How to Follow Up After an Interview: Email Templates and Timeline

Send a thank-you email within 24 hours of every interview. This is not just a formality; it is an opportunity to reinforce your candidacy. Reference something specific from the conversation to show you were engaged and attentive.

Keep it brief (3-4 short paragraphs). Thank the interviewer for their time, reference a specific discussion point, reiterate your enthusiasm for the role, and offer to provide any additional information.

If you interviewed with multiple people, send a personalized email to each one. Do not copy-paste the same message. Reference something unique from each conversation.

A strong thank-you email can tip the scales in your favor, especially when the decision is between closely matched candidates. It demonstrates follow-through, communication skills, and genuine interest.

If the interviewer gave you a timeline ('We will get back to you within a week'), wait until that timeline has passed before following up. If no timeline was given, wait 5-7 business days after your last communication.

Your follow-up should be polite and professional: 'I wanted to check in on the status of the Senior Developer position. I remain very enthusiastic about the opportunity and would be happy to provide any additional information that might be helpful.'

Do not follow up more than twice. If you have sent two follow-ups without a response, take the hint and move forward. Excessive follow-ups can damage your candidacy.

If you have competing offers, it is appropriate to mention this: 'I have received another offer with a deadline of [date]. However, your role remains my top choice, and I wanted to check if there is an update on the timeline.'

After phone screens: A brief email thanking the recruiter and confirming your interest is sufficient. Keep it to 2-3 sentences.

After technical rounds: Thank the interviewer and, if relevant, mention any additional thoughts on the technical discussion: 'After our conversation, I thought more about the caching approach we discussed and wanted to share an additional idea.'

After final rounds: This is where a strong follow-up matters most. Send a personalized note to each interviewer within 24 hours. Express specific enthusiasm about what you learned about the team and role.

After rejection: Send a gracious response thanking them for their consideration. Ask if they have any feedback for improvement. Express interest in future opportunities. This professionalism can lead to referrals or future roles.

Never follow up via phone call unless the interviewer specifically asked you to. Email is the professional standard for post-interview communication.

Avoid being too casual or too formal. Match the tone of your conversations during the interview. If the interview was conversational, your email can be warm. If it was formal, keep your email professional.

Do not use the follow-up as an opportunity to re-answer a question you think you botched. This comes across as insecure. If there is a genuinely important point you forgot to make, you can briefly mention it, but do not rehash the entire interview.

Proofread everything. A follow-up email with typos or the wrong interviewer's name undermines the very professionalism you are trying to demonstrate. Double-check names, titles, and company name before hitting send.