There is no doubt that job interviews can be nerve-racking, and competing for a vacant position can be draining. However, having the necessary qualifications, skills, and interpersonal skills is not enough for an interview. To show the hiring manager how eager you are to get the job, follow-up emails can help. Follow-up after an interview can be tricky, but it is essential to build a positive impression on the hiring manager as it demonstrates your interest and professionalism. A well-structured email can make the difference between getting a job offer and not hearing back at all. In this blog, we will share some tips and samples that you can use to write a follow-up email after an interview and stay ahead in front of your potential employer’s eyes. Let us show you how to quickly write a follow-up email after an interview!

How to write a follow up email after an interview

If you’re wondering why you should send a follow-up email after an interview, let me tell you a secret: it gives you an opportunity to clear up any questions or obtain information that you may have forgotten to ask during the interview. Additionally, employers often appreciate job interview follow-up emails because they demonstrate that the candidate is going the extra mile by following up and taking initiative. In fact, hiring managers sometimes make employment decisions based on the follow-up emails they receive. So, be sure to send an after-interview follow-up email for some extra points.
Therefore, it’s advisable to send a follow-up email after the interview to leave a lasting impression.

There is no doubt that interviews are conducted in a somewhat formal tone, however, when writing a follow-up email after an interview, the tone of the email must be professional, clear, and to the point. Let’s learn what to include in a follow-up email and how to send a follow-up email after an interview!

  • Subject line

What to write in the subject line for a follow-up email after the interview is confusing and tricky at the same time. However, there is no need to spend hours thinking about what to write in the subject line. The most effective approach is to use the same subject line or reply on the most recent email communication between you and the hiring manager, this will also increase the chances of the email being opened.

For example:

Re: Event Invitation: Interview of [Name] for the XYX position

if you choose to use personalized subject line, it should be clear and with you name on it

Moreover, you can always use “Follow-up” key word in the subject line to be more clear.

For example:

Interview follow-up [Job Role] with [Name]

  • Introductory text

Start your email with a polite greeting and your brief introduction, such as

Dear [Interviewer’s Name]

Hello [Hiring Manager]

It is considered completely fine to open your follow-up email by using their first name. But if you are not sure about the name, you can always use the title or surname.

For example:

Mr. / Ms. XYZ.
Dear Sir/Madam,

Then, in your follow-up email, express gratitude for the opportunity to interview for the position.

For example:

Thank you for having me and for taking the time to speak with me about the [position] role at [company name].

  • Body text

Always keep the body text polite and to the point by explaining the main reason for sending a follow-up email after an interview. and include important information like the interview date and job title. Show enthusiasm for the job and about the next steps or modules of the hiring process. Moreover, ask for an update on the status of your job application.

For example:

I wanted to express my continued interest in the role, as I am thrilled about the potential opportunity to join the team at [Company Name]. I am sure that the team would benefit from my abilities and experience.
I am writing to check on the status of my application and to obtain an update on any further steps in the hiring process. I would be very grateful for any information you could give me regarding the schedule or next steps.

  • Provide Additional Information:

If you forgot to mention anything important during the interview or if you have additional qualifications to add, this is the time to do it.

Example:

I also wanted to mention that I have a certification and experience working as [Role].

  • Closing Text

The email closing of a job interview follow-up should be friendly, and it should include a general thank you for the interviewer’s time and consideration.

For example:

I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Best regards,
[Your Name]

What is follow-up email?

When to send a follow up email after an interview

It is considered ethical practice to send a good follow-up email after interview within 24 hours to thank the interviewer.

In general, the number of follow-up emails you send after an interview varies, but there are four basic job follow-up emails you can send:

  • The follow-up letter after the interview (within 24 hours).
  • The first post-interview follow-up email (within 7 days).
  • The second follow-up email (within 15 days).
  • The follow-up job interview email, to maintain contact in order to establish connections and interact (anytime).

According to a The Art of Following Up by (CNW Group/Accountemps), when hiring managers were asked when is the best time to send a follow-up email after the interview and how they should be approached, their response was quite surprising and it was:

Best time to send follow-up email?

According to Workmonger, in most cases, hiring managers will respond to interview emails by sending job follow-up emails to all the selected and rejected candidates within 2 business days after the most recent communication with the job seekers.

Job follow-up email?

Examplary for follow up email after an interview

Until now, we have explained to you how to write a well-structured job interview follow-up email. Now it’s time to show you how to send a follow-up email after an interview. For that, we have shared some samples of how you can send the response to interview emails or send good follow-up emails after the interview.

Follow-up email after a 1st interview

Subject line: Thank you for discussing the [Job role]

Dear [Name],

Thank you for taking the time to speak with me about the [Job Role] at [Company Name]. I appreciated the opportunity to learn more about the company and the requirements of the job.

I am excited about the possibility of joining the team at [Company Name], especially after our conversation about the company’s new project and the innovative technology involved. My experience with [Job role context] and my ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams make me confident that I would excel in this role.

Please let me know if there is any additional information I can provide to support my application. I am available at your convenience for further discussions or an in-person interview.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Best regards,

[Your Name]
Email: [Your Email]
Phone: [Your Phone Number]

Follow-up email after a 2nd interview

Dear [Hiring Manager],

I hope this email finds you well. I wanted to express my gratitude for the opportunity to interview with [Company Name] for the second time. It was great to meet with you and the [team/department] once again, and I appreciate the time you took to speak with me.

After our conversation, I remain extremely excited about the possibility of joining [Company Name] and contributing to the [specific project/team/department] that we discussed. Our discussion about [specific topic] and the [specific challenge/opportunity] that the company is facing only increased my interest in this opportunity.

If there is any additional information I can provide or any further questions you have, please do not hesitate to reach out to me.

I look forward to hearing back from you soon.

Best regards,

[Your Name]
[Your Phone number]

Second-follow-up email after no response

Subject: Application Status Follow-up - [Your Name]

Dear [Name],

I hope this email finds you well. I wanted to follow up on my previous email regarding the status of my application. I understand that you may have a busy schedule and that the hiring process may take some time. However, I am still very interested in the opportunity to join [Company Name] and contribute to the [specific project/team/department] we discussed during our interview.

If there are any updates on the hiring process or any additional information you need from me, please do not hesitate to let me know.

I look forward to hearing back from you soon.

Best regards,

[Your Name]
[Your Phone number]

Infromal/Short and sweet follow-up email after interview

Subject:Thanks for Interviewing Me - [Your Name]

Hi [Interviewer’s Name],

I wanted to drop a quick note to thank you for taking the time to interview me. It was great to learn more about [Company Name] and the opportunity to contribute to the [specific project/team/department]. I’m really excited about the possibility of joining the team, and I hope to hear back from you soon.

Thanks again!

Regards
[Your Name]
[Your Phone number]

Formal follow-up after interview

Subject: Thank You for Interview Opportunity - [Your Name]

Dear [Interviewer’s Name],

I would like to express my sincere gratitude for the opportunity to interview for the [position] role at [Company Name]. Our conversation was informative and engaging, and it confirmed my interest in joining the [specific team/department] at [Company Name].

I am confident that my skills and experience would be a great fit for the role, and I would be honored to contribute to [Company Name]’s continued success. If there is any additional information I can provide or any further questions you have, please do not hesitate to reach out to me.

Thank you again for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing back from you soon.

Best regards,

[Your Name]
[Your Phone number]

Follow-up thank you email after interview

Subject: Thank you for the [Job Role] interview

Dear [Interviewer’s Name],

I wanted to take a moment to thank you for the opportunity to interview for the [position] role at [Company Name]. It was a pleasure to meet with you and discuss my qualifications and experience in more detail.

I am excited about the possibility of contributing to [Company Name] and the [specific project/team/department] we discussed during the interview. Please do not hesitate to reach out if there is any additional information I can provide or any further questions you have.

Have a great week, and thank you again.

Best regards,
[Your Name]

Conclusion

That’s all for now!

If you’ve made it to the interview stage, it means that you have qualities that employers are interested in. However, sending a follow-up email after the job interview is important to show your ongoing interest in the position and to thank the interviewer for their time and consideration. This blog demonstrates how you can write a well-structured email for follow-up after the interview to help you stand out from other candidates and make a positive impression on your hiring managers.

We’ve done all the work for you by providing some sample templates that you can use to response to an interview email or send a follow-up email after the job interview. Good Luck!

FAQs

How long should you wait after an interview to follow up?

It is best to wait at least 24 hours after the interview before writing a follow-up email after interview to thank the interviewer for their time and express your interest and passion for the post. Most of the time, hiring managers give candidates a range of time in which to expect the results of their interviews or the next phases in the hiring process. However, if a week or two has passed and you have not heard anything from the employer or received a timeline, you can send a job interview follow-up email to inquire about the progress of your application.

Is it OK to ask for an update after an interview?

Yes, it is always OK to request an update upon an interview, particularly if the recruiting manager gave no information on the next steps in the hiring procedure. When you send a follow-up job interview email, be careful not to come off as aggressive or pushy.

Can I follow up three days after the interview?

Yes, you can! But it is always a good idea to ask the hiring manager when you can expect to hear from them or send a job follow-up email. You can send the first follow-up letter after the interview within 1–2 days after the interview and wait for the hiring manager to respond. However, if you still do not hear anything after another week, you can try again by sending a second job follow-up email.

How many times should you follow-up after an interview?

Generally, one follow-up email after an interview is sufficient. Hiring managers often respond to a single follow-up email if they haven’t already. If you haven’t received a response after about two weeks, you can consider sending a second follow-up email to inquire about the status of your application. However, sending your hiring manager too many follow-ups can come off as pushy or annoying and may give the impression that you do not respect their time and resources.

When can I expect the interview result?

Most likely, you will hear back from the hiring manager within one or two weeks after the interview, but it depends on the company too, because some companies have long hiring processes. But you can send a post-interview follow-up email if a week has passed and you have not heard from the hiring managers.