follow through.

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · May 21, 2011

I have had 3 hiring managers say Thank You cards (not email) sealed the deal with a candidate.

meemer · May 21, 2011

Definitely send a handwritten card the same day or the day after your interview. I sent a nice looking card the same day of my panel interview. When I went in for a follow up interview with the manager I saw the card I sent in her office and I got the job. It's just too easy to delete an email or throw away a letter on plain paper. Send something memorable.

carlyfry · May 22, 2011

I'm 99% sure I got my new grad position because I hand delievered my thank you card to the interviewer. If you can't hand deliver, I suggest mailing it. A hand written thank you card is a way to ensure that the interviewer does not forget you. Good luck!

llg, PhD, RN · May 22, 2011

I agree that a hand-written note is best in most cases (mailed the same day as the interview). However, I personally don't mind receiving them via e-mail. I communicate with applicants, etc. via e-mail all the time and it is a route that can get the message there fast when time is of the essence.

E-mail also makes it easier to "continue the conversation" than snail mail. For example, you can ask a question in an e-mail ... that stimulates the hiring manager to respond back ... You can then send another message to thank them for their response. etc. You don't want to become a pest, but sometimes, that continued conversation can help keep you in the forefront of their minds.

But either way ... definitely send a thank-you note as soon as the interview is over.

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · May 22, 2011

I just sent one after my Pre-Screening phone interview. The lady was extremely nice, had a lot of positive feedback for me and said some wonderful things about how my interview went. Another NM went to her and pulled my file for an interview already this week. (contact I had from a 3 day clinical, SCORE!) but the HR lady that did my pre-screening said if for whatever reason, I don't get the job I am interviewing for on Tuesday, that she will get me some interviews set up with the nursing panel for some other units.

How could I not thank her? I haven't even met her in person.