Most candidates don't follow up after interviews. Of those who do, most follow up too late or with emails that are either too long, too needy, or too generic. Done well, post-interview follow-up keeps you visible in the recruiter's mind and can be the difference when two candidates are equally strong.
The thank you email (24 hours after)
Send a thank you email within 24 hours of every interview. It doesn't need to be long. Three short paragraphs: thank them for their time, reference something specific from the conversation, and restate your interest. The specific reference is what separates a genuine email from a template: "I appreciated what you said about the team's approach to X" shows you were paying attention.
Subject: Thank you — [Your Name] / [Role Name]
Hi [Name],
Thank you for taking the time to speak with me today about the [Role] position. I particularly enjoyed hearing about [specific topic from the conversation]. It made the scope and challenges of the role even clearer to me.
Having learned more about [company or team], I'm genuinely excited about the opportunity. I think my background in [relevant area] would be a strong fit for [specific challenge they mentioned].
Please let me know if there's anything else I can provide. I look forward to hearing about next steps.
Best,
[Your Name]
Checking in when you haven't heard back
If the interviewer gave you a timeline ("you'll hear from us by end of next week") and that date passes without a response, wait one to two business days then send a brief follow-up. If no timeline was given, wait one week before following up. Keep it short: one paragraph, no pressure.
Subject: Following up — [Your Name] / [Role Name]
Hi [Name],
I wanted to follow up on my interview for the [Role] position. I remain very interested in the opportunity and would love to hear how the process is progressing when you have a moment.
Thank you again for your time.
Best,
[Your Name]
Following up after a rejection
A gracious rejection response is rare enough that it's memorable. Send a brief email thanking them for the opportunity, saying you understand, and asking if they'd be open to feedback. Many hiring managers appreciate the professionalism and a few will give you genuine feedback. More importantly, circumstances change: the successful candidate doesn't start, a new role opens, or you're considered for a different position in the future.
Follow-up mistakes to avoid
- Following up too many times. One thank you, one check-in. After that, move on. Multiple follow-ups after silence reads as desperation.
- Generic emails. "I look forward to hearing from you" with no specific reference to the conversation gets lost. Reference something real.
- Emailing at weekends. It reads as anxious. Schedule it for Monday morning if you're tempted to write something on a Saturday night.
- Asking for the decision timeline repeatedly. You asked once at the end of the interview. Don't make your check-in email primarily about when they'll decide.