Thank You Notes: Are They Still Necessary?

There are two different schools of thought on this question, and I believe that there is no right answer. Instead, I believe each candidate should do what makes him/her most comfortable. While some believe that a thank you note is absolutely necessary, I believe sending a thank you note could actually hurt your candidacy if it is not done correctly. In my personal experience as a member of the hiring committee at my old firm and a frequent interviewer of lateral candidates, a thank you note never changed my mind regarding a potential candidate. My decision was always based upon my personal interaction with a candidate. At most, a well-written thank you note from a candidate whom I had liked simply reaffirmed my positive impression. However, it never changed a ''no'' decision to a ''yes'' decision. Thus, I do not believe that thank you notes are absolutely necessary. However, I am sure that there are many people who would disagree with me. So, if you are going to send a thank you note, there are several important rules you must follow. If you're wondering how thank-you customs have evolved in recent recruiting cycles, this video Should Attorneys and Law Students Send Thank You Letters After Law Firm Interviews? breaks down current expectations across law firms.
 

First and most important, make sure that there are no typographical or grammatical errors in your thank you note. If necessary, have someone else (like your recruiter) read your thank you note to make sure that it does not contain any embarrassing mistakes. This is your last impression with an interviewer, and you want to make sure that you do make the most of it. For example, one of my colleague's candidates met with two different firms on the same day, and was in a rush to send out his thank you notes when he got home that evening. Thus, he typed out a simple, generic note and ''cut and paste'' the same thank you note to each interviewer. Unfortunately, he forgot to change the name of the firm. Needless to say, this made a bad impression on the firm and the candidate did not get the job offer. It is impossible to say whether this one mistake was the reason for the firm's decision, but it certainly did not help.

• See Top Ten Interview Questions for more information

Second, do not send the same thank you note to each interviewer. Make every attempt to personalize your thank you note in some way. After all, interviewers have been known to compare notes and you do not want your last attempt to leave a positive impression to seem false in any way.

Third, send your thank you note in a timely manner. The purpose of your thank you note is to help solidify the hopefully positive impression that you made. Typically, an interviewer completes an evaluation shortly after meeting with a candidate, and you want to make sure that your thank you note reaches the interviewer before that evaluation is completed.


Fourth, keep the thank you note short and sweet. Do not use the thank you note as a means to repeat all of your qualifications and reasons why you believe you would be a perfect fit for the job. Hopefully you will have already covered this during your interview as well as in your resume and your cover letter.

Lastly, the second most common question I receive after whether to send a thank you note at all is whether to send a handwritten thank you note or whether an email is sufficient. I believe that either method is fine. There are pros and cons to each approach which will depend on both the candidate and the interviewer. For example, if your handwriting is hard to read or you do not have the ability to use formal stationery, you may opt to send an email. An email will also be certain to reach the interviewer in a timely manner. On the other hand, some interviewers may prefer the traditional approach of handwritten thank you notes, which unfortunately is impossible to determine. Also, a well-done handwritten thank you note can win you style points. At the end of the day, either method is fine. For a critical take on modern interview etiquette, “Why Thank-You Letters After Law Firm Interviews Can Hurt Your Chances—And When They Might Help” highlights why necessity is not always straightforward.
 

• See Interviewing Tips for more information

Learn why attorneys usually fail law firm phone-screening interviews in this article:
 

• Why Most Attorneys Fail Telephone-Screening Interviews

About Harrison Barnes

No legal recruiter in the United States has placed more attorneys at top law firms across every practice area than Harrison Barnes. His unmatched expertise, industry connections, and proven placement strategies have made him the most influential legal career advisor for attorneys seeking success in Big Law, elite boutiques, mid-sized firms, small firms, firms in the largest and smallest markets, and in over 350 separate practice areas.

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This breadth of placements is unheard of in the legal recruiting industry and is a testament to his extraordinary ability to connect attorneys with the right firms, regardless of market size or practice area.

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With over 25 years of experience, Harrison has successfully placed attorneys at over 1,000 law firms, including:

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He has also placed hundreds of law firm partners and has worked on firm and practice area mergers, helping law firms strategically grow their teams.

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With an unmatched track record of success, a vast team of over 150 dedicated employees, and a reach into every market and practice area, Harrison Barnes is the recruiter who makes career transformations happen and has the talent and resources behind him to make this happen.

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Unlike most recruiters who work with only a narrow subset of attorneys, Harrison Barnes works with lawyers at all stages of their careers, from junior associates to senior partners, in every practice area imaginable. His placements are not limited to only those with "elite" credentials-he has helped thousands of attorneys, including those who thought it was impossible to move firms, find their next great opportunity.

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About BCG Attorney Search

BCG Attorney Search matches attorneys and law firms with unparalleled expertise and drive, while achieving results. Known globally for its success in locating and placing attorneys in law firms of all sizes, BCG Attorney Search has placed thousands of attorneys in law firms in thousands of different law firms around the country. Unlike other legal placement firms, BCG Attorney Search brings massive resources of over 150 employees to its placement efforts locating positions and opportunities its competitors simply cannot. Every legal recruiter at BCG Attorney Search is a former successful attorney who attended a top law school, worked in top law firms and brought massive drive and commitment to their work. BCG Attorney Search legal recruiters take your legal career seriously and understand attorneys. For more information, please visit www.BCGSearch.com.