Appearing for a job interview is the adult version of taking a dreaded exam. 

There’s the initial nervousness of facing your interviewers, followed by the process of answering their questions, and culminating with a sigh of relief. Of course, there’s also some excitement in the days leading up to the results. 

The waiting and the not knowing are the hardest parts. While we could never pester examiners to hurry up with the results, as adults we have a neat trick to fast-track the process and curb the anxiety.

Enter: Interview follow-up emails. 

Should you follow-up an interview with email?

Wait, won’t that look too pushy? 

As a former naive graduate slash jobseeker, I’ve asked myself this often. 

The answer? YES! You should definitely follow-up an interview with email. It’s a smart move that can tip the scales overwhelmingly in your favor.  

Of course, it’s not a guarantee that you’ll land the job. But it sure has a host of benefits.

The importance and benefits of sending an interview follow-up email

It is important to send a follow-up email after an interview for the following reasons:

1. It helps remind the hiring manager/recruiter/interviewer of your candidature when you may be competing with hundreds of applicants
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2. It gives you the opportunity to reiterate your interest in the position and highlight your strengths, which can help you stand out among other candidates
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3. A follow-up email also shows the interviewer that you are proactive, courteous, and professional. It demonstrates that you take the job opportunity seriously and are willing to put in the effort to make a good impression
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4. It also gives you a second-chance to get/give answers to questions or concerns that weren’t addressed during the interview

Overall, sending a follow-up email after a job interview can help you leave a lasting impression on the interviewer and increase your chances of getting hired when there’s a close contest between top candidates.

Interview follow-up emails 101: Some FAQs

Despite their significance, only a handful of people actually end up sending follow-up emails after an interview. Jobseekers have a lot of doubts, hesitations, and questions on the subject. Here’s an attempt to clarify some of the FAQs for you.

1. When should you send a follow-up email after an interview?

Timing is crucial when it comes to sending a follow-up email after an interview. You don't want to appear desperate or annoying by sending the email too soon or too frequently. At the same time, you don't want to appear uninterested.

HR veterans agree it's best to send a follow-up email within 24-48 hours after the interview. This allows you to strike while the iron is hot and reiterate your interest in the position while the interviewer still has a fresh memory of you.

However, if the interviewer has given you a specific timeline for when they will make a decision, it's best to wait until that time and then send the follow-up email.

2. How do you politely ask for an interview result?

What to do when not hearing back is driving you crazy? Don’t worry, I’m not judging you; I’ve been there too. 

After you’ve given the interviewer(s) enough time to review your application and make a decision, you can reach out to them if they’ve not been in touch. 

When you do follow up, be sure to thank the interviewer for their time and express your continued interest in the position. You can then politely ask about the status of your application, such as

"I wanted to follow up on my interview last week and inquire about the status of my application. Do you have an estimated timeline for when a decision will be made?"

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

We’ve established that following up is good. But there’s a thin line between your persistence and the interviewers' annoyance. This is why it’s best to limit your follow-up attempts to no more than three or four emails, spaced out over a reasonable amount of time.

4. What to do in case of no response after the interview?

After sending the initial follow-up email within 24-48 hours of the interview, you may follow up once more after a week or two if you haven't heard back from the interviewer.

If you still don’t get a response, you can send one final follow-up email to express your gratitude for the opportunity and inquire after the status one last time. At this point, it's best to move on and focus on other opportunities unless you receive a response indicating otherwise.

Now that you’ve had a crash course in interview follow-ups, let’s dive into the details of crafting a good follow-up email. 

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

Here’s a handy checklist of the key things to include in your follow-up email:

1. Clear subject line: Put some time and thought into writing the subject line as this is the first thing that will get your email noticed (and opened) in a crowded inbox. 

2. Gratitude: Start your email by expressing your appreciation for the interviewer taking the time to meet with you. A kind word goes a long way.

3. Reiteration of your interest in the position: Let the interviewer know that you are still interested in the position and excited about the opportunity to work for their company.

4. Highlights of your qualifications: Briefly remind the interviewer of your qualifications and skills that make you a strong candidate for the position.

5. Clarification of concerns: If there were any concerns or questions that came up during the interview, address them in your follow-up email.

6. Additional information: If there is any additional information that you forgot to mention during the interview, include it in your email.

7. Call to action (CTA): Let the interviewer know that you are looking forward to hearing back from them and express your willingness to provide any further information they might need.

Remember to keep your email professional, concise, and well-organized for it to have the strongest impact.

Interview follow-up email subject line examples

A powerful subject line can help ensure that your follow-up email gets the recipient’s attention in a sea of similar looking emails. Studies have found that subject lines account for up to 50% of email opens and clicks. When done right, they also increase your chances of getting a reply. 

Here are some examples of effective subject lines for interview follow-up emails

Thank You for the Interview, [First Name]

Following Up on [Position/Interview]

Checking In on [Position/Interview]

Grateful for the Opportunity to Interview

Excited to Discuss Next Steps for [Position/Interview]

My Thoughts After Interviewing for [Position/Interview]

Questions About [Position/Interview] Opportunity

Hoping to Touch Base on [Position/Interview]

Remember to keep the subject line concise, professional, and relevant to the content of your email. Avoid using cliches or overly pushy language too. 

Templates and examples to help you write the best interview follow-up emails

If writing a follow-up email from scratch seems like too much work, you can always rely on help, that is, these five interview follow-up email templates and examples.

1. Post-interview thank you email

Why send it?

To thank your interviewer for their time (and because you’re a nice human being!)

Whom to send it to?

The person you interviewed with and the hiring manager(s). If there was a panel, you may send it to the lead interviewer or even personalized notes to all the panelists. 

When to send it?

Within 24-48 hours of the interview

Template

Subject line: Thank you for the opportunity to interview

Hi [Name],

Thank you for giving me an opportunity to chat with you about [Position] [today/yesterday]. It was great connecting with you and understanding what you’re looking for and what the company culture is like.

I enjoyed our conversation and learned quite a few things about [Topic/Theme] as well. I now know for sure that it will be an enriching experience to work for [Company Name].

I remain interested in the role and am excited to continue showing you what I can offer. Please let me know if I can answer any questions or share more information to  enhance my application. 

I look forward to hearing from you in the coming week.

Best wishes,
[Your Name]
[Your Contact Details]

2. Status check follow-up email after an interview 

Why send it?

To follow-up on the status of your application in the absence of expected communication

‍Whom to send it to?

The recruiter or hiring manager

When to send it?

2-3 days after you expected a response

Template

Subject line: Following up on an interview for [Position]

Hello [Hiring Manager’s Name],

Hope everything is going well. 

I thought I’d check in on the status of my application for [Position]. 

During my interview on [Date and day] you had mentioned that the next steps will involve [insert a quick summary of the next steps].

I would love to keep the conversation going and learn more about how I can best contribute to [Company Name]. With my qualifications and diverse experience in [Field of expertise], I’m sure I’ll be a natural fit for [Position].

Please let me know if you have an update and if there are any additional details I could share to facilitate the process.

I am excited about chatting with you again, soon!

Best,
[Your Sign-off]

3. Second status check follow-up email after an interview

Why send it?

To remind the recruiter or hiring manager that you’re still interested in the position and are waiting to hear back from them

Whom to send it to?

The recruiter or hiring manager

When to send it?

A week after sending your first follow-up email

Pro tip

You can send your second follow-up email as a reply to your first one in the email chain to set context and highlight that you’re still interested and keen on hearing back, without needing to type the same things repeatedly. 

If you have an additional offer, you can also use the second follow-up email to communicate this and clarify your preferences.

Template

Subject line: Re: Following up on an interview for [Position]

Hi [Hiring Manager’s Name],

I’m writing to follow up on my last email regarding the next steps in the interview process for [Position]. 

I also wanted to inform you that I’ve been offered another position [You can mention the name of the company if you like].  My deadline for accepting or rejecting the offer is [Deadline]. 

I still think I’ll be a better fit here and remain very interested in working with you as your new [Position]. 

Please, let me know if I should expect a decision before the deadline established with [Alternative Company Name].

I’m available for a chat or call if you need any additional information from me. 

Looking forward to hearing from you soon!

Thanks again,
[Your Name]
[Your Sign-off]

4. Status check follow-up email after a second interview

Why send it?

You made it to round 2! This means that your recruitment process is moving forward, the hiring managers find you a promising candidate, and they’re keen to evaluate you further. The follow-up email after the second interview gives you a chance to showcase your abilities and skills and how they’ll help you thrive in the position.

Whom to send it to?

Sending a personalized note to each of your interview panelists and hiring managers is a good idea at this stage, just like your follow-up/thank you email after the first interview. 

When to send it?

Within 24-48 hours of the second interview 

Template

Subject line: Some Thoughts After Interviewing for [Position]

Dear [Interviewer’s Name],

I can’t thank you enough for the chance to exchange ideas a second time. Now I am fairly positive that working as a [Position Name] with [Company Name] would be the right step and a dream come true for me.

As I thought back to the [Project] we talked about, I came up with some possible scenarios and action items that could help us deal with [Specific issues/problems].

I’ve outlined my ideas briefly in the attached document. I’d be happy to hop on a call and discuss them in detail if you like, as well.

Thank you again for your time and advice. Looking forward to hearing from you.

Best,
[Your Name]
[Your Sign-off]

5. Final interview follow-up email after no response/Staying in touch email

Why send it?

To keep doors open for future communication even if things didn’t work out this time

Whom to send it to?

Anyone you were in touch with during the application process and would like to establish a professional relationship with for the future

When to send it?

• If you still haven’t gotten a response after checking in a couple of times
• If your application process has ended in rejection

Template

Subject: Staying in touch

Dear [First Name],

Hope you’re well. I’m reaching out to say thank you again for your time and consideration. 

I very much enjoyed my conversations with you and others at [Company Name] and gleaned a lot of insights about [Position] and [Industry] which will help me in the future. 

Your own career trajectory, for example, has inspired me significantly. If you’re open to talking about how you started and grew into your current role as [Role], I’d be super grateful.  

If you have 20 minutes to spare in the next few weeks, we could hop on a call or grab a quick cup of coffee together. I’m sharing a link to my calendar so that you can choose a time that works for you.

Thanks once again for everything. I hope to see you soon!

Regards,
[Your Name and Sign-off]

With these handy templates, you’ll never have to think twice or scratch your head while penning a follow-up email after a job interview.

Rounding up: Best practices for sending interview follow-up emails from experts

Follow-up emails can be a powerful tool in your job search arsenal. Here are some insider tips and best practices to help you craft effective and engaging follow-up emails after a job interview:

1. Be prompt but not pushy

It's important to send your follow-up email within 24-48 hours of your interview, but you don't want to come across as pushy or desperate. Strike a balance by thanking the interviewer for their time and expressing your continued interest in the role.

2. Personalize your email

Mention specific points from your conversation to show that you were engaged and attentive during the interview. 

"Take the time to recap a special part of the interview conversation that made an impact on you. I think as an interviewer, if a candidate remembers a topic that we both talked about and they bothered to highlight it in a follow-up email, it really shows you made an impression!” says Priscilla Rodrigues, Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist at FREE NOW, a mobility solutions company based in Germany. 

3. Show your value

Use your follow-up email as an opportunity to showcase your relevant skills and experience. Share examples of how you've solved similar problems in the past and how you can contribute to the company's success.

4. Keep it brief

Your follow-up email should be concise and to the point. Keep it focused on the purpose of the email: expressing your gratitude, reiterating your interest, and sharing any additional information that could be helpful.

5. Use a professional tone

While it's okay to inject a bit of personality into your email, remember to keep it professional. Avoid slang, jokes, or anything that could be interpreted as unprofessional or offensive.

Kennet Alphy, a Career Transformation Mentor based in India, adds: “Maintain a positive tone throughout, and don’t show frustration, even if this is a second or third follow-up after no response. That last point is critical. Even if you’re about to send a second or third interview follow-up email after two weeks, writing a rude message or showing frustration won’t make the employer’s decision-making process move any faster, and it could even cost you the job.”

6. Proofread, proofread, proofread

Don't let typos or grammatical errors derail your job search efforts. Always proofread your follow-up email before sending it to ensure that it's polished and error-free.

Want a writing assistant that can take over this tedious task for you? Check out our top 10 picks of free AI writing assistant tools to speed up your workflow!

7. Follow up but don't overdo it

If you don't hear back from the interviewer after your first follow-up email, it's okay to send a second or utmost a third one. However, after that, it's best to move on and focus on other job opportunities. Remember that there are many factors that can impact the hiring process, and it's not always within your control.

Writing effective interview follow-up emails takes a lot more than typing away at your keyboard, demanding answers. It requires as much patience as skill and a knack for detail. By following these tips and best practices, you can increase your chances of standing out from the competition and landing your dream job.

Write and send interview follow-up emails 30x faster with OSlash text expander

Writing interview follow-up emails can be time-consuming, especially when you're applying for multiple jobs, as any prudent candidate would. 

But with OSlash text expander, you can streamline the process and send personalized follow-up emails—30 times faster. OSlash lets you create customizable templates and shortcuts for things that you type out repeatedly. 

This means you can create and save a template for each interview follow-up email, leaving placeholders for variable text such as the recipient's name, the position you applied for, the company’s name, and other key details. 

Here’s a glimpse of how it works:

What would take you hours will take seconds with OSlash text expander. And it will free up valuable time for the many, many activities that make up the arduous journey that a job search can be.

Recommended reading: How to use a text expander to save time

The best part? It’s absolutely free to do all this! Get OSlash text expander today and say goodbye to writing the same thing over and over.