Thank you note, or don't bother?

jrwilheim · #1 11-15-2006, 09:46 AM

Yesterday, I went in for an informational interview at a company I found by networking. I met with two people there for about 20-odd minutes, at the end of which they said they would contact me if they had any interest in pursuing an employment opportunity.

Last night, I came home very late, checked my email for the first time that day (I'd had a second interview somewhere else, a doctor's appointment and an evening class way up in the Bronx), and lo and behold, I'd gotten an email from one of them thanking me for coming in but saying they were not interested in pursuing any employment opportunity. The time stamp indicated that it was sent all of TEN MINUTES after meeting with me.

Now, I know you're supposed to send a thank you note after this kind of thing, but I am just royally honked off that, after I took time out of my day to haul myself into the city to meet with them, they couldn't even consider me for longer than the time it took to walk back to their office. I'm not sure how to respond to this kind of total rudeness.

I have a contact at that firm that I have to follow up on...not sure if I should ask her if she has any insight into what went on there.

cache · #2 11-15-2006, 10:47 AM

I wouldn't bother....it's not worth it. But don't dismiss the way things turned out - try to figure out what went wrong that they would dismiss you so quickly. Were you under/overqualified for their positions? Did you say or do something during the intervew? They wouldn't have called you in if they weren't at least interested in getting to know more about you - so what changed that?

Xander · #3 11-15-2006, 11:11 AM

Send the thank you note. You don't know exactly why they weren't interested, and while it's not burning bridges if you don't, it's keeping them open if you do. At the very least, remember the note isn't for you, but for your friend who referred you.

You can just email the people who interviewed you, and CC: your friend if you want.

Thank them for taking time out of their day to interview you. Convey how you liked the company and position, and if they have an opening that fits you in the future, to contact you. It's generic bullshit, but these are the small things successful people do.

It's business--don't take it personally. Stay outwardly humble. Good luck!

wordsmith · #4 11-15-2006, 11:15 AM

Always appropriate to send a thank you note.

Skyblade · #5 11-15-2006, 11:33 AM

I would still send them a thank you note. While it does seem odd that they dismissed you right away, you did say it was an informational interview, perhaps they had no appropriate openings at this time. Also, they too took time out of their day to meet with you.

grneyedmustang · #6 11-15-2006, 11:36 AM

I would send a thank you note. As it was mentioned, they might not have had openings available at that moment in time. The thank you note might just be the thing that gets you a call back if there is an opening available in the future.

As a manager, I have reconsidered previous interview candidates if they stood out, and a thank you note would definitely help a candidate stand out from other candidates.

sondra_finchley · #7 11-15-2006, 11:59 AM

If it was informational, then a thank you is appropriate anyway. Sure its annoying, but it sounds like you knew when you left that the likelihood of anything being available at this time would be slim to none. Send it- these things always have a way of coming back to bite you! Then- check up every so often with the company for openings. At least you were able to make contact on the inside with someone- thats a lot more than most job hunters.

thedave · #8 11-26-2006, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrwilheim

Yesterday, I went in for an informational interview at a company I found by networking. I met with two people there for about 20-odd minutes, at the end of which they said they would contact me if they had any interest in pursuing an employment opportunity.

Last night, I came home very late, checked my email for the first time that day (I'd had a second interview somewhere else, a doctor's appointment and an evening class way up in the Bronx), and lo and behold, I'd gotten an email from one of them thanking me for coming in but saying they were not interested in pursuing any employment opportunity. The time stamp indicated that it was sent all of TEN MINUTES after meeting with me.

Now, I know you're supposed to send a thank you note after this kind of thing, but I am just royally honked off that, after I took time out of my day to haul myself into the city to meet with them, they couldn't even consider me for longer than the time it took to walk back to their office. I'm not sure how to respond to this kind of total rudeness.

I have a contact at that firm that I have to follow up on...not sure if I should ask her if she has any insight into what went on there.

Hey, you want to know humiliating?? I recently interviewed for a tech position. The person interviewing me was prepared with a folder, and I could see inside, it said "Technical Screen," basically a test he gives to all applicants to see if they're technically competent...

HAHAHHA we didn't even get to the point of him giving me the Technical screen... Of course I knew at the end of the interview and him saying "We'll call you" that I didn't get the job. Sure enough, 2 days later, I found I didn't...

MrNCG23 · #9 12-06-2006, 12:42 AM

I think you're expecting a bit too much from them. Its an informational interview, maybe there wasn't an open position in the first place.

Send a thank you note. These people took time to speak with you about a position.

I have taken time to dress up, go into the city, talk w/ a PE firm, and 1 minute later into the interview been told, "Well, we should have given you a phone interview first, you're not what we're looking for." No sweat, at least they're being forthright.