Sending thank you note?

[burgy76]

Hi everyone!
I'm an American permanently settled in the U.K. and just had an interview. What is the custom for sending thank you's following an interview? In the U.S. it's custom to send a thank you letter, but I've been told in the U.K. this just isn't done.

However, in the design field it's my understanding that it's customary to send self-promos at times. I was thinking of sending a thank you card (with my design on it) with just a short note of thanks. Nothing too time consuming to read, not too pushy American but wanted to be more memorable and make the gesture.

I am worried I may have completely screwed this interview up, though, I just showed them my portfolio that is on my website, I haven't used a print portfolio (or done interviews) in a very long time, been trying to get off the freelance merry go round and my book is gunked up and back in the states. I feel very stupid, should have known better, but they really like my work so who knows.

So, yes to a thank you card? And is all hope lost because I went digital? (If nothing else now I know to get to the store and buy another book...)

[Paul Murray]

I know a lot of people find a quick email is sufficient, just a quick 'thanks for your time' sort of thing.

A card is a nice touch but could be seen as a bit over the top (or desperate). Plus, as it's posted it's probably just going to end up in a pile on someone's desk (possibly not even the person who interviewed you) who will open it at a later time as our postal service can shut down in the event of a freak snow storm or postal strike.

[Boss Hog]

Yeah too desperate, an e-mail would suffice.

...or a bunch of roses

[burgy76]

I might just have to nix it then, I don't have the direct email address of the person who interviewed me, just the agency email. Should I send one to the general inquiries email, or just scrap it? If I did some searching I might find it but tracking him down (for example, on linkedin) and sending something might also look weird.

Does it look bad in the UK to not send a thank you email at all?

[sthomas]

I think it's good manners to send a thank you email.

I would make the effort to try and track down your interviewer's personal email as it'll show a bit of initiative.

[Minuteman Press]

Make sure you sound upbeat - 'look forward to the next meeting' - 'all I've heard convinces me more' etc.

A good interviewer will analyse the language used in your communication - for any additional info.

[bigdave]

I would be worried that a 'Thank you for your time' email would suggest that you don't believe youre going to get the job

[sthomas]

It all depends on what you say...

An upbeat email saying that 'it was great to meet you and I look forward to hearing from you soon etc ' is fine.

[Dave L]

There's no defined etiquette around this sort of thing so you're taking a punt on the likely response of the individual you're contacting: some will think it's polite, others will see it as crawling/hassling/whatever. Also, sending a thank you note won't swing things either way in terms of your success at interview.

[Alex]

I agree, how it is received is highly dependent on the personality of the interviewer, but either way I don't think it will have any impact on whether you get the job.