Follow-up / Thank you emails, are they necessary?

I've noticed alot of people recommending to send out these after interviews, but honestly I feel as though they appear to be a shallow attempt at trying to get employers to notice you more and just makes you look like a try hard. Thoughts?

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Comments

MSP-IT

I had the exact same feeling. I changed my mind and didn't make it an attempt to suck up or kiss ass, I made a formal thank you, expressing my genuine interest in the position and leaving it at that. I try avoid talking myself up/recapping what we went over in the interview.

That being said, I do think it's a valuable part of the interview process.

Danielm7

sparten wrote: »

attempt at trying to get employers to notice you more and just makes you look like a try hard.

I think that is exactly what they are going for, get noticed more and look like they actually care about the potential job.

sparten

I do care and I feel like I've already showed gratitude, interest and enthusiasm in-person and during the interview process. Why do I need to write a pointless thank you letter if I've said all that was needed in-person? Maybe its just me, but it just seems like it would be totally out of character and make me look like I'm trying to be a kiss-ass.

chrisone

I used to do it when I first started out 10 years ago. I didnt do it back in 09 when I went job hunting. Like many people said here, you showed enough interest and gratitude for being interviewed. If someone doesnt hire you , another company will. I doubt they even read those emails in the first place.

olaHalo

Small things often count.

I interviewed for a position awhile ago and did not get it.
I sent a thank you email and kept emailing the interviewer maybe once every few months.
Just being completely generic and telling him I am still interested if something ever pops up.

He called me in for another interview and I got the job.
Squeaky wheel gets the grease I suppose.

Akaricloud

You'll get mixed results but it's never going to hurt you to send one. A couple of the places I've worked really put a lot of importance on these letters, especially when physically sent.

With that said: Every position I've had is one that I never sent a thank you letter to. Small things can count when it's a tough decision for them but if you''re clearly the top candidate it won't matter.

NetworkVeteran

sparten wrote: »

I feel as though they appear to be a shallow attempt at trying to get employers to notice you.. Thoughts?

In answer to the thread title, they certainly aren't a necessity. I try to only send thank-you notes when I am genuinely thankful, which makes it easy to say something sincere and personal rather than shallow and generic.

sparten

NetworkVeteran wrote: »

In answer to the thread title, they certainly aren't a necessity. I try to only send thank-you notes when I am genuinely thankful, which makes it easy to say something sincere and personal rather than shallow and generic.

yeah exactly. Well in email exchanges and conversation Ive simply end with "thanks" to show that Ive appreciated their time or whatever. An entire email dedicated for showing gratitude seems pointless though loll....