How to Follow Up After an Interview (Email Templates)

Sample follow-up email after interview, How to Follow Up After An Interview, how to write a follow-up email after an interview, How To Write A Follow-Up Email?

Discover the best ways to follow up after an interview. Use our proven email templates to leave a lasting impression and boost your chances of getting hired.

Have you ever been ghosted by a recruiter after an interview? It can be frustrating when you give a great interview and don’t hear back from them. A hundred questions race through your mind: Have they chosen somebody else for the role? Is the position on hold?

Your interview may have been great. However, sometimes, companies take longer to respond if they receive more applications than expected. In other cases, internal approvals may take longer, leading to positions being put on hold. Since you are not familiar with the internal processes of the company, you can only guess the reason for the delay.

But as time goes by, you wonder whether to continue waiting for a call back or reach out to the interviewer. Should you call or email? If yes, how to write a follow-up email after an interview that elicits a response?

In this blog, we’ll take you through:

The best practices for following up after an interview
How to write a follow-up email after an interview
Sample follow-up email after interview

Ready? Let’s get started.

Why Following Up After An Interview Matters

Many candidates wonder if it’s polite to ask for an update after an interview. The answer: Yes, you certainly can follow up after an interview. The worst that could happen is they might tell you they are still interviewing candidates. However, the key is to allow enough time before reaching out, use professional language, and be respectful of their time.

Following up after an interview is necessary if the interviewer didn’t mention a specific timeframe for a callback. It shows that you are proactive and genuinely interested in the role. Even if you’re told you’ve not been selected for the role, the simple act of following up could open other doors for you in the future.

The interviewer is likely to remember you the next time they are hiring, giving you an edge over other candidates. Are you looking for mock interview assistance instead?

How to Follow-Up After an Interview?

To be effective, a follow-up email must be clear, concise, and addressed to the right person. Here are a few tips and strategies for how to follow up after an interview:

Use a clear subject line

Mention the role you applied for in the subject line along with your name. For example, following up on our interview on Feb 12.

Personalize your email

Address the interviewer by name. This helps you make a personal connection and may increase the chances of your email being opened.

Thank them for their time

On average, recruiters handle more than 250 resumes for a single job opening. This is followed by interviewing multiple candidates. By thanking the interviewer, you show appreciation for their efforts and come across as a considerate person.

Use an anecdote or point you may have discussed

If not by name, a recruiter is likely to remember you by a comment you made or an experience shared during the interview. Briefly mentioning it can refresh the interviewer’s memory and potentially help you land the job offer.

Ask about next steps

Frame this question politely, no matter how long you may have been waiting for the interviewer to follow up. A simple “I look forward to hearing from you’ also works well. Ask if they need any additional information from you before confirming the interview status.

Close with a thank you

As with any business email, thank the interviewer and sign off with a professional email signature.

When and How Often Should You Follow Up?

Ideally, you should follow up with the interviewer at regular intervals to build rapport and increase the odds of getting an offer:

The day after the interview

Sending a thank-you email within 24 hours of an interview is a great way to stand out from other candidates. It is a fairly common practice in Western countries and can potentially increase your chances of getting an offer.
No response follow-up

When following up for a status update, timing is very important. Ideally, you should wait for about two weeks before sending a follow-up email. Mention the role you interviewed for and the date.
Final follow-up

If you still haven’t heard back, send a third and final follow-up email up to a week later. Avoid showing desperation or frustration in your email.

How to Write a Professional Follow-Up Email

So what sets a good follow-up email apart from an average one? Here are some examples you can use:

Subject Line

If writing a thank-you email, a simple ‘Thank you for interviewing me’ works well. In case you’re following up for hiring status updates, directly state the reason in your subject line. For example: Follow-Up for [Role] Interview. Ideally, you shouldn’t include the interviewer’s name in the subject line. Include it in the salutation instead.
Second Paragraph

Relate an anecdote or point of discussion shared by the interviewer that you found valuable. This helps them remember you better. However, make sure you don’t provide any clarifications on questions asked during the interview.

For example, “I found our discussion on the rapid advancements in driverless cars and artificial intelligence insightful”.
Third Paragraph

When asking for an interview status update, make sure you’re polite and don’t sound as if you’re desperate for the job. For example, “Could you provide an update regarding the [Position] interview last week? Are there any additional steps I need to complete?”

Greeting

If the interview was taken by someone other than the person who sent you the email, it is best to use the last name in the greeting. For example: Dear Mr. Sharma. If not, you can use the first name since you would have interacted with them one-on-one. For example, Dear Vivek.

Pro Tip: It’s best to follow the naming convention used by the company in previous emails you may have received.
Opening paragraph

Begin by thanking the recruiter for taking the time to interview you. Mention the date the interview took place as well as the position you applied for. For example: Thank you for interviewing me for the role of [Position] on [Date/Time]. This opening works for both ‘thank you’ emails and interview status follow-ups.
Closing

Use simple closings like “Sincerely” or “Best regards” as they work best. Sign off with your name and contact information.

Sample Follow-Up Email After Interview

In this section, we’ll go over follow-up email examples that help you make the right impression on the interviewer:

Example 1: Thank You Email—within 24 hours of the interview

Subject Line: Thank you for considering me for this role

Dear [Interviewer’s Name]

Thank you for interviewing me for [Position] at [Company Name] on [Day, Date or Time]. I’m excited about being a part of your team, learning new skills, and sharing my experiences with the team.

I appreciate your deep insights on how digital marketing is evolving with the rapid adoption of AI. This opportunity will enable me to work with the latest tools and techniques for optimizing online marketing.

Please advise on the status of my application and if you need additional information from my end.

I look forward to hearing back from you about the role.

Sincerely,

[Your Name and Contact Info]

Example 2: Initial Follow Up Email—one to two weeks after the interview

Subject Line: Requesting Interview Update—[Your Name]

Dear [Interviewer’s Name]

Hope you’re doing well. I’m following up regarding the interview for the position of [Job Role] on [Date]. I look forward to working for your team.

Please let me know if there are any updates regarding my application or the next steps in the interview process.

Thank you for your help!

Best Regards,

[Your Name and Contact Details]

Example 3: Second Follow Up Email After an Interview

Subject Line: Follow Up Regarding [Position] at [Company]

Dear [Interviewer’s Name],

I’ve reached out about the [Position] role at [Company Name] a couple of times, but haven’t heard back from you. I understand there may be some internal things you may be working on. If so, I’d like to say that I completely understand if you cannot proceed with my application at this moment.

Please reach out if you have any questions or concerns regarding my application.

Sincerely

[Your Name]

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