Are you a PNM wondering what you can do to "improve your chances" at recruitment?

[KD4Me]

I do live in the South. Perhaps it is a regional thing. Our Alumnae Panhellenic does stress to PNMs that they should send thank-you notes.

As for the thank-you after job interviews, I agree that it is necessary. I was taught in college that the post-interview thank you note is a way to stand out (guess this means that everyone doesn't write them, come to think of it), reiterate your interest and enthusiasm for the job, and to clarify/minimize any of your weaknesses that you felt might be a hindrance to your obtaining the position. For that reason, I have always made sure they are in the mail pronto (next morning at latest) because I want the interviewer to see my note before the final decision is made.

If I were doing the interviewing, I wouldn't eliminate someone who didn't send a note or hire someone obviously less qualified who did, but I would think twice before hiring someone who didn't send a note. Not because I love getting thank-you notes so much, but because I have always (and continue to) hear those advising job-seekers to send post-interview notes. Seems that if someone really wants the job, that he or she will try to make the effort to stand out.

All of this discussion about thank you notes has reminded me that I have one of my own to write. I'd better get to it, right now!

[shirley1929]

Originally Posted by KD4Me

I do live in the South. Perhaps it is a regional thing. Our Alumnae Panhellenic does stress to PNMs that they should send thank-you notes.

As for the thank-you after job interviews, I agree that it is necessary. I was taught in college that the post-interview thank you note is a way to stand out (guess this means that everyone doesn't write them, come to think of it), reiterate your interest and enthusiasm for the job, and to clarify/minimize any of your weaknesses that you felt might be a hindrance to your obtaining the position. For that reason, I have always made sure they are in the mail pronto (next morning at latest) because I want the interviewer to see my note before the final decision is made.

If I were doing the interviewing, I wouldn't eliminate someone who didn't send a note or hire someone obviously less qualified who did, but I would think twice before hiring someone who didn't send a note. Not because I love getting thank-you notes so much, but because I have always (and continue to) hear those advising job-seekers to send post-interview notes. Seems that if someone really wants the job, that he or she will try to make the effort to stand out.

All of this discussion about thank you notes has reminded me that I have one of my own to write. I'd better get to it, right now!

^This.

If you want to stand out and show interest and gratitude, it's the simplest way. If I were considering two absolutely equal people for the job, one wrote a note and one didn't, the one who did would get the job. Plain and simple.

Thanks for this thread - it's interesting to see that maybe it's just a regional thing. Not that I love writing them or getting them, but it's just nice to be personally acknowledged.

[AlphaFrog]

It's not necessarily a regional thing.

I remember being taught in Illinois to send thank you notes for job interviews.

I interviewed at least 15 southerners for an Admin job here in NC - not one thank you note.


Also, my original point still stands: Yes, thank you notes are polite and SHOULD be sent, but if you're going to get pissed off about NOT getting one, then don't do the favor to begin with.

My aunt told my mom that she would only send my kids a Christmas gift if I sent her a Christmas card (I'm not at a point in my life where I'm doing Christmas cards en masse, and I'm not really all that close to many people in my family due to age difference and geography). My aunt is fairly well off and would have probably sent my children very expensive gifts. She did NOT get a Christmas card - and no, my kids didn't get gifts from her. I hate when people determine that generosity should have stipulations.

[shirley1929]

Originally Posted by BraveMaroon

I'm a Southerner, and if I interviewed 12 people, 11 didn't send me a thank you note and one did... guess who seems more interested and on the ball?

Jinx! We sent that example at the same time!

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

Also, my original point still stands: Yes, thank you notes are polite and SHOULD be sent, but if you're going to get pissed off about NOT getting one, then don't do the favor to begin with.

My aunt told my mom that she would only send my kids a Christmas gift if I sent her a Christmas card (I'm not at a point in my life where I'm doing Christmas cards en masse, and I'm not really all that close to many people in my family due to age difference and geography). My aunt is fairly well off and would have probably sent my children very expensive gifts. She did NOT get a Christmas card - and no, my kids didn't get gifts from her. I hate when people determine that generosity should have stipulations.

1) Define "pissed off"...does that mean not send the RIF? Then, yes you're right, that's dumb. Is "disappointed" ok? I'm sorry, but if I'm going out of my way to do something nice and somewhat time consuming for someone (particularly if you're asking me to do it and I didn't volunteer to do it) and you don't bother to thank me for my time, then yes...I'm disappointed. If that's also defined as "pissed off" then so be it.

2) Your aunt reminds me of a cousin...she told my sister that if she didn't get a HS graduation announcement, she wouldn't be sending a gift. Stoopid reasoning. My sister doesn't even order grad announcements because it looks like you're fishing for a gift.