If you were a hiring manager and someone sent you a thank you emaik

[user1474645485]

...after an interview. What would be your reaction.

If you met someone who had the experience and qualifications for the job but simply didn't perform well in interview due to nerves and it being their first professional job interview, and subsequently didn't get the position. Then sent an email after the interview thanking you and the other interviewer for interviewing them, saying they were glad we managed to find a suitable candidate and could he have feedback as he genuinely wanted to work for our team in the future and would like to improve. It was a fairly long email, about 300 words. I've never heard of someone thanking someone for an interview they were rejected for in this way. The person only spoke briefly on the phone when told he had not been successful and spoke only to say he was disappointed and unfortunely nervous on he day.

The person found the email address from a colleague who once worked at the company and the email wasn't given out at any stage of the process.

Would you be put off or would you be impressed?

[S1lentAllTheseYears]

Sounds like he realised he didn't sell himself in the interview and was trying to make up for it in the email.

Making himself known to you and sounding out whether it's worth applying again in future.

Not unreasonable imho.

[SusanneLinder]

My employer automatically gives feedback if you don't get a job. I think its a great idea actually. Maybe 300 words is too long, but how are applicants going to know where they went wrong if they don't ask

[MuseumOfCurry]

I'm American and was always taught in business school (and elsewhere) that you always send a thank you note post-interview.

I agree 300 words is far too long, this would serve only to inform the interviewer that the candidate had no economy of words - bad. Otherwise I'd be impressed.

[DoreenLethal]

It was a fairly long email, about 300 words

how did it scan? If it was long and droney then I would probably just give the feedback. If it was light, seemed genuine and really impressed you I'd file them under 'potential' and save myself a few bob by contacting them if I had any extra work for them.

[TheProblemOfSusan]

Thank you emails after interview are definitely an American thing that's not done here - I'd think it was a bit odd if I got one and it wasn't from an American or overseas candidate, and it wouldn't make a difference either way unless it was somehow rude or inappropriate.

But feedback requests dressed up with "thank you for the interview" we get a lot, and we do respond with as useful feedback as we can manage. It won't be detailed and is usually "someone else was stronger in XYZ but we liked your ABC experience and you could improve in area F.

We often have to turn down appointable candidates because someone else is a bit better, which is awkward.

[WhisperingLoudly]

There was a big discussion on MN recently about thank you letters after interviews and people had mixed views.

I've never sent nor received a thank you letter but I understand from my American colleagues this is extremely common and considered basic manners. Harvard Business Review also touched on subject recently and it seems it's a growing phenomenon.

The more senior I get the more I think interviews are a total waste of time: a candidates CV tells me whether they are appropriately qualified/experienced and then I just want to know if they're a good fit - I don't need a load of STAR bollocks that can be easily rehearsed and regurgitated. Good performance in interview is not necessarily a good indicator of future workplace performance

[exLtEveDallas]

We've just done a sift for interviews at work. 42 people applied for one post. We sifted 4 people to be interviewed and I sent a generic "I'm sorry but you will not be called for interview" email out to the rest.

I had one person email me back and thank me for letting them know, and one other email to ask if I had any suggestions for them to improve their application.

When one person dropped out of the interview process I immediately thought of those two individuals, and have since added them to the pile! So in their case it was a good thing to do. (I hasten to add that both were 'only just' sifted out - if their applications had been terrible nothing would have changed our minds)

[TheDuckSaysMoo]

Damsel, I think this is normal too - with a couple of lines reminding them of why I am perfect.

[LittleLionMansMummy]

I'm always genuinely impressed by anyone who shows politeness and a genuine desire to improve. It wouldn't be enough to give them a second chance for the same job, but I might consider contacting them for other suitable roles and see if they took the feedback on board.

[Damselindestress]

Request for feedback is normal but I have had an email straight after the interview thanking me (before we had decided) and I found that a bit weird.

Oh dear, I've done that before. I thought it was standard to thank the interviewer for their time and consideration. I saw it on a site about interview etiquette but maybe the site was American and it's not the done thing here? I hope no one thought I was being weird and pushy!

[Pisssssedofff]

I like the imitative of hunting down the email address too

[KimmySchmidtsSmile]

I'd be impressed, give proper tips for the criteria missed (especially if box ticking) and keep them in mind for future vacancies.

[Bubblebloodypop]

I'd be impressed too. I'm rooting for him to get the job now.

[dahliaaa]

Very standard in my line of work. I would give them helpful constructive advice.

[DoNotBlameMeIVotedRemain]

Is the position filled? Could you invite him back for second interview? Or you could say you will keep him on file if another suitable post crops up.

[HellsBellsnBucketsofBlood]

I send thank you'd after interviews. It's only polite since they took the time to see me.

But he would like some feedback too.

[mrszc]

So you're going to employ him?

[alltouchedout]

I'd think they were American tbh

[GahBuggerit]

i got my dream job by doing this.

find it odd to not want feedback to see where you may have gone wrong for the next interview but each to their own

[ClopySow]

I'd be very impressed

[alfagirl73]

I'd definitely be impressed - shows that the person really wants to work there and is willing to put in effort to do so. Also shows initiative, professionalism and motivation.

[topcat2014]

I don't really get this desire for feedback. If I don't get the job, my response is (to myself) fuck 'em - and I therefore no longer value their opinion.

maybe that's just me

[chinam]

That's great. We all need to get a start somewhere.

[user1474645485]

It seemed more like a thank you
Note rather than a feedback request. I was super impressed. I'm ready to
Give this guy another chance

[rollonthesummer]

Are you the interviewer or interviewee?