Thank You Emails?
November 21, 2011 9:15 AM Subscribe
I want to send some post-interview thank you emails, but I don't have the email addresses of the people I interviewed with. Should I email the recruiting contact asking for the email addresses, or just leave it alone?
On one hand, I'm used to sending quick personalized emails as a way of thanking people for their time and showing my interest in the position. On the other hand, this might be considered annoying or invasive if I wasn't directly given the contact info. I wouldn't usually worry about this, but it's pretty much my dream job and I have a decent chance of getting it, and don't want to screw things up with either route here.
On one hand, I'm used to sending quick personalized emails as a way of thanking people for their time and showing my interest in the position. On the other hand, this might be considered annoying or invasive if I wasn't directly given the contact info. I wouldn't usually worry about this, but it's pretty much my dream job and I have a decent chance of getting it, and don't want to screw things up with either route here.
Don't send a letter if you can send an email. They might have already made up their mind by then. Contact them ASAP.
posted by John Cohen at 9:24 AM on November 21, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by John Cohen at 9:24 AM on November 21, 2011 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Do your best to get the emails, but don't be a jerk about it.
If for some reason they won't offer them because of privacy concerns, then send emails to whoever you have saying, "Please also express my thanks to Persons A, B and C. I especially want to thank Person A for XYZ reason."
Be specific about it, and the recruiting contact will likely forward it. If not, then you don't want to work with that recruiting contact, do you? ;-)
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 9:25 AM on November 21, 2011 [1 favorite]
If for some reason they won't offer them because of privacy concerns, then send emails to whoever you have saying, "Please also express my thanks to Persons A, B and C. I especially want to thank Person A for XYZ reason."
Be specific about it, and the recruiting contact will likely forward it. If not, then you don't want to work with that recruiting contact, do you? ;-)
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 9:25 AM on November 21, 2011 [1 favorite]
Does the organization have an online presence? Perhaps a list of contact that include the people you interviewed with?
For the future: I've learned to ask for business cards when I interview, so that I can send thank-yous right away.
posted by sugarbomb at 9:26 AM on November 21, 2011
For the future: I've learned to ask for business cards when I interview, so that I can send thank-yous right away.
posted by sugarbomb at 9:26 AM on November 21, 2011
Don't send a letter if you can send an email. They might have already made up their mind by then. Contact them ASAP.
That's a good point. If you do have any assurance that you have time though, I would send a letter, if it is a local position. If you mailed them today and it is local, they would have them tomorrow, and an actual letter is a lot more memorable than one email amongst thousands that might even get filtered into the spam folder. But if you're on a time crunch, go ahead and get the email addresses.
posted by cashman at 9:27 AM on November 21, 2011
That's a good point. If you do have any assurance that you have time though, I would send a letter, if it is a local position. If you mailed them today and it is local, they would have them tomorrow, and an actual letter is a lot more memorable than one email amongst thousands that might even get filtered into the spam folder. But if you're on a time crunch, go ahead and get the email addresses.
posted by cashman at 9:27 AM on November 21, 2011
Get the email addresses. If you don't want to ask your recruiter, just call the company you interviewed with, and ask for the email address. I've had to contact receptionists for an email once or twice after totally forgetting to get a card, or coming home to realize there is no email address on the card. Very few interviewers offered me their info without asking.
Don't bother with actual letters; unless they really like you, it'll just look like you forgot to send a thank-you email like everyone did long before the letter got there.
posted by griphus at 9:28 AM on November 21, 2011
Don't bother with actual letters; unless they really like you, it'll just look like you forgot to send a thank-you email like everyone did long before the letter got there.
posted by griphus at 9:28 AM on November 21, 2011
Some firms that work with recruiters prefer not to have direct contact with the people they interview. I'd ask the recruiter about e-mail addresses and/or passing along my thanks, but I wouldn't worry too much about it.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 9:28 AM on November 21, 2011
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 9:28 AM on November 21, 2011
Response by poster: Should have mentioned, oops: it's an internal recruiter/HR person at the company, not an outside recruiter.
posted by naju at 9:29 AM on November 21, 2011
posted by naju at 9:29 AM on November 21, 2011
...just call the company you interviewed with, and ask for the email address.
Anonymously, that is.
posted by griphus at 9:29 AM on November 21, 2011
Anonymously, that is.
posted by griphus at 9:29 AM on November 21, 2011
Response by poster: They also said they might make a decision this week, so I'm definitely thinking email, not a letter.
posted by naju at 9:33 AM on November 21, 2011
posted by naju at 9:33 AM on November 21, 2011
Most firms have a standard naming convention. If the hr person's email is flastname@company.org, then everybody else's is almost certainly ainterviewer@company.org. You can also try a few variations as BCCs to see if it bounces.
posted by Diablevert at 9:36 AM on November 21, 2011
posted by Diablevert at 9:36 AM on November 21, 2011
In the past I've just sent letters to the recruiter and asked them to pass the letter on to the interviewer. That way they don't have to reveal email addresses and I'm sure they'll forward it, especially if they're an internal recruiter. You might want to remind them who interviewed you.
posted by iamscott at 9:36 AM on November 21, 2011
posted by iamscott at 9:36 AM on November 21, 2011
...just call the company you interviewed with, and ask for the email address.
Anonymously, that is.
Why anonymously? There's nothing to be ashamed of. What the OP is trying to do is extremely normal and appropriate: sending thank-you notes to the people who just interviewed him.
posted by John Cohen at 9:41 AM on November 21, 2011
Anonymously, that is.
Why anonymously? There's nothing to be ashamed of. What the OP is trying to do is extremely normal and appropriate: sending thank-you notes to the people who just interviewed him.
posted by John Cohen at 9:41 AM on November 21, 2011
Best answer: Yeah, in the past, I've phrased the email to the HR person to say, "I'd like to thank so-and-so directly. Can I get her email? If not, please let her know, [some abbreviated version of what you'd write directly]."
posted by ignignokt at 9:46 AM on November 21, 2011
posted by ignignokt at 9:46 AM on November 21, 2011
Best answer: send emails! it shows you were thinking beyond just the interview.
posted by melizabeth at 9:46 AM on November 21, 2011
posted by melizabeth at 9:46 AM on November 21, 2011
I'd call an assistant or the general switchboard and say "My name is Blah Blah and I just had an interview with So-And-So but didn't get their email address. Can you give it to me?" I've done this with no problem. If the person on the phone refuses, then ask for HR/recruiting and try there.
posted by mullacc at 9:48 AM on November 21, 2011
posted by mullacc at 9:48 AM on November 21, 2011
Best answer: Most firms have a standard naming convention. If the hr person's email is flastname@company.org, then everybody else's is almost certainly ainterviewer@company.org.
Also this, if for some reason a direct call doesn't work. I've used this website to verify email addresses in the past and it seems to work.
posted by mullacc at 9:49 AM on November 21, 2011 [2 favorites]
Also this, if for some reason a direct call doesn't work. I've used this website to verify email addresses in the past and it seems to work.
posted by mullacc at 9:49 AM on November 21, 2011 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: I just sent a politely-worded email to the contact, similar to ignignokt's suggestion. Thanks for the help guys. It's a small thing, but every detail is important!
posted by naju at 10:05 AM on November 21, 2011
posted by naju at 10:05 AM on November 21, 2011
If the company has a website, there's almost always a personnel list with phone numbers and email addresses.
If you can't find the list at the company name (say, XYZ.com), call the main company number and say to the operator: "I need to send an email to John Smith. Is his address j.smith@xyz.com?" For me, this has never failed.
Alternatively, ask the operator for John Smith's secretary and use the same question. Having a plausible email address, even if it's wrong, makes you sound like a friend rather than a cold-call seller.
posted by KRS at 1:38 PM on November 21, 2011
If you can't find the list at the company name (say, XYZ.com), call the main company number and say to the operator: "I need to send an email to John Smith. Is his address j.smith@xyz.com?" For me, this has never failed.
Alternatively, ask the operator for John Smith's secretary and use the same question. Having a plausible email address, even if it's wrong, makes you sound like a friend rather than a cold-call seller.
posted by KRS at 1:38 PM on November 21, 2011
Try plugging the names into google: your interviewers' corporate contact information, including email addresses, may pop up. This often works.
(Suggestion: in future, try to remember to ask for business cards at the end of interviews to get all the follow up contact information you are likely to need with correct spellings, street addresses and so on. Even if you don't get the job in question, the contact information could come in handy later.)
posted by cool breeze at 2:53 PM on November 21, 2011 [1 favorite]
(Suggestion: in future, try to remember to ask for business cards at the end of interviews to get all the follow up contact information you are likely to need with correct spellings, street addresses and so on. Even if you don't get the job in question, the contact information could come in handy later.)
posted by cool breeze at 2:53 PM on November 21, 2011 [1 favorite]
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posted by John Cohen at 9:16 AM on November 21, 2011 [1 favorite]