If you’ve recently attended an interview and now you’re spending your time glancing at your phone and refreshing your email, then let us suggest taking matters into your own hands with a follow-up email after an interview. Many hesitate to send a job interview follow-up email as they worry it might sound too pushy and discourage the company from considering them further but a well-crafted email can ensure the letter does not ruffle any feathers.
(Image credit – Freepik)
In most cases, companies do not advertise their hiring cycle period and how many people they are interviewing for the position. This makes it very difficult to gauge whether it’s appropriate to send a follow-up email a week after the interview or wait longer. Yet many are open to responding to your questions and the dearth of information is usually due to a lack of time. Writing a follow-up email after an interview can be a good idea when you want to encourage a response but it is equally important to write the email carefully.
Should I Send a Follow-up Email after an Interview?
Yes! You should consider sending a follow-up email after an interview. A follow-up email after an interview can help you put your mind at ease about the job opening. If the company is interested in making an offer you might be able to speed up the process by taking initiative. If they plan to shortlist you for further rounds of interviews or testing, you can then begin to prepare accordingly. Even if they do not proceed with your application, you can free your mind to pursue other opportunities.
A job interview follow-up email is also a tool to remind the interviewer of your application and not just to get an update. The email can include a few details of the interview as well as some qualifications or achievements that might refresh the interviewer’s memory of your application. This can give you a leg-up among the candidates and put you at the forefront of the interviewer’s list. You can also express your gratitude or show your appreciation for the interviewer if you can recollect anything from the experience that stood out to you. All these reasons are sufficient explanations for why you should send a follow-up email after an interview.
When to Send a Follow-up Email after an Interview?
The choice to either send a follow-up email a week after an interview or wait longer ultimately comes down to your aim with sending the follow-up email. If you would mainly like to thank the interviewer for their time and reiterate your interest in working for the company, you could consider sending a thank you email within 24 hours of the interview. This would be a more brief email expressing thanks and mentioning why you have an interest in the company. This will likely be taken into consideration immediately in the decision-making process. This might unfortunately be too soon to ask about when you can receive an update regarding your application.
Instead, you can send a follow-up email a week after the interview to provide a longer description of yourself and inquire into whether there are any changes in your application status. This email will ensure that the request is not too immediate while also indicating your continued interest in the company.
If you are someone who prefers to send a thank-you email for immediate impact and still wants an update a while later, only a week’s gap may not be enough between the two emails. You can instead wait a little longer to see if they send an update, and then hit send on the job interview follow-up email in 2 weeks’ time. A thank you email with a follow-up email 2 weeks after an interview can help you time out your response and also create an impact if they are still in consideration for the open position.
What to Write in a Follow-up Email after Interview
Similar to a thank-you email, a job interview follow-up email will include gratitude for being considered for a position, followed by a revision of the interview and an inquiry into any updates. The components are similar to any standard email.
1. A Brief but Clear Subject Line
The subject of the email needs to be to the point. You can decide what component of the email you would like to highlight, for example, the gratitude you feel, the inquiry aspect, your candidate profile, the additional details you would like to provide, etc. There is limited space to do it so you can pick one angle and use that as the context for your job interview follow-up email subject line.
Examples:
- Follow-Up: Appreciation for Interview Opportunity
- Reiterating Interest and Gratitude for the Interview
- Providing Additional Details to Support Content Writer Application
- Further Discussion on [Position] Opportunity
- Interview Follow-Up: [Your Name], [Position Applied For]
- Software Engineer Application Update Enquiry
- Post-Interview Follow-up: [Position Applied For]
- Thank you For the Interview Opportunity
2. Greetings/Salutations
The greetings can be similar to any other email format, beginning with “Dear” or any alternative greeting. If you are aware of the interviewer’s name, then you can mention that in particular. If the email is to the general HR team at the company, a “Sir” or “Ma’am” should also be acceptable. If the interviewer has any additional titles, you can use those as well.
Example:
- Dear [Name],
- Good morning Ms. [Name],
- Greeting Dr. [Name],
- To the [Company Name] Team,
- Greetings from [Your Name],
3. Introduction In the Follow-up Email after an Interview
Your follow-up email after an interview will likely require a reminder of who you are as they will be in talks with multiple candidates. You can introduce yourself by name, mention the position you’ve applied for, and also the date of the interview if you think it is necessary.
Example:
- Dear [Interviewer’s Name], I wanted to follow up after our interview at [Company Name] last [day of the week]. I am [Your Name].
- I hope this email finds you well. This is [Your Name], and I had the pleasure of interviewing for the [position] role with you on [date].
- Greetings [Interviewer’s Name], I am [Your Name], and I interviewed for the [position] position last [day of the week].
- Hi [Interviewer’s Name], I am [Your Name], and I interviewed for the [position] role with you recently. I wanted to follow up on our conversation.
- Dear [Interviewer’s Name], I trust you’re well. It’s [Your Name], the candidate with a background in [specific skill or experience]. I wanted to check in to review my application status with the company.
- Greetings [Interviewer’s Name], I hope you’re doing great. This is [Your Name], and I wanted to express my gratitude for the opportunity to interview for the [position] role.
4. Expression of Gratitude
Following the introduction, you can begin by emphasizing your gratitude for being considered for the position at the company. The follow-up email after the interview is a space to be genuine about what you appreciated about the interview process.
Example:
I want to extend my sincere thanks for considering my application and taking the time to interview me. It was a pleasure discussing the [position] role and learning more about the exciting work happening at [Company Name].
Thank you for the engaging conversation during the interview for the [position] role. I’m grateful for the opportunity to discuss how my skills align with the needs of [Company Name]. Your insights into the company’s vision have fueled my enthusiasm for the role.
I appreciate the time you spent discussing the [position] opportunity with me. It was insightful to learn more about [Company Name]’s goals and values. I’m eager about the possibility of being part of such a dynamic and forward-thinking team.
I wanted to express my gratitude for the chance to interview for the [position] position. I’m genuinely excited about the prospect of contributing to [Company Name]’s success and being part of a team that values [mention a key aspect discussed].
5. Key Points That You Recollect from the Interview
When you decide to send a follow-up email after an interview, you can consider including highlights from the interview that were important to you. This could include some insight that the interview shared, questions that made you take a deeper look at yourself, an engaging topic that defined the interview, etc. This will allow you to genuinely acknowledge the interviewer while also reminding them of how well you were able to perform in the interview.
Examples:
Since our conversation on [Topic], I have given much thought to the intricacies of [Topic] and how it relates to my plans for my career. I appreciate the insight I have gained.
I appreciate your detailed explanation of the team dynamics, especially how collaboration plays a key role in achieving [Company Name]’s objectives. My background in [your relevant experience] has prepared me to thrive in such a collaborative environment.
Our discussion about [specific project or initiative] highlighted the innovative approach [Company Name] takes in [industry]. I am particularly excited about the prospect of contributing to the success of this project, leveraging my skills in [relevant skill].
The insights you shared about the upcoming [project or goal] were truly enlightening. I am confident that my experience in [your experience] aligns well with the needs of the team as we discussed. I look forward to the opportunity to contribute to the project’s success.
6. Additional Resources
The follow-up interview can also contain additional links and resources to support your application. An interview process can often be rushed and you might miss out on providing details that boost your application. If the company has not made any decisions yet, you still have time to provide them with additional resources. Links to publishings, portfolios, other projects that are publicly available, recommendation letters, etc. are all examples of details you can include in your follow-up email a week after the interview.
7. Express your Understanding In the Follow-up Email after an Interview
You can also make a polite mention of your understanding that such decisions take time. The job interview follow-up email can convey that you do not intend to rush the decision-making, only that you are seeking an update. You can mention the request in brief. Remember to be polite while asking rather than demanding an update.
Examples:
I understand that the decision-making process may take some time, and I want to assure you that I appreciate your thoroughness in selecting the right candidate. I’m patiently awaiting your decision and am available for any additional information you might need from my end.
I am aware that these decisions require careful consideration, and I want to express my patience in awaiting your final decision. I remain enthusiastic about the opportunity to contribute to [Company Name] and am here to provide any further information if needed.
I understand that you and your team have a meticulous process for evaluating candidates, and I respect the time and effort that goes into making these decisions. I appreciate your consideration and am patiently awaiting news about the next steps. If you could give me an approximate timeline of when I can expect an update, however, I would be very grateful.
I recognize that these decisions cannot be rushed, and I want to express my understanding of the thorough process involved. I would appreciate it if you could give me an update on what the next stages of the hiring process might be and I’ll ensure my preparedness for them. I am patient and look forward to hearing from you soon regarding the outcome of my candidacy for the [position] role.
8. Reiteration of Interest
The job interview follow-up email should conclude with any additional closing remarks you have about the experience. It can include a mention of your continued interest in the position and how you feel you are the right fit for the role. The purpose of the follow-up email is to emphasize your eligibility as a serious candidate for the position.
Examples:
I want to reiterate my genuine enthusiasm for the [position] role at [Company Name]. The more I reflect on our discussions, the more confident I am that my skills in [your relevant skills] and passion for [specific aspect of the role] make me a strong fit. I look forward to the opportunity to contribute my talents to your team.
As I patiently await your decision, I want to emphasize my continued interest in the [position] role. Our conversations only deepened my enthusiasm for joining [Company Name] and contributing to the success of the [specific team or project]. I am eager to bring my [your relevant skills] to the team.
My interest in the [position] role has only strengthened since our interview. I am genuinely excited about the prospect of contributing my [specific skills] to [Company Name] and being a key player in achieving [company’s goals]. I remain enthusiastic about the opportunity to join your team.
9. Closing Words and Additional Contact Details
As is typical for any other email, your follow-up email after an interview can conclude with you signing off and writing your full name. You can also add additional contact details to ensure they have all the possible details necessary for contacting you.
Example:
Warm regards,
[Your Full Name]
[You Mobile Number]
[Your Website]
Sincerely,
[Your Full Name]
[Your LinkedIn Profile]
Thank you for your time,
[Your Full Name]
[You Mobile Number]
[Your Website]
[Social Media Pages That Display Your Work]
Best Wishes,
[Your Full Name]
Looking forward to the next steps,
[Your Full Name]
[Your Portfolio]
10. Add Attachments
If your follow-up email mentioned any additional documents such as a sample of your writing or a recommendation letter from a previous employer, remember to attach it to the email. Reattaching your resume is also an option but it is unnecessary as they likely already have a record of it from the previous round of the interview.
Example Templates of Follow-up Emails after an Interview
With all the pieces of the puzzle in your hands, all that’s left is putting it together. Let’s look at some examples of job interview follow-up emails that you can use the next time you’re waiting for the results of an interview.
1. Standard Follow-Up Email
Subject: Reflecting on our [Job Title] Interview
Dear [Interviewer’s Name],
I hope this email finds you well. I wanted to express my deepest appreciation for the insightful interview we had on [Date]. It was truly enlightening to discuss the intricacies of the [Job Title] role and learn more about the innovative projects at [Company Name].
One specific moment that stood out to me was when we delved into [specific topic discussed]. Your perspectives resonated with my professional experiences, further reinforcing my eagerness to contribute to [Company Name]. I am genuinely excited about the possibility of being a part of your esteemed team.
Thank you once again for your time and consideration. I look forward to any future updates regarding the [Job Title] position.
Best Regards,
[Your Full Name]
[Mobile Number]
2. Expressing Continued Interest
Subject: Eager to Contribute to [Job Title] Role
Dear [Interviewer’s Name],
I wanted to extend my sincere appreciation for the interview on [Date]. Our conversation not only affirmed my interest in the [Job Title] position at [Company Name] but also sparked excitement about the prospect of contributing to your dynamic team.
Specifically, when we discussed [specific aspect of the role or project], I became even more enthusiastic about the unique challenges and opportunities this role presents. Your insights into [specific topic] were invaluable and reinforced my belief that my skills in [Your Key Skills] align seamlessly with your team’s needs.
Thank you for considering my application, and I eagerly await the opportunity to contribute to the success of [Company Name].
Best Regards,
[Your Full Name]
3. Additional Information Follow-Up
Subject: Supplementing My Application for [Job Title] Position
Dear [Interviewer’s Name],
I trust this message finds you well. My name is [Your Name] and I interviewed for the position of [Role]. Following our engaging discussion on [Date], I wanted to provide additional materials to supplement my application for the [Job Title] position. In the attached document, you’ll find [documents, portfolio, etc.].
One key point that stuck with me during our interview was when we explored [specific topic]. I believe the insights shared during that discussion further highlight my alignment with the goals and objectives of [Company Name].
Thank you for your time and consideration. I am genuinely excited about the opportunity to contribute to the success of [Company Name].
Best,
[Your Full Name]
[Your Website]
4. Thank You for Multiple Interviewers
Subject: Gratitude for the Insightful Panel Interview
Dear [Interviewer’s Name] and Team,
I am a candidate for the [Role] and my name is [Name]. I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for the panel interview on [Date]. Meeting each member of your esteemed team and learning about the collaborative spirit at [Company Name] was a truly enriching experience.
A particular moment that resonated with me was when we discussed [specific project or team dynamic]. The diversity of perspectives and expertise within your team solidified my belief that the [Job Title] role aligns perfectly with my skills and career aspirations.
Thank you all for the opportunity, and I am eager to contribute my skills to the success of [Company Name].
Best Regards,
[Your Full Name]
5. Timeline Follow-Up
Subject: Eagerly Awaiting Next Steps
Dear [Interviewer’s Name],
I trust you’re doing well. Following our interview on [Date], I am eager to learn more about the anticipated timeline for the next steps in the hiring process. I remain genuinely enthusiastic about the opportunity to join [Company Name].
A memorable moment for me was when we discussed [specific aspect of the role or project]. It reinforced my belief that my skills and experiences are well-aligned with the needs of [Company Name].
I understand that hiring is a very intricate process and these decisions take time. I by no means intend to rush the process, however, I would like to request an update on when I can potentially expect to hear about the results. Please let me know and I’ll prepare myself accordingly. Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to any updates regarding the progress of my application.
Best wishes,
[Your Full Name]
[Your LinkedIn]
With these components, you should be ready to craft your job interview follow-up email with ease. Take stock of your own interview experience and use them to supplement the details in the email. This will convey a genuine interest and attention to detail, which should set you on the right track to getting the job as well.