Thank you email after interview

Bain MBB
New answer on Dec 31, 2020
10 Answers
8.4 k Views
Anonymous A asked on Nov 15, 2020

Hello,

I will be having my interview for Bain next week and I was wondering how the thank you emails after having the interview work. Would I be sent the names of the people I will be interviewing with and then email each one of them to thank them for their time? If I am not given their contact information, who should I send this thank you email to? Also, would I need to send a thank you note to all my interviewers? Thanks in advance!

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Ken
Expert
updated an answer on Nov 17, 2020
Ex-McKinsey final round interviewer | Executive Coach

It's a great gesture but in a batch process driven selection like MBBs, it's not necessary and has zero influence on your chances of passing the interview.

I personally would only suggest taking such initiative if you feel your really connected with that interviewer and the feeling was mutual. It really comes across when candidates send a thank you email purely as a formality as opposed to mentioning something meaningful. Either way, at most firms, your interviewer will call you for the turn down or feedback/coaching where they will offer to stay in touch if they want to.

PS: I've just seen that you've genuinely thanked every respondent to your question. It's a lovely touch that doesn't happen too often on this forum where coaches are genuinely offering to help the next generation of consultants. My overarching recommendation would be to be genuine and where for someone like you, a thank you email to each of your interviewers could be very appropriate. I am sure you will also be thoughtful and genuine in the actual content of the email too. Good luck!

(edited)

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Anonymous A on Nov 16, 2020

Thank you, Ken, this is very helpful to know! I do appreciate all of your helpful insights on this forum!

Anonymous B replied on Nov 15, 2020

While it's not mendatory, I always send a thank you email after every single interview. I usually send it the next day.

All emails were customed in the sense that it wasn't a simple thank you for your time. I always included something specific that I really enjoyed during the interview. For one of them it was the short feedback that the consultant gave me directly after the interview, for another one it was because he was super transparent with me during the last portion of the interview (when I asked him so question), for another it was for being super exhaustive regarding the company (future plans, etc.), etc. It was always specific.

I sent them to each interviewer separately and if their email wasn't given to me by the HR prior to the interview, I simply sent an email to the HR saying that I wanted to thank Mr X for the interview because "blabla".

I didn't always receive a feedback (I probably received a reply around 70-80% of the time) but all the interviewers seems genuiely happy to have received the email.

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Anonymous A on Nov 15, 2020

This is very helpful, thank you for sharing this!

Henning
Expert
replied on Nov 15, 2020
Bain | passed >15 MBB interviews as a candidate

As a regular interviewer I can tell you that sending a thank you note is certainly a nice, professional gesture, but it will not change your chances of getting progressing to the next round. In fact, I don't think I received more than a dozen in more than 120 interviews for Bain. I'm sure candidates send them to HR more frequently, but they won't make a difference in the offer decision.

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Anonymous on Nov 15, 2020

Thank you for your insight, Henning!

(edited)

Ian
Expert
Content Creator
updated an answer on Nov 16, 2020
#1 BCG coach | MBB | Tier 2 | Digital, Tech, Platinion | 100% personal success rate (8/8) | 95% candidate success rate

Hi there,

Don't stress too much. It's a good thing to do (and I recommend it), but you only need to send the thank you email if you have their info.

So, if you receive their email, send a thank you within 24 hours. If you don't receive their email but can find their linkedIn, send a thank you within 24 hours. If neither is the case, don't worry too much!

(edited)

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Anonymous A on Nov 15, 2020

Thank you Ian for your answer!

Udayan
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Nov 16, 2020
Top rated Case & PEI coach/Multiple real offers/McKinsey EM in New York /6 years McKinsey recruiting experience

Usually interviewers give their contact information during the interview. If you do not have it you can always write to HR and say that you would like to thank the interviewers for their time and you can also have a personalized message for each interviewer and request HR to pass it along.

Best,

Udayan

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Anonymous on Nov 16, 2020

Thanks, Udayan, I might as well do this!

(edited)

Anonymous C replied on Nov 16, 2020

Also, you can find the email format of most big companies online. You can figure out all the interviewer email pretty easily, and use a mail-check website to check that the emails are valid.

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Anonymous on Nov 16, 2020

This is helpful to know, thank you Anonymous!

(edited)

Antonello
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Dec 31, 2020
McKinsey | NASA | top 10 FT MBA professor for consulting interviews | 6+ years of coaching

Hi, I confirm it is not requested or used but a good initiative

Best

Antonello

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Francesco
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Nov 16, 2020
#1 Coach for Sessions (4.000+) | 1.500+ 5-Star Reviews | Proven Success (➡ InterviewOffers.com) | Ex BCG | 10Y+ Coaching

Hi there,

The interviewers will probably give you their business card with their email, so you should have their information there. Yes, you can send it to everyone, it’s not compulsory but it is a nice act and can just have positive effects.

Ideally you should send it the day of the interview or the following day.

Best,
Francesco

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Anonymous A on Nov 16, 2020

Thanks you for your answer, Francesco!

Gaurav
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Nov 17, 2020
Ex-Mckinsey|Certified Career Coach |Placed 500+ candidates at MBB & other consultancies

It's not mandatory, but it's always good to thank people for their time and another reason to remind about yourself and establish your network.

Wish you best of luck on your interviews,

How is your preparation going?

GB

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Clara
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Nov 16, 2020
McKinsey | Awarded professor at Master in Management @ IE | MBA at MIT |+180 students coached | Integrated FIT Guide aut

Hello!

I don´t think you can decide that a-priori.

Play it by ear, depending on how you feel in the interview. If you have a great feeling, it´s totally recommendable to do it -and not at all awkard-. However, if you don´t, it can even play againts you.

Best,

Clara

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Ken gave the best answer

Ken

Ex-McKinsey final round interviewer | Executive Coach
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