In the past, I have sent written post interview thank you notes because, frankly, my father (a bank VP) told me that I should. With our clinic, DH and our office manager do the interviewing themselves. He does bring the resumes of their top pics home for me to review and give opinions on, since I am legally the clinic's co-owner. I occasionally see post-interview thank you notes attached. I'm always impressed that an applicant took the time to send one, but it has never tipped the scales, so to speak, as to who we eventually hire. For us, if there are 2-3 equally qualified applicants, we always go with the one we feel will get along best with the rest of the staff.

Sending along positive thoughts that this opportunity works out wonderfully for you!

The presence or absence of a thank you note, like many other mannerly gestures, would not generally be significant enough to make or break a hiring decision. However, I do think thank you notes, in paper form, are good manners and appropriate. I consider it a plus when someone sends one. But they should be very brief and sincere; ie not sales pitches masquerading as thank you notes. Two lines.

Thank you, Lynn and Mtn. After reading your responses and rethinking my
own experiences, I realized that my complaints were with the
emails that tried to squeeze in the final sales pitch. I am genuinely appreciative of their
time and consideration-- so it now feels silly to have balked at all.

And thank you, Lynn for the positive thoughts!! They are both second round interviews -- two very different positions but both great opportunities.

I am glad to hear that you are finding great opportunities. I hope the right one comes to fruition for you!

Thank you, Mtn! I appreciate it!
I was just cleaning the kitchen and laughing at myself for posting "do i send a thank you". 10 years ago I wouldn't have given it a second thought! I know better-- but this new highly connected lifestyle/workstyle has us sending emails (or worse-- texts!) for so many of the things we used to communicate via a written note, phone call or printed invitation. I am all about technology but lament the loss of the classic personal touch. I have a sister who has TWICE snubbed a family member because she sent out evites to an incorrect email address. Obviously this is unrelated to my original question ... but I am going to take this as a reminder to be more mindful of when I use email and when I use the old standard usps.

Best of luck with your job prospects!

My thoughts on thank you notes are perhaps a little different. I agree that they won't make or break the decision but I do think it's a good idea to send them. I'm fine with receiving them via email. I almost think it's quaint when I receive a handwritten thank you. That may be because I'm in a technical field though. I also like when they give it a bit of a sales pitch. Not anything long but just a sentence or two reinforcing how well they think their skills will fit in with our needs by mentioning something that came up during the interview.

Again, good luck!

Thank you all again! I, too, am in a technical field.. but I don't necessarily think that calls for an email follow up. One, unless I have been given a business card or email directly, I don't think it's appropriate to email directly-- especially to a CEO. My friend and the owner of a previous company I worked for would not hesitate to send business communications via text. I think a crazy, charismatic entrepreneur can get away with that-- a professional manager? no way.

I had two very good interviews-- nothing will move all that quickly but I think it is very likely that both will come through with offers in the next month or two. It's frustrating to have those kinds of lead times so I am going to have to work on being patient!

As for thank yous-- based on my read of the situations and the people, I will be sending two paper/snail mail thank yous and two emails. I appreciate your guidance and well wishes!

I'm in a technical field and I don't mind a thank you that is short with no sales pitch of why they think they would be a good fit. I'd rather see a thank you and showing an interest in the position such as what they liked about it. Not how they are a good fit for it. That is for us to determine.

I usually get them in e-mail form and I never give out my e-mail, but our email addresses are easy to figure out so I don't hold it against them, but I often get annoyed with the ones that point out how they are a good fit for the position after they completely bombed the interview or when it is something I completely disagree with.

I've only got one that just thanked me and described what they liked about the job opportunity and I felt very different about that one than others even though it was not a viable candidate for us.

at least in business, I think TY's are like an additional 'in conclusion' paragraph. thanking the interviewer for their time and getting your name in front of them again but also very briefly outlining why you are the best person for the position is a very good idea ... my hub has always sent them if he seriously wanted to be considered for a position... but, lol, if the person isn't a contender, I'm sure it wouldn't help at all!!

I have never sent one as a nurse, tho I would if I was seeking a higher level administrative position in a new to me organization...

it's so competitive out there that I can't see how getting your name in front of them again would do anything but help you... even college admissions officials will tell the kids that the more times their name is recorded in visiting and contacting the office in different ways helps a qualified candidate because it shows real interest...

Personally, I think a well composed email is acceptable. I like snail mail simply because it takes a great deal more effort, and that makes it seems more genuine.

I don't work in the actual business world, but I find these answers interesting. All seem to agree to send the TY's yet none actually said that it was this TY that tipped the scale in anyway.

I have done interviewing in the past. In my experience, my mind was usually made up within the first five minutes.

Ellendi a thank you note has never swayed us either. We know at the end of the day what the team thought and even if we are on the fence about somebody the thank you wouldn't make a difference.

The only thing I can think of where it would make a difference would be if we had 2 really great candidates and couldn't decide which to pick, then a thank you may sway it just because the person is showing an interest in the position and seems like a more likely candidate to accept the position. This have yet to happen since I've been part of interviewing people for the last 10 years.

I don't think it is ever a mistake to be gracious. I understand that a thank-you note to a company after an interview is considered good business etiquette.

I always wrote them, unless I knew I didn't want the job after the interview. Then I sent an email saying thanks for the interview but the job is not for me (politely). Never burn bridges.

We have taught our kids to send thank-you notes after an interview. We taught our kids to do so as part of teaching them good manners and as carolb pointed out, being gracious. Even if they don't get the job it's part of building a relationship that may be forged in the future. They do send them by e-mail because that is how, being young men in their 20's, all of the employment communication occurs. They find the jobs through the internet, appointments are set up through e-mail, resumes are forwarded through e-mail. They don't even speak to anyone until the actual interview. Not like in my day.

Our older son is in the same field as my DH and when DS was first looking to get into the field and then job-hunting, my DH would set him up with coffee-dates with some of the people that he knew. DH travels in the CEO circles of his field while DS travels in the peon level of the same field but the CEO's would always take the time to talk to DS. Those meetings warranted a "thank-you for your time" phone call.