How to Send a Follow-up Email After An Interview

If you’re wondering, “should I follow up after an interview?”, the answer is yes.

Sending a follow-up email provides the perfect opportunity to express your gratitude, and shows that you’re interested in the position. Reaching out to your interviewer demonstrates extra effort and attention to detail on your part, and makes them more likely to remember you positively.

It’s crucial that you follow up at every stage of the job hunt if you want to impress hiring managers. Keep reading to learn how to follow up on your job search effectively.

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 more

Typically, it’s best to send a follow-up email within 24 hours of your interview. At the very least, you should always make the effort to thank your interviewer for their time and the opportunity.

How to write a follow-up email after an interview

A good follow-up combines a thank you, a reminder, and a summary of why you’re the right fit for the position.

Here’s an example:

Make sure your 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

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.

Additionally, a 2017 study revealed that 16% of interviewers have taken a candidate out of the running because they didn’t send a thank you note.
With numbers like that, it’s clear that thanking your interviewer can help you make a good impression and set you apart from other candidates.

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 can look something like this:

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 might have also interviewed well. Your follow-up email or letter is the final chance you have 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

There are some instances when you might need to communicate more than a simple “thank you” in your interview follow-up email. For example, if you want to check on the status of your application, 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

If you want to follow up with your interview to ask how the hiring process is going, there’s no need to be shy.

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.”

It’s always helpful to 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 you may feel frustrated or annoyed, but it’s important 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 can add a bit of urgency to your request.

Here’s an example:

Follow-up email after an interview examples

When you’re writing a job interview follow-up email, examples can help give you an idea of how to write your own.

Here are three sample emails to give you the inspiration you need:

Follow-up email after interview status sample

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: