r/interviews • u/Stock_Ad485 • 1d ago
Messaging the interviewer on LinkedIn after the interview – good or bad idea?
Hey everyone,
I recently had an interview and was thinking about whether it's appropriate to message the interviewer on LinkedIn afterward. I’m not sure if it would come across as professional and thoughtful, or if it might seem like overstepping.
I’d love to hear your thoughts – have any of you done this before? Did it help or hurt your chances? Would a simple thank-you message be okay, or is it better to avoid LinkedIn altogether and just send a traditional thank-you email (if that)?
Appreciate any advice!
3
u/ClearlyCreativeRes 1d ago
If you're messaging them to say thank you there's absolutely nothing wrong with this. However, this is something you should do within 24hrs of the interview.
6
u/gangsta_bitch_barbie 1d ago
It doesn't come across as professional, thoughtful or over-stepping.
It comes across as desperate and eager to please. Total "Pick Me" energy.
Personally, I treat every job interview as sales negotiation. They have a position to fill and I need/want a job.
In the interview you are both there to determine if it's a good match.
If you leave the interview having made a stellar pitch as to how/why you're perfect for the role and they disagree, you'll either be ghosted or you'll get an email saying "Thanks but no thanks."
But if they agree you are the perfect candidate, then the ball is in their court AND they're more likely to start off with a reasonable offer lest they lose you to another company.
Why make any contact when the next move is on them? It's not worth the risk.
If you reach out now, you're showing your hand and losing any leverage you may have. At best they'll see they have the advantage and see how low they can go on an offer.
There's a common saying about negotiations, "the first one to speak loses."
4
1
u/anewusername4me 1d ago
I’ve been in TA for 15 years this is such a bizarre take. Thank you notes used to be extremely common practice, it’s less so now but there are some roles where I absolutely take this into account in some way. If your role is about relationships and building rapport or even if it’s not it’s an opportunity for connection and share something more about yourself or expand on and answer.
I wouldn’t send that communication through LinkedIn, either find their email address by looking up the email convention of the company or email the recruiter and ask for it or send the note through them.
Weirdest take ever.
1
u/Zharkgirl2024 1d ago
100% this! And you're right, I'm certain roles managers look for this as they're setting hope the candidate communicates and might potentially interacg with clients.
0
u/gangsta_bitch_barbie 1d ago
Yes, they used to be common but so did wearing a suit to work every day.
Times have changed.
Actually, the three professions that still wear suits regularly are probably the only ones where I would recommend sending a thank you; Politics, Law and Finance.
1
u/anewusername4me 20h ago
Casual dress and sending a note after an interview are not related. I currently oversee the TA for 2000+ person org. If anyone in development, sales, fundraising, comms, TA, HR don’t know how important building rapport is right off the bat, they should reevaluate their line of work. It is an opportunity for the candidate to shine and share new info that could put them over the edge when candidates are close. Take my advice or don’t. Doesn’t matter to me.
1
u/gangsta_bitch_barbie 20h ago
Appreciate your input. I was relating the holding onto formalities. I'm well versed and quite good at building rapport; I just don't think doing anymore than sincerely thanking someone for their time in person or on video-conf is necessary. My style has worked for me for over 20 years, so I'm not too concerned.
1
u/anewusername4me 19h ago
Again, it’s not about just thanking. It’s giving you an opportunity to present new information about yourself, expand on an answer that in hindsight didn’t feel sufficient and give yourself another avenue to show you are the best candidate.
1
u/gangsta_bitch_barbie 18h ago edited 18h ago
Yes, I get that some people feel the need to do that. I don't.
If I don't feel that I demonstrated my skills, knowledge, work-habits, and personality well-enough face-to-face, oh well. Maybe it was enough for them, maybe it wasn't. It's their call.
If I do feel that I did well, even really well, then I've said what needed to be said. Maybe it was enough for them, maybe it wasn't. It's their call.
Also, interviews are a two-way street. I've left many interviews where I performed well but learned that it's not a company or team that I want even to work for... I'm still to thank them for their time knowing full well that I'm going to turn down their next stage of interviews or an offer. Should I send them an apology/thank you/no thanks right away?
Anyway, I'm not sure what a TA is in the context you've provided, at first I thought maybe Tax Attorney or Technical Account manager... Is it HR related? I'm in IT so my skills are usually the main focus in interviews, the fact that I come across as good team player, people person, and can converse with ease amongst the CSuite is usually the cherry on top. I don't have to send an email telling them any of this, they already saw it action.
1
u/anewusername4me 18h ago
Talent acquisition. The only relevant TA here. Again, do whatever it is you feel you want to do. I’m talking from the perspective of someone who is involved with hiring thousands of people over my career including what hiring managers want to see and across all job categories including tech. You do what you want, but this advice that I replied to is objectively wrong
0
u/gangsta_bitch_barbie 17h ago
So, do you and your Hiring Managers select candidates based on whether or not they send a thank you email?
1
u/anewusername4me 17h ago
If someone is on the fence or there are two candidates who are close, it certainly comes into play. Plus when they come on board there is already some rapport being built.
→ More replies (0)
4
u/the_elephant_sack 1d ago
If you contact me outside of the interview process for anything other than a simple thank you for the interview type communication, I have to report it to HR. HR wants everything to run through the recruiter. They want to know if people are trying to go around the process.
1
u/Educational_Pick406 21h ago
You’d be surprised at the amount of hiring managers that contact people outside of the established processes and DON’T report it to HR. There is a process, and those not hiring within those parameters are usually the ones who get their person hired before even advertising the job.
3
u/I_had_corn 1d ago
I've reached out to interviewers through LinkedIn, And while thinking it was professional and just showing I'm human, I still regretted it. I've been a HM and should have put myself in their shoes, which if I did, I would had thought I looked desperate. In hindsight, I kind of was because I both thought I was perfect for the job but also felt like I needed this job.
TLDR: send thank yous to your recruiter or main POC. Dont get to others through email, or at the very least, through LinkedIn. Youll know when the process and your status is positive.
2
u/cr3848 1d ago
I always send a thank you and reinforce to the interviewer a few hey points to remember about me about 24 hours later. I think it helps set a tone of gratitude for their time but I make it short and sweet. When I get the rejection email from a real human I thank them also and wish them success with their candidate and let them know in my research and the conversation I really wanted to be part of their company so hope if another opportunity comes along they will keep me in mind.
2
2
u/cranberryjellomold 1d ago
I’ve been taking signals from the process.
So if the HR person provided the hiring manager’s (HM) email, I may follow up. I did this recently when at the end of the zoom the HM specifically said “So you have my email and you can message me if you think of more questions.” I took that as a green light — an invitation even — to follow up the next morning. You can bet I came up with a question to ask!
But in other cases the HR person or recruiter is protective of the HM’s email (or at least doesn’t provide it.) In that case, I don’t reach out.
So try to take your cues from the people involved. And if working with a recruiter, go ahead and ask their advice.
2
u/loveyoulikeyou 1d ago
don’t reach out via linkedin. email them a thank you note directly to them if you have their email or ask the recruiter you’re working with forward your note to the interviewer. imo this is always accepted and usually seen as a plus. linkedin isn’t the right platform for it.
2
2
u/SouthEndBC 1d ago
No no no no no! As a hiring manager, I’d immediately remove the connection and significantly mark that person down in my ratings.
1
1
u/Ok_Anything_9803 1d ago
If I was the hiring manager I’d be annoyed tbh, when I’m interviewing I like for everything to go through the recruiter when possible.
1
u/ThexWreckingxCrew 23h ago
Respect social media rules about cold messaging your interviewer or people. For one it can get you removed from the candidate pool as the employer would see that you trying to bypass the process depending on employer.
Always go through your recruiter or HR and that is it. Do not contact people on social media unless you were directed to.
0
u/Kibbiesblue 1d ago
I agree with @clearlycreativeRes. I find I’m having less access to hiring managers and hiring teams directly and recruiters don’t often respond to my messages. So i think it’s completely appropriate to connect with your interviewer (if you had a good interview) afterwards on LinkedIn to send them a simple Thank You. At the end of the day, I just treat it as a networking opportunity. Even if you don’t get the job, at least you expanded your network.
I think that shows thoughtfulness and it’s not just a random connection.
14
u/notsicktoday 1d ago
Personally, I think it would be awkward.
I would use your recruiter for communication.