Hi Diane,
I interviewed last Tuesday with the HR Director of a University for a position in an academic department. The Director told me she would be conducting interviews the rest of the week and sending the names of qualified candidates, perhaps all of them, to the specific department chairperson. She also indicated that department would be contacting candidates to come in for interviews next week.
After the interview with the HR Director, I came home and sent her a thank you letter via email. I didn’t send a thank you note via mail because I thought there wouldn’t be enough time for a note to reach her before the end of the week. Since then, I have left a voicemail as well, inquiring about any updates.
I just read your article on Follow-up Letter Q & A’s, and realize it would have been appropriate job interview etiquette to also send her a thank you note via mail. It’s the Sunday following the initial interview. Do you think it would be appropriate to mail the note or is it too late?
-Danielle
Dear Danielle,
Wonderful job on sending your thank you email within hours of the interview. It sounds like you’ve expressed your interest well. If you haven’t heard back from the phone message you left last week, a follow-up email would certainly be acceptable. I also suggest sending a thank you note by snail mail. While some time has lapsed (I prefer a candidate send out a formal thank you note within 24 hours of the interview), you will reintroduce yourself with the note as well as get back on their radar. I would also consider a telephone call to check in – nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Wishing you the best of luck!
~ Diane
You may also like Thank You Note Etiquette Questions Answered. For more of Diane’s etiquette tips read her posts on Inc., subscribe to her articles on HuffPost, “like” The Protocol School of Texas on Facebook, and follow her on Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter. Buy her new book, Modern Etiquette for a Better Life.
