I have a hard & fast rule for whenever I’m in a hiring position. No thank you notes or follow up? No offer. It’s a bit old school, but I’ve held fast to it, even when I really liked a candidate.
In my position, both in a direct hiring capacity, as well as facilitating dozens of interviews per week for roles of all levels with my clients, I’ve noticed a disheartening trend lately: fewer and fewer thank you notes after interviews. More often, candidates are just staying silent once that interview process concludes. I’ve found myself wondering if thank you notes are quietly becoming a thing of the past.
To be clear, this isn’t meant to be a complaint or a critique of today’s job seekers, just an observation. Hiring has changed, communication has changed, expectations have changed. What was once considered standard etiquette may not feel quite as standard anymore.
In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if many candidates have been told not to overthink it. After all, if you performed well in the interview, shouldn’t that be what matters most? A thank you note alone isn’t going to land you the job. Strong experience, relevant skills, interview performance, and overall fit will always carry significantly more weight. However, it’s still my belief that a follow up note should be the professional next step to showcase your interest, emphasize your qualities and experience based on the real conversation you just had, and genuinely show your appreciation for the team member’s time who met with you.
Hiring managers I work with have specifically called out thank you notes as a positive experience of working with a candidate. The follow up may not have changed the outcome of who got the position, but it certainly reinforces and leaves lasting positive impressions.
Although the practice may seem outdated, ironically, I think with what I’ve witnessed over the past year or so is that a thoughtful thank you note could be more impactful now than it was 10 years ago. Back when everyone sent one, it was expected. Now that fewer people do this, the ones that do tend to stand out.
The reality of the market today is that hiring managers often find themselves choosing between several highly qualified candidates. They all have the right experience. They all interviewed well. They all seem capable of succeeding in the role. So, in these situations the thank you note goes that extra mile to be a differentiator and that thoughtfulness truly does make an impact. It showcases intentionality, attention to detail, and that you value relationships. I’ve always believed that how people do the little things is often a reflection of how they’ll do the bigger things too.
I could go on and on about my opinion on the dos and don’t of a proper thank you note, but I’m more curious if others are experiencing the same trend or if you have strong opinions on it one way or another. Are thank you notes a dying practice? Do you find them obsolete or still an important professional practice?
