The hardest part is behind you – you interviewed for a role you’re excited about and now you’re anxiously waiting to hear back. Maximize this time by taking some of that nervous energy and putting it into crafting the perfect follow-up.
Following up is crucial as it keeps you at the top of the recruiter’s mind and shows that you are invested in this opportunity.
A solid follow-up can make you stand out, as research shows that 68% of recruiters appreciate a thank you email.
This can be tricky to navigate – you want to hit the right timing with a thoughtful note. Follow our guide to walk through each step and create an effective follow-up plan.
Step One: Thank You Note (24-48 hours post interview)
A quick thank you note is a great way to show appreciation and interest in the role. Timing is important here. You don’t want to send a thank you email immediately after your interview, but you still want to send it in a timely manner. Our recommendation is to send it within 24 hours to 48 hours.
If you scheduled the interview through email, you can always send your thank you note within that email thread.
If you didn’t schedule your interview through email, use a warm and welcoming subject line.
Some appropriate subject lines are:
- Thank you for your time, {Interviewer Name}
- Great speaking with you today!
- Thank you – {Role Title} Interview
When crafting the body text of your email, it’s important to keep it concise and genuine. You don’t want your thank you to come across as generic and impersonal.
Here are some essential tips to help you write a strong email:
- Open with a sincere, appreciative thank you for their time and consideration.
- Share your excitement about the role.
- Personalize it with information about the role/company that you learned during the interview.
Here’s a standard template of an initial thank you email:
Hi {name},
Thank you so much for your time yesterday afternoon. It was great to speak with you and discuss the {role} position. I loved learning more about {company/role personalization} and am so excited about this opportunity.
Please let me know if there’s anything you need from me or if you have any questions.
I look forward to hearing from you!
Best,
This template works as a good guidepost, but it’s important to personalize your email to reflect your authentic voice and experience.
If you want to go the extra mile consider sending a handwritten thank you note. It’s a rare touch that can set you apart and showcase your enthusiasm.
Step Two: Follow-Up (1 week after expected answer)
Your interviewer likely gave you a timeline of when you can expect to hear back from them. If you don’t hear back by their deadline, it is proper etiquette to give them a few extra days before reaching out. You want to stay in the loop and showcase your interest while not being overly pushy. We recommend waiting a week after the expected decision day before sending another follow-up.
This follow-up should closely mirror your initial thank you. It’s important to remain polite and enthusiastic even when the lack of communication is frustrating.
Here’s a standard template of an follow-up email:
Hi {name},
I hope your day is going well. I wanted to follow up on my interview for the {role title} role.
I enjoyed our conversation and learning more about {company name}’s dedication to {personalized detail}.
I am excited about the opportunity to work with you and wanted to know if there were any updates about the next steps for the position.
Please let me know if there’s anything I can share with you in the meantime.
Take care,
These simple steps can leave a lasting impression. It signals to your interviewer that you are conscientious, interested, and dedicated. If you want to level up your interview game, carve out five extra minutes to work on a thoughtful follow-up.
