I had a few job interviews here a year back and did send very short emails along the lines of:
"Thanks once again for the interview, yes I am still interested in the position (or thanks but no thanks in one case)..."
I don't think it will be too creepy / kiss-arsey etc as long as it is kept brief and professional. I also sent brief follow up mails where I did not hear back after a specified date.
They can show their interest during the interview. They can say thank you at the end.
Once the interview is over then the ball is in the interviewer's court. Leave them to do their job without interference.
The fact that it's now expected in some environments means that interviewers have given themselves extra work. And for what? Unless you're interviewing a "Thank You Letter Writer", then it's just another box to tick.
Of course this is merely my opinion and I'd definitely encourage sending a thank you mail/card/bouquet if it's required.
Is the person who arrange the inview an agent or work internally? either way I do not see a reason why you cannot send her an email and ask to pass it on to the interview saying "thank you".
Just keep it short and formal, with " I look forward to hearing from you". Hopefully even if you do not get the job, you should get some feedback to help you with your next job hunt!
Every time I have interviewed with someone, I always sent a brief thank you email to the person the following day (no earlier, no later). Usually though, whoever was interviewing me at the time gave me a business card during/immediately after the interview.
Brevity is key, just thank you for your time, it was nice discussing with you/meeting you, our discussion confirmed my keen interest in the position, and I look forward to hearing from you. Full stop. In my opinion, it shows continued interest and gets the ball rolling/you jump on top of the guy's list. Then, of course, I tend to agree with Caviarchips: if the fellow was already impressed by you, or if he wasn't at all impressed, the email is not going to dramatically alter the status. However, it's a nice plus.
I guess if the position is in something like sales then it could make a difference, but in a non customer facing role it just smacks of arse kissing desperation and would put me off TBH
Personally, I dont see anything wrong with a polite thank you via electronic mail - the acceptable form of communication these days - regardless of the position (whether its client facing or a backend IT support dude).
As someone quite rightly posted earlier: there is no right or wrong if you do it or not. I think we are reading too much into things - and that is a very normal reaction when it comes to a job we want.
If its within your DNA to be polite, just fire it off and let luck, fate and your performance at the interview do the rest.
You seriously imagine a situation where the director, the manager and the HR head are walking around a room scratching their heads saying "these candidates are IDENTICAL in every way....who shall we choose?" and then the blackberry pings and the manager says "Hey, I just got a thank you email from Brian. Let's take Brian because courtesy is the foundation on which this company was built. And Trevor - that talented but ignorant alternative - lets cast him onto the rejected pile! That'll teach him!"
I mean - in theory - of course it might make a difference. But I wouldn't want to work for the spineless and indecisive manager for whom such frippery would!
There are loads of misquoted stats about interviews - but the fact is that the decision TO REJECT is made very very quickly at the start of the interview, the certain decision to hire is made later, but very very rarely outside the interview setting.
My basic point is that there is a bigger chance of downside ("This dude is a stalker/creep etc" as expressed by some) than there is of an upside (your "what if it is the thing that makes the difference") so why do it?
Well that's your opinion, of course. But I'm only repeating what I was told by a frequent interviewer and it is what I would do out of my own courtesy (without going too far, obviously).
Maybe it's different in an academic/scientific setting.
Well, it might make a difference if there's a lot of competition and the thank you email separates you from the crowd. In places where it's not common, it might be even more worth it.
Speaking of good manners, welcome to the forum - pop over to Intros so we know a little bit more about you . Its lovely to have you hear and thanks so much for reading my input on this thread.
(I'm assuming my niceness will secure me some job offers this very afternoon )
Lets think rationally about this... as busy line-managers and professionals, do you really have the time to reflect about a 3 line thank you note you just received as judeo-masonic conspiracy, evidently the work of a deranged soul who spent weeks strategizing about the way to drag you - and the 3 next generations - through the mud? Do you reflect upon it and then allocate enough resources the to report the impertinent who sent you such disturbing message to HR, the Secret Police and Dan Brown? For the love of Prada, it is a thank you note - not a marriage proposal with an intricate and convoluted attached pre-nuptial agreement to it. Sincerely, I have never heard of applicants who have been discarded because the sent * gasp * a short and nice thank you note... The interviewer will read in that note what she wants to read. If she liked the applicant, she will have their first impressions reassured; if she has disliked them, she will think creep-who-is-trying-to-fool-me-what-are-they-thinking. Most of the times, the applicant is lucky if the note is read, let alone processed and answered.
Again, not right or wrong answer. Use your best judgement, as you will have to do in ambiguous contexts.
Wow, so many answers! Still dont know what to do!just some additional information: it's a legal intern position in a big company and it was a really short phone interview, because I was not in Switzerland (bad timing).They just asked me a few standard questions about my background, motivation,ideal position etc.
When you are here and get many answers with conflicting opinions, do what i do.......
I mean...
Do what I say and ignore the other crap that these idiots post and you'll be fine
Seriously, if its for an intern position, i'd do it. There isnt much risk and you might stand out. My other answers were for more established positions
Why not simply send an email to the HR person whose address you have, thank her and ask her to pass on your thanks to the other person who interviewed you ?
There is nothing to be gained from playing games or being "strategic" in the hiring process, honesty pays every time.
OK my interviewer is the head of HR and the HR person whose email address I have is not taking part in the hiring process. I think she just set up my interview. Does it still make sense to email her and thank both her and my interviewer?