How and When to Follow Up After a Job Interview

You tweaked your resume and cover letter to fit a specific job posting (or outsourced both to an expert writer), your application caught the attention of the hiring manager or recruiter, and you rocked the interview process. So . . . what now? Though it might feel like the rest is out of your hands, there is one more step that can really help you stand out as an applicant: following up. In this post, we’ll explain why it’s important to follow up after a job interview, when to do it, and how to craft the best follow-up emails.

Why You Should Always Follow Up After an Interview

​At the very least, you should always send a thank you email after an interview. This shows the recruiter or hiring manager that you are excited for the opportunity and value their time. It also gives you another chance to demonstrate the value you will bring to the company/organization if they choose to hire you.

Then, if you haven’t heard back after waiting a reasonable amount of time (see below for more on this), it’s smart to send a follow-up email asking about the status of the position. Many applicants hesitate to do this because they don’t want to seem like a bother, but most of the time it’s quite the opposite. A polite follow-up email might be just the nudge the hiring manager needs to send out an update. And even if the response is not favorable—that they hired someone else, for example—the fact that you took the time to follow up will make you more memorable if you apply to another position in the future.

When to Reach Out—and What You Should Say

• One business day after your interview, send a thank you email. Address the hiring manager by their first name, keep the email short (three or four sentences at most), and reference one detail that you learned about the company/job in the interview or one part of the interview that was especially interesting. Lastly, if you don’t already know, ask when you should expect to hear back about the position, and express your excitement for the opportunity and their consideration. If the hiring manager asked you to provide any additional information/links/etc. after the interview, include them in this email; if not, resist the urge to add more content. The purpose of a thank you email is to show gratitude and poise, not deliver a sales pitch.

• If you haven’t heard back from the hiring manager one week after the date when they said they’d be making an offer, send a follow-up email. Be friendly, mirror the sentiment of your thank you email, explain why you would be honored to work at their company, and ask if there is anything else they need from you. This email can be a little longer than the thank you email, but not by much; keep it to three short paragraphs or less.

• If you are notified that you didn’t get the job, ask for feedback or simply to stay in touch. As long as the interview went smoothly and you left on positive terms, the conversation doesn’t have to end there. Respond to the hiring manager’s email in an understanding, positive tone, ask for advice that might help you in your job search, and maybe even request a short meeting or call to learn more about the manager’s career and/or company. There’s no guarantee that you’ll get a response, but it’s worth a try. After all, experts estimate that more than 50% of jobs are filled each year via personal and professional connections. If you stay on the hiring manager’s radar, they are much more likely to alert you to future job openings.

Basic Follow-Up Email Templates

POST-INTERVIEW THANK YOU EMAIL

Subject: [Position title] interview – Thank you

Hi [first name of hiring manager],

Thank you for taking the time to meet with me yesterday. It was such a pleasure to chat about the [job title] position and [one other specific topic discussed in interview]. I’m excited about the opportunity to help your team [insert value you can bring to the company/position].

[If any item required follow-up from your interview (e.g., specific topic/question that was discussed but unanswered, outstanding issue, etc.), address that here with a sentence or two.]

I look forward to hearing from you about next steps. In the meantime, please let me know if I can provide any additional information.

All the best,

[your name]

[your phone number]

FOLLOW-UP EMAIL

Hi [first name of hiring manager],
 
I hope all is well! Thanks again for the opportunity to interview for the role of [job title] on [date of interview].
 
I’m following up to see if there are any updates regarding the position. It was great to speak with you and learn more about [company name], and I am excited about the opportunity to join the [department] team.
 
Please let me know if there is any additional information I can provide.
 
Sincerely,
[your name]
[your phone number]

STAY-IN-TOUCH/FEEDBACK REQUEST EMAIL

Hi [first name of hiring manager],
 
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to interview for [job title]. I truly identified with the company culture and am disappointed not to be joining the [department/sector title] team. I’d love to be considered for other job opportunities down the line.
 
If you have the time, I’d really appreciate your feedback on my interviewing skills, and I’d love a chance to learn more about your career path. As someone who’s aspiring to build my career in [insert industry], I’d love to learn more about how you’ve developed and applied your skills.
 
I know you’re busy, but if you have 20 minutes to spare, it would be great to get on your calendar. Are you available for a phone or coffee chat sometime in the next few weeks? If not, even just a bit of feedback by email would be so helpful.
 
Thanks again,
[your name]
[your phone number]