No follow-up/thank you email? UPDATE in comments.

climbingsingle · January 2015

I interviewed two women on Friday, and I really liked them both. They were the front runners. However, I have not yet received a thank you email or call from either of them. I'm going to give it until the end of the day, but I'm really disappointed. Should I even waste my time bringing them in for second interviews?

LindseyL17 · January 2015

I think that's really harsh. I'm all for etiquette but it's 1) only the beginning of the work week and 2) is that your company policy? I think it's a petty thing if you thought they would be great prior to this.

kat1114 · January 2015

I've sent hand written thank you notes before, so maybe they did the same thing and the notes will arrive today? I do think it's really shitty to not follow up after an interview, especially if you are really interested in the job.

Maybe bring them in for a second interview but really press them to gauge how much they want the job?

climbingsingle · January 2015

LindseyL17 said:

I think that's really harsh. I'm all for etiquette but it's 1) only the beginning of the work week and 2) is that your company policy? I think it's a petty thing if you thought they would be great prior to this.

It's pretty common to follow up with the person that interviewed you if you're interested in the job. I've interviewed many times in my adult life, and I always followed up afterwards, usually the same day. Literally every other person I interviewed called or emailed me to thank me.

wandajune6 · January 2015

We actually had this come up at work recently. We're staffing up and were choosing between 2 candidates for a position. The person who wrote the thank you note had a notable advantage.

I'd give it until the end of the day. 2 business days is in my range of acceptable, though the weekend doesn't make me enthusiastic.

emmaaa · January 2015

I'd give it a few days. When I was in college, my professors actually recommended to wait at least a full day if not 2 to send a follow up email.

Now that I see your reaction, I may follow up quicker in the future.

theartistformerlyknownas · January 2015

I've interviewed at least 30 people over the years and only gotten 1 follow up email. Never a written letter. I don't think it's as common as you think.

morewineplease · January 2015

I have to say I have only ever gotten one from someone I interviewed, and i have done more interviews than I can count. I don't think everyone knows this is a thing. It is not something I think people in the government expect (Most of my work knowledge comes from government experience.)

climbingsingle · January 2015

lolo883 said:

I've interviewed at least 30 people over the years and only gotten 1 follow up email. Never a written letter. I don't think it's as common as you think.

You may be right. I've just always received follow up in the past, maybe I've just gotten used to it?

I'm still on the fence. I really did like both women. I guess I just feel that maybe neither of them are interested in the position.

maeday2 · January 2015

lolo883 said:

I've interviewed at least 30 people over the years and only gotten 1 follow up email. Never a written letter. I don't think it's as common as you think.

I'd have to agree. I've always sent one thinking it's a courtesy that sets me ahead of the other candidates.

I would give them another whole business day, at least.

littlemushroom · January 2015

More recently I have seen the advice NOT to send a thank you for an interview. Hiring managers generally don't have a lot of time and they know the candidate was interested because they interviewed. It can come across as pushy, like the interviewer would have forgotten about what went on in the interview already. Basically, the ball is in the the employer's court after the interview.

It would be very silly to write off two good candidates based on not receiving a thank you for the interview. Especially considering it has not even been an entire business day since the interview.

climbingsingle · January 2015

What's really interesting was that when I was talking about this at dinner with my best friends, they all were shocked that I hadn't received a follow up. Two of my friends said not to waste my time doing a second interview.

I really do think they are both very capable women, and I ended the interviews thinking that both of them would be valuable to our company. My main concern was that they both not really interested.

maeday2 · January 2015

The different interpretations of this are really interesting to me. I'll be in the job hunt soon, so I'm definitely taking notes on the different opinions.

I can see why you'd be hesitant just based on your assistant quitting without notice and I know you mentioned her excessive days out of the office. I think any employer would want to be adequately convinced that a candidate really wants the job.

climbingsingle · January 2015

maeday2 said:

The different interpretations of this are really interesting to me. I'll be in the job hunt soon, so I'm definitely taking notes on the different opinions.

I can see why you'd be hesitant just based on your assistant quitting without notice and I know you mentioned her excessive days out of the office. I think any employer would want to be adequately convinced that a candidate really wants the job.

You've really hit the nail on the head. After what my assistant did, I feel an enormous amount of pressure to hire the right person. I invested a lot of my time training her, only for her to leave with no notice. And now I have to start that process all over again.

jenna8984 · January 2015

lolo883 said:

I've interviewed at least 30 people over the years and only gotten 1 follow up email. Never a written letter. I don't think it's as common as you think.

Weird. Maybe it's different industries but in mine it's VERY common to do a thank you email within the day that you interviewed. Just a short email that not only thanks them for their time, but also says "Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may still have" and express interest in the job. It's not a given that the person is interested just because they interviewed. I have left interviews and said to myself "that place fucking sucks, I definitely don't want that job". In which case, no email back would portray that.

But I'm always shocked hearing about interviews of friends. My best friend said she doesn't own a suit and wears a cardigan to interviews. In my industry/ positions I'd be shown the exit immediatly if I didn't walk in wearing a suit.

It's possible that they have never been taught this practice by school/ career centers/ recruiters. So if they are truly qualified, I wouldn't write them off because of it.

NowIAmSyp · January 2015

I bet you get something from one- if not both- of them today. If it was me interviewing, and I just had the interview on Friday, I would have waited until today too to send a thank you email- just to give you some time to breathe and digest.

Keep us posted- and good luck with the hunt!

[Deleted User] · January 2015

While as a candidate, I think it's the right thing to do, and good etiquette, I don't think I'd 100% use it as a reason to count someone out. I take into account if they'd had a very stead job history (like only being at one company), they might not be accustomed to some of those things that seem common sense to you and I.

I screen/interview people daily as a recruiter, and I'd say about half send me a thank you email. Occasionally do get a handwritten note. Not quite the same as someone who is a hiring manager. I will agree that sending a thank you does give someone an advantage.

Maybe if you don't hear from them today, call them and assess how they are feeling about the role, and if they are still interested, set them up for a 2nd round interview. If someone else is going to be involved in the 2nd round, maybe also have them dig a little deeper about why they are interested, what type of work environment they like, what their ideal boss would be like. That might help assess if it would be a good fit for the job/you/work environment.

huskypuppy14 · January 2015

I interview a lot of people at work, and I would say about half give a follow up email. Actually, in my company the thank you email does nothing really. Yeah, it's nice but it could hurt you too. We got one riddled with spelling errors; some sent to everyone on one email.

If we like you a lot, you'll be asked back, note or no note. I definitely wouldn't write them off just because they didn't send a thank you note.

@jenna8984 I've only worn a suit to interviews when I was just out of college. I'm in science, so a nice sweater and black pants do just fine. I've been at the same company for 7 years though, so I haven't interviewed for a position in a long time.

theartistformerlyknownas · January 2015

jenna8984 said:

lolo883 said:

I've interviewed at least 30 people over the years and only gotten 1 follow up email. Never a written letter. I don't think it's as common as you think.

Weird. Maybe it's different industries but in mine it's VERY common to do a thank you email within the day that you interviewed. Just a short email that not only thanks them for their time, but also says "Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may still have" and express interest in the job. It's not a given that the person is interested just because they interviewed. I have left interviews and said to myself "that place fucking sucks, I definitely don't want that job". In which case, no email back would portray that.
But I'm always shocked hearing about interviews of friends. My best friend said she doesn't own a suit and wears a cardigan to interviews. In my industry/ positions I'd be shown the exit immediatly if I didn't walk in wearing a suit.
It's possible that they have never been taught this practice by school/ career centers/ recruiters. So if they are truly qualified, I wouldn't write them off because of it.

Honestly the one letter I did get, my counterpart looked over at me, rolled his eyes, and said "desperate much?" So the letter didn't help. And to the bolded - I would always feel free to contact an applicant with questions; they applied for the job and gave me their contact info already for that purpose. I feel like it's stating the obvious. It's like how you're not supposed to put "references available upon request" on your resume - it's assumed that you'll give references if asked, and if you don't you'll get an express ticket to the "no" pile. Same with a super obvious objective line on the resume - "to obtain a position in bla bla field/industry/company." Well duh. Use that space/second I spend reading for something more valuable.

larrygaga · January 2015

See, I just went through this hiring process and I only send followed up thank yous when I really felt like I had the chance. I had many interviews where I could tell I wouldn't be considered or I was just there so they could have their interview quota. So many employers are just assholes to interviewees. They won't call when they say they will, they are an hour late to the interview, they lie about the job or salary. The two offers I did end up getting I send thank you notes for. Maybe your new hires feel the same way. It's so obnoxious to be polite to people who are total dicks. Not saying you are, but they have seen it too much.

Also, if they are young, they don't really teach follow up thank yous in school anymore. At least, I had no idea you were supposed to do it until I read it in an article online. Called my mom for confirmation.

I would give them a chance. But I was just on the other side of this, so I'm totally biased.

novella1186 · January 2015

The first job I got when I moved to this town, my recruiter called me as soon as she knew the interview would be over and told me not to forget to send a thank-you e-mail ASAP. I felt like it was a pretty common thing to do.

In the position I'm in now, I've only had to interview 1 person so far (and she was NUTS) and she sent me a thank-you e-mail within a couple days. But the e-mail was also nuts. She did not get the job.

climbingsingle · January 2015

YOU GUYS!! One of the women just emailed me!!!!!!!

She said that she's very interested and thinks she'd be a great fit.

ahyatt87 · January 2015

I've never sent a thank you note/email to a recruiter. It does not mean I'm not interested, it just a) never occured to me b) did not feel appropriate. I also was responsible in one of my previous jobs for advertising positions, vetting candidates, and performing interviews. I think only one (who was under qualified) contacted me, but that was only to ask if she would be getting an interview. Yeah, no.

If you liked them and they are both well qualified, I would not be so quick to dismiss them.

NowIAmSyp · January 2015

climbingwife said:

YOU GUYS!! One of the women just emailed me!!!!!!!

She said that she's very interested and thinks she'd be a great fit.

SEE??

knew it!

emmaaa · January 2015

climbingwife said:

YOU GUYS!! One of the women just emailed me!!!!!!!

She said that she's very interested and thinks she'd be a great fit.

Awesome! I think some people like to wait a couple of days so they don't seem too desperate.

pinkcow13 · January 2015

I wonder if it depends on the industry? I always send a Thank You email. I was also taught to do this in school, including business school. They way I see it, unless I come off as needy and obnoxious, it cannot hurt. And if it is down to 2 candidates, and we have the same qualifications, and the manager is torn about us 2, maybe the note will give me that slight edge over the other applicant who may not have sent one.

Glad to hear you got one, though! I always send it soon after my interview, because if I wait, I will forget. In my company it is the norm to send them, and for managers to receive them.

novella1186 · January 2015

ahyatt87 said:

I've never sent a thank you note/email to a recruiter. It does not mean I'm not interested, it just a) never occured to me b) did not feel appropriate. I also was responsible in one of my previous jobs for advertising positions, vetting candidates, and performing interviews. I think only one (who was under qualified) contacted me, but that was only to ask if she would be getting an interview. Yeah, no.

If you liked them and they are both well qualified, I would not be so quick to dismiss them.

Is this a response to my post? Because I didn't say I sent a thank-you to a recruiter. I said my recruiter advised me right away to send a thank-you to the person I had interviewed with.

If this is not a response to my post, then just ignore me :P I haven't had my caffeine yet so I could be way off

climbingsingle · January 2015

novella1186 said:

ahyatt87 said:

I've never sent a thank you note/email to a recruiter. It does not mean I'm not interested, it just a) never occured to me b) did not feel appropriate. I also was responsible in one of my previous jobs for advertising positions, vetting candidates, and performing interviews. I think only one (who was under qualified) contacted me, but that was only to ask if she would be getting an interview. Yeah, no.

If you liked them and they are both well qualified, I would not be so quick to dismiss them.

Is this a response to my post? Because I didn't say I sent a thank-you to a recruiter. I said my recruiter advised me right away to send a thank-you to the person I had interviewed with.

If this is not a response to my post, then just ignore me :P I haven't had my caffeine yet so I could be way off

Also, I'm not a recruiter. I'm interviewing and then hiring someone that will work directly for me. I do make that clear in every interview.

ShesSoCold · January 2015

I agree with a lot of PPs - I wouldn't follow-up immediately after an interview; I would wait until the following business day like one of the candidates did.

Also, I agree with Jenna 100%. My company just hired a new person. Only one person wore a suit to the interview. They hired a girl wearing leggings, a tank top and an open sweater that wasn't even long enough to cover her ass. I was dumbfounded.

ahyatt87 · January 2015

climbingwife said:

novella1186 said:

ahyatt87 said:

I've never sent a thank you note/email to a recruiter. It does not mean I'm not interested, it just a) never occured to me b) did not feel appropriate. I also was responsible in one of my previous jobs for advertising positions, vetting candidates, and performing interviews. I think only one (who was under qualified) contacted me, but that was only to ask if she would be getting an interview. Yeah, no.

If you liked them and they are both well qualified, I would not be so quick to dismiss them.

Is this a response to my post? Because I didn't say I sent a thank-you to a recruiter. I said my recruiter advised me right away to send a thank-you to the person I had interviewed with.

If this is not a response to my post, then just ignore me :P I haven't had my caffeine yet so I could be way off

Also, I'm not a recruiter. I'm interviewing and then hiring someone that will work directly for me. I do make that clear in every interview.

Nope, not a response to novella, and I should clearly finish my tea before knotting. By recruiter I met someone who is interesting in hiring someone, which is probably not the right term. I have only once been preliminarily interviewed by someone other than the person/boss I would be working for. It may just be my field, but thank yous don't seem to be the norm in my industry.

I'm glad one of the candidates did contact you climbing

anjemon · January 2015

Honestly, I never sent a follow-up email until my last interview. It just wasn't something that was stressed when I was learning about job hunting in college. But when I was interviewing for my current job, my recruiter stressed writing a follow-up email to the company. So I did send a quick one, but I never would have if he hadn't suggested it.

I also have always shown up in a nice sweater or cardigan for interviews. Different fields are sometimes so different in what is expected.

No follow-up/thank you email? UPDATE in comments.

Re: No follow-up/thank you email? UPDATE in comments.

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