How to Follow Up After an Interview

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I think that Turner of NJ has some rational points (some good, large portion horrible). Having said that I surmise it is tailored to his/her own experience. I am not sure the poster is referring to a true profession....not a 'job'.
I truly believe if a few hundred applicants applied and three applicants got interviewed, a thank you note is in order. Not just in order, OBLIGATORY.

Mrs. K of OH 12:01AM July 15, 2011

It really does not matter whether or not the interviewer calls back or follows up, the thank you note is about you. It is a reflection of your character and your own personal integrity. I have been on both sides of the fence and when I was the interviewer I made it a point to call all the folks who had interviewed who were not hired. I checked with my Hr folks to make sure what I could and could not say and tried to give them honest feedback. It says a lot about the company or organization. As the interviewee I have always sent thank you notes. Not because I want to impress them, be but quick simply because it is good etiquette. Why should I stoop down to being rude and doing the same thing we are admonishing so many hiring managers for doing? Why should I ignore my own values.

Swimming against the tide of TN 9:41AM May 13, 2011

... you are an idiot

joey buttafuoco of NY 7:08PM October 28, 2010

Thank you notes are not needed as between 80-90% of applicants do not send thank you notes because they are cognizant the practice is sophomoric and very unprofessional. The hiring managers should be thankful that applicants spend their time researching and preparing for the interviews then do the intervire. The interviewer is being paid to do this job plus when very unprofessional hiring managers do not send the thank you note to the applicant that is not only bad manners it is a major PR blunder. Applicants get it but job experts and hiring mangers who need to validate their jobs expect it and let them wait. A real professional job manager will instruct the applicant thanks for coming in, thanks for the interest in the company, and do not wate your time on thank you notes because the interviewer is too busy interviewing and does not appreciate being payronized. Most professional interviewers would delete these emails or immediately toss any letter involved in this silly process.
How about instead of this nebulous process have hiring managers make sure the new hires are training properly and the current staff is up to date on new training processes. Expecting thank you notes for a job they are paid to do reflects a major waste of time and is actually an insult to the applicants. Start treating people with respect and quit playing games during the interview. Also, if the interviewer decides the applicant is not viable for the job be adult enough to alert that person before they leave the interview the process will not go forward after the interview. Most profesional interviewers already know after the first 15 minutes if there is further interest and if not everybody cut their loses and end on an honest note. The applicant will leave without any expectations and the interviewer will not have to play the lying game of we will be back in touch when they know normally they will not. This is the professional approach and more adult way of dealing with applicants plus the job manager is not damaging the PR of his employer. This is another reason for not sending a thank you note plus it is a case of wasted productivity by the hiring manager looking at these notes and deciding who is sending these or not.

Turner of NJ 10:55PM September 04, 2010

I have been to at least 4 interviews with HR reps and 2 pre-interviews with employment agencies in the past 4 months. Most of the discussions seemed to go well and a few of the positions appealed to me. I asked about the time lines for hiring, and requested that the interviewer or HR rep contact me with any feedback relative to their decisions. I sent thank you notes and follow-ups by e-mail. Despite my best efforts I have been totally ignored, I have heard nothing from the hiring agencies or the HR reps. I truly believe these people make a decision and then completely dismiss those who were not selected. I am beginning to believe that people in hiring positions are unfeeling towards those of us who have lost work through no fault of our own. I can only hope they are in this position in the future and they get to feel the pain of rejection w/o explanation. Maybe it will make them better suited for their jobs.

Curtis Berndt of IN 12:37PM July 20, 2010

I had an interview Thursday and now it is Monday. During my interview I made sure to ask what to expect after the interview and how they will go about to informing their candidates of their decisions. The interviewer told me to wait sometime Monday for a call if they do decide to offer me the position. So here is why I am a little nerved out. Interview was Thursday and it went extrememly well, I even got to meet the staff and shadowed a few people after my interview. The interviewer told me her day off was Friday and so if she does not get in touch with her interview partner and touch bases on their notes, then they will get together Monday and make a decision then. It is now 1:18pm Monday. Should I make a call? I really don't want to sound pushy or desperate. When I call what should I say?

so anxious of MD 1:19PM April 19, 2010

well i applied for a job. I was told that after 200 applicants round 3 would be the top 3-4 applicants. i made it to round 3 on a tuesday. during that interview they stated they would contact me by that friday...that was two weeks ago. i called the hr rep a week later due to him being out of town. I asked her assistant to have her call me back - i haven't heard from her. i REALLY want this job but don't want to be a pest but want to know what is going on. any suggestions?

chris of TX 5:34PM June 23, 2009

I Am New To the Job Searching Market Since I have Been in in Florida for 15 years and have had a job: Now everything is so different from the way we use to look for jobs most everything is done on the computer or at the best Networking seems to be the way to get a job. It is who you know in a lot of cases.......Rule of thumb Don't wait for a employer to phone you back no matter how well you think a interview went. There are so many applicants out there and its just all in the company's hands, at this time we hold no cards with an ace
in it. You went on two interviews with the same Company and that's Great But with company's not even getting back to interviewers ( RUDE ) and other hoops they run you thru to pick the best person its scary out there. I have gone through some of my own . JUST KEEP going don't wait for them to call you, move forward keep sending out resumes Keep going on interviews till the phone rings and the person on the other end says you have the position
It will Happen and it will be possible a better job then maybe what you are waiting on now
and if that other company calls you I hope you have that better job so you can say IM SORRY I HAVE TAKEN a BETTER POSITION.

Dee of FL 11:59PM March 20, 2009

who cares what ur major is to the above commentator
i am nuclear engineer from mit
so big deal ?

jason of NE 10:20AM February 26, 2009

Hi all, after bumping into this web site and reading all the posts,I decided to share my job hunting experience. Last week I sent my CV to a company and had an immediate response. I've had 2 interviews by Friday already. During the 2nd one, I met the owner of the company, the HR manager, and even their accountant as I was told they were interested in me and gave me 1 month of probation before the full-time job. I agreed. I did send the a you e-mail to all the interviewers on the same day when my 2nd interview was. Nevertheless, I have not heard from them this week at all! I also sent an email asking politely about their timeline and when I may hear from them. Still..nothing. isn't it weird?!
And one things, the company islocated in Italy.

Anna of DC 5:48AM January 21, 2009