How to Send a Follow-up Email After An Interview

Sending a follow-up email after an interview allows you to express your gratitude and shows that you’re interested in the position.

Reaching out to your interviewer also demonstrates effort and attention to detail, making them more likely to remember you positively. Keep reading to learn how to follow up on your job search effectively.

@resumegenius Sending a thank you note after a joh interview is always a good idea! This can help you leave a stronger impression and can improve your chances of landing the job ? #careeradvice #jobinterview #interviewtips #jobsearchtips #jobsearching ♬ original sound – Resume Genius | Career Tips

When to send a follow-up email after an interview

You should send a follow-up email after an interview for a few different reasons:

• As a thank you note
• To add any relevant information you forgot during the interview
• To check on your application status
• If you haven’t heard back from your interviewer in a week (or within the timeline provided)

If the purpose of your follow-up email is to send a simple thank you to the interviewer, make sure to send it within 24 hours of your interview.

How to write a follow-up email after an interview

An effective thank you email after an interview follows this basic structure:

1. Professional salutation
2. Introductory paragraph
3. Body paragraphs explaining the reason for your email and reiterating your interest
4. A closing paragraph that includes a CTA
5. A professional sign-off

Here’s an example:

Follow these five steps to make your final pitch a quality one:

1. Choose a good interview follow-up email subject line

The best follow-up email subject lines are short and to the point. They should tell the interviewer exactly why you’re emailing them.

If you’re simply following up with a thank you email, here are some example subject lines:

• Thank you for your time
• Thank you for the opportunity to interview
• I appreciate your time and consideration
• Thank you, [Name]
• I enjoyed speaking with you

If you’re following up to check on your application status, here are some subject line examples:

• Following up on my application status
• Regarding my application for [Position]
• Following up on the [Position Title] position
• Inquiring about next steps in the application process
• Following up to see if you need anything else from me

Keeping your interview follow-up email subject line short and specific will give you better chances of getting a quick reply.

2. Start by thanking your interviewer

According to a TopResume study, 68% of interviewers reported that sending thank-you notes after an interview matters more post-pandemic than it did before, and has the power to influence hiring decisions.

Make sure you tailor your message to the interviewer. Using a template is fine, but you need to personalize the message and make it relevant to the specific hiring manager you’ve spoken to. To do this, use their name in your salutation and add a personal touch by recalling a specific part of your interview.

Your thank you paragraph should look something like this:

Be sure to thank everyone who interviewed you by sending a tailored message, not just the hiring manager. For panel interviews, you can send personalized notes to each participant or a collective email to the group.

3. Be clear and specific about your purpose

Remember, specificity is important — don’t just say “hi”; tell them why you’re getting in touch. Be confident.

If you’re reaching out to say thank you, deliver your gratitude succinctly and sign off. If you want to check on the status of your application, be direct. Keeping your message on point shows hiring managers that you respect their time.

Here’s an example of how this part of your email might look:

4. Reiterate why you’re a perfect fit for the position

Hiring managers conduct at least a handful of interviews for any given position, and other applicants likely interviewed well too. Your follow-up email or letter is your last chance to differentiate yourself from the crowd.

You should include a brief summary of what makes you a good fit for the position. Something like this:

5. Add value

To set yourself apart from other candidates, think of a way you can add value to your email.

For example, if you discussed industry trends in your interview, consider sending a relevant and timely article link. Doing so will show your interviewer that you’re engaged in industry news and dedicated to keeping your industry knowledge current.

Here’s an example:

By making your follow-up more than just a “thank you,” you’re showing that you’re not just polite – you’re insightful, too.

6. Use a professional sign-off

Even if your interview went really well and you think your interviewer has new best friend potential, it’s important to ensure your follow-up email maintains a professional tone.

Use a professional sign-off, such as:

• Sincerely,
• Thank you,
• Respectfully,
• Kind regards,

Being too casual with your interviewer will raise a red flag, but making sure you keep it respectful and formal will show them you know how to conduct yourself in a professional setting.

What to say in a follow-up email after an interview

Some instances require communicating more than a simple “thank you” in your interview follow-up email. For example, if you want to ask for feedback after your interview, or you haven’t heard back from your interviewer in over a week.

Here’s how to address those topics:

How to ask about your job application status after an interview

Don’t be shy about following up with your interviewer to ask how the hiring process is going.

While it might feel pushy, responding to follow-ups is a standard part of an interviewer’s job and won’t faze them at all. In fact, they’ll probably be happy to give you an update. Just make sure to be direct and keep it brief. Write something like:

• “I wanted to follow up to see if you have any updates about my application.”
• “I want to follow up to see if you’ve come to any hiring decisions yet.”
• “I’m writing today to check on my application status.”
• “I’m following up regarding my application, and would like to know if you’ve made any decisions.”

Let them know you’d be happy to provide any additional information they may need, and request that they let you know about any next steps in the hiring process you should take.

Writing an interview follow-up email after 2 weeks

If you already sent a follow-up email after an interview with no response, it’s time to send another.

At this point it’s understandable to feel frustrated or annoyed, but you still need to maintain a professional tone and be polite in your email.

Simply reiterate that you’re following up regarding your application status, and remind them of your interest in the position and what makes you a good fit. Letting them know that you have other job offers to consider adds urgency to your request.

Here’s an example:

Follow-up email after an interview examples

Here are three sample emails you can base your own follow-up email on:

Follow-up email requesting status update

Follow-up email after a final interview

Follow-up email after phone interview

Interview follow-up email template

Here’s an example of a basic follow-up email to send a day or two after your job interview:

Other interview resources

Now that you’ve checked the follow-up email off your to-do list, prepare for your next interview using the resources below:

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Our Expert:

Eva Chan