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.
@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
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:
- Professional salutation
- Introductory paragraph
- Body paragraphs explaining the reason for your email and reiterating your interest
- A closing paragraph that includes a CTA
- 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:
I wanted to thank you for taking the time to speak with me today. I really enjoyed getting to know more about [company operations/goals/culture], and look forward to deepening my knowledge of [company operations/goals/culture].
Be sure to thank everyone who interviewed you by sending a tailored message, not just the hiring manager.
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:
Hi [Recruiter Name],
It was wonderful speaking with you last week, and I’d like to thank you again for taking the time to interview me.
I’m writing to request a status update on my application, and to see if there are any more steps I need to follow up with.
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:
I’d love the opportunity to put my data analytics skills to good use creating new marketing strategies for [Company’s] growth. I thrive when working with teams across departments, and know I would make a valuable contribution to the collaborative culture you are building.
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:
After discussing [current market trend], I thought this article from [Publication] might be of interest to you. I found its observations on [specific topic] particularly compelling.
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 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
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:
Subject Line: Thank you for your time
Hi [Hiring Manager’s Name],
I wanted to take a moment to thank you for speaking with me about the [Position Title] role. It was great to meet with you and learn more about the position and the work being done at [Company].
I’m particularly excited about the opportunity to expand my knowledge of [job-specific skill] and take on some of the [job-specific projects] you mentioned during the interview.
After our conversation, I’m confident that my background in [industry] will give me the tools needed to become an immediate contributor to the team at [Company]. I’d be happy to answer any further questions you have about my qualifications or background, and I look forward to hearing back from you soon.
Thanks again,
[Name]
[Phone number]
[Email address]
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:
- How to ask for feedback after an interview
- Top interview tips to get you hired
- How to answer “Why are you leaving your current job?”
- “Walk me through your resume” guide and sample answers
- How to respond to “What is your greatest strength?”
- Sample answers to “Tell me about a time you failed.”
- How to answer “Why do you want to work here?”
- Most common interview questions and answers
- 55 best questions to ask the interviewer
- How to introduce yourself in an interview
- Interview questions for managers

Corissa Peterson
Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) & Content Editor
A dedicated member of the Resume Genius team with a passion for the career space, Corissa is always looking for ways to create useful resources for job seekers, from writing job-specific resume samples to crafting in-depth articles on how to ace interviews. Corissa graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder with a B.A. in Philosophy and a certificate in Peace and Conflict Studies. Corissa’s articles have been published on Diversity Jobs, Recruiter.com, Teachstone, and Jobillico, among others, and her career advice has been featured in Forbes, Bloomberg Businessweek, GOBankingRates, and UpJourney. You can connect with her on LinkedIn.
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