Hi,

I had an interview this week and am wondering is it customary to send a thank u email? I read that this is what's done in Switzerland on a website but am just unsure.

Thanks,

Louise

I always send a thank you e-mail - never encountered an issue with all the interviews I did in CH :-)

Agreed, I think that in this instance 'when in doubt, do'.

It never hurts to express your thanks though I do think employers receive countless thank you e-mails (having worked with HR previously when searching for a new employee). Perhaps a hand written card might stand out a bit more...

Send an email quickly but don't wait a week and then do it.

Also, beware of doing something "different" for the sake of it to stand out. If you couldn't provide enough reason to be hired during a face to face interview then anything other than a professional and businesslike response isn't going to help (and is more likely do the opposite).

If you can, make sure you address the line report for your position rather than HR but include them as well. Hopefully, you make a professional connection if nothing else.

D

I would write a letter - email doesn't carry much weight - thanking them for there time, and reiterating your interest in working for them.

If you get turned down, a similar letter is also useful, this time regretting that you won't be working with them, and asking them to consider you should an opportunity turn up in the future.

When I was a hiring manager, I knew that they were doing this to impress me. Nonetheless, it creates a good impression.

As employers, when interviewing we may not be in direct contact with the prospective employee... this has to go through the agent (if one is involved), if there is no agent and you have gone directly to the company I can see a case for this. Otherwise I don't think the transaction requires it.

Now, when invited to someone's home in Switzerland, that's a different story...

You've lost me there. How can you not be in direct contact with the prospective employee?

Mostly, in my experience, when going through agencies either as recruiter or candidate, there's been an exchange of business cards in the interview.

I mean post interviews.

There is an exchange of business cards (in an American Psycho kind of way), however once we've interviewed all further exchange goes through the agent.

Now, how often does that happen??!!

Well, you did invite us to your place, albeit to pay you $$$ and put things in the back of our van.

Expect to see a thank you card in the mail in a few weeks (if your mailbox is still standing that is).

It shouldn't stop the applicant thanking the interviewer for their time and consideration though.

Oh, and IMO email is the standard and professional way to contact someone in my business now and I'd definitely go with that rather than a letter. How would you do it anyway: printed from MS Word, fountain pen and copperplate, finger and blood, crayon???

A letter is nice but an e-mail more convenient. It arives quickly and can easily be forwarded to various people, a letter can take time to circulate.

Hi Louise
I have had 5 interviews in Switzerland. I never sent a thank you email. I did however say thank you for the opportunity with a hand shake and eye contact after each interview was over.

I got a job offer on the 5th interview, 3,4 and 5 were for the same job and I had around 7 hours of interview time in total. A tad excessive I thought.

Best of luck to you.

I did send my agent a bottle of Aussie red wine as a token of my appreciation after the contract was signed.

I haven't move to Switzerland yet, but I'll start my job there in July, and all interviews were done by phone and web-can. After all interviews, sort of 8 hours later, I used to send a letter with thanks to our conversation and once again expressing my interest in the job. I got the job, I can't say that was the reason but I think it worth do it

By letter I mean EMail

For senior managers of the pointed headed variety? Wax crayon, every time.

You forgot the Disney stickers all ouva...

Words cut out of the newspaper or is that a tad too much "ransom note"?

Hi,

thanks everyone. I sent an email. Fingers crossed I get it.

I appreciate all the replies.

Louise