Ask HN: Interview Thank You Emails. Necessary?

To me personally, this feels like it comes across as annoying and is actually a detriment. I am under the impression that the computer science world cares much less about corporate bs and can actually harm you.

I do not know anybody who hires computer scientists, so I wanted your opinions on the importance of these follow up thank you emails.

PS: I am about to graduate from college.

That said, I remember all three.

I take it a step further. I always send a hand written Thank You Note by snail mail. Always. I have never failed to do this.

Why? Because if someone has spent an hour of their time (I don't care if it's on company time) to potentially change my life, the least I could do is take 5 minutes to share a sincere Thank You. I always take the time to hand write it, I always make it personal, and I am always sincere. (If you're going to be even 1% phony, don't bother, people will see right through it).

There are some nice byproducts. It demonstrates professional courtesy. It demonstrates good communication skills. It demonstrates good customer service. It gets you remembered. Every time.

But I don't do it for these reasons. I do it because it's the right thing to do. It is never "annoying" or a "detriment". Almost everyone I have ever sent a hand written note has told me that they really appreciated opening it and reading it.

Sometimes I even take it a step further. Several times, I have asked public speakers what their favorite restaurant is, and then sent a gift card in the Thank You note. I really want them to understand what a difference their contribution has made in at least one attendee's life. The gift card is a nice idea because I know they will use it and enjoy it, and maybe even think of me that night. I would never send a gift to an interviewer - that's not the same thing.

> if someone has spent an hour of their time (I don't care if it's on company time) to potentially change my life, the least I could do is take 5 minutes to share a sincere Thank You.

That implies that choosing a slower method of communicating somehow shows greater thanks than would, say, an email or phone call. I suppose to some people (certainly not me), a snail mail letter may seem more personal or professional than an email, but I don't think the mere fact that your message arrives via snail mail vs. email would reliably earn you points with those in charge of hiring.