Is sending a thank you note after a job interview really perceived as courteous, or is it desperate butt-kissing?

I interviewed with one company and heard nothing for about a month. I then sent a very late thank you letter and he hired me immediately. He was just waiting for the letter.

Charlie Freak wrote:

I cannot believe the Gen X kids on here - they have to be Gen Xers right? - advising not to send a thank you note. It's unbelievable how modern technology combined with laziness and an entitlement mentality has dumbed America down.

I think you mean Millenials, who are the 20-somethings looking for jobs now. Gen X'ers are in their 40s now and grew up in an era where we mailed paper resumes out. We're used to sending a letter.

jamin wrote:

I already make sure there's a polite sendoff at the end of an in-person interview. I shake the interviewers hand and tell him/her that I'm grateful they took the time to interview me and that I hope the interview was informative. My career counselor tells me that I should also take the time to write up a thank-you email or actual thank-you note when I get home. To me, that seems like it crosses the line into blatant @$$-kissing.

Can't speak for every company but at mine, it would make literally no difference. It wouldn't even be considered. Only skills would be considered.

It definitely wouldn't hurt though, and maybe if it were sent before feedback were entered, it would subconsciously influence the interviewer's feedback.

I sent a bouquet of flowers, a sing-o-gram, 12 white doves, and a brand new Porche 911 to my interviewer, along with a bottle of Petrus (1998 vintage) and a round the world cruise in a first class cabin. Pleased to say I've been flippin burgers 3 days a week ever since.

jamin wrote:My career counselor tells me that I should also take the time to write up a thank-you email or actual thank-you note when I get home. To me, that seems like it crosses the line into blatant @$$-kissing.

Nope, it's not a$$ kissing at all. It's standard operating procedure. I receive thank you notes from almost every person I interview these days. It never influences my decisions; however, I do notice when one is not sent because it occurs so routinely now. In fact, from an interviewer's point of view, the notes (especially e-mails) are a hassle because you feel obligated to respond back in kind.

honestly honest . wrote:

In fact, from an interviewer's point of view, the notes (especially e-mails) are a hassle because you feel obligated to respond back in kind.

See? This is why I never send thank you notes. It's completely redundant if you thanked the person after your interview and it actually causes the interviewer more work and hassle. Maybe people like you should consider rewarding conscientious people who prefer to not waste peoples' time rather than throwing our applications in the shredder in the case of a tie with another applicant who sent a thank you note. A thank you note has ZERO bearing on job aptitude.

Honestly, it's little things like these that make me glad that I work for myself. True, I couldn't get a decent job after college and don't make a whole lot of money but being free to work my own hours and not having to compromise my beliefs in order to fit in to some corporate bullsh*t culture makes it seem worth it sometimes.

We need more people like you.

My story.

I sent a thank you note (via email) to the wrong person. I did not send a thank you note to the person that interviewed me. I got the job.

That says to me how important they really are.

That being said, there is no harm in sending a quick email, IMHO. Most likely the've made up their mind on you within the first 5 minutes.

Fat Boy wrote:

I interviewed with one company and heard nothing for about a month. I then sent a very late thank you letter and he hired me immediately. He was just waiting for the letter.

I would not want to work for someone so petty.

That is a darned lame place to work. Just like the "biggest weakness" question.