What should I say in a follow up email after an interview?
Asked by: Iliana Rosenbaum | Last update: February 5, 2026Score: 5/5 (62 votes)
A follow-up email after an interview should be concise, professional, and express appreciation for the interviewer's time [1, 2, 3]. It should also reiterate your interest in the position and provide a brief reminder of why you are a strong candidate [2, 3, 4].
How long should I wait after an interview to send a follow-up email?
It's best to wait about a week after your interview before sending a follow-up email. Thank them again for the opportunity, express your continued interest, and ask if there are any updates on the timeline.
How to follow up after an interview without sounding desperate?
To follow up after an interview without sounding desperate, send a concise, personalized thank-you email within 24 hours, reiterating interest and referencing a specific point from the conversation. Wait until after the timeline they provided (if any) before sending a brief, polite check-in email that adds value (like an idea or resource) or simply asks for an update, focusing on confidence, not impatience, and avoid over-messaging.
How do you politely ask for an interview result?
To politely ask for interview results, send a brief, professional email reiterating your strong interest in the role, referencing your interview details, and asking for an update on the hiring timeline and next steps, keeping it concise, enthusiastic, and respectful of their time after about a week if you haven't heard back.
What is the biggest red flag to hear when being interviewed?
The biggest red flags in an interview involve toxic culture indicators like an interviewer badmouthing former employees, being rude or disrespectful (distracted, interrupting, condescending), or showing a lack of transparency about the role or company, often signaled by vague answers, high turnover, or pressure to accept quickly; these suggest a poor environment where you won't be valued or supported.
HOW TO FOLLOW UP after a Job Interview! (The PERFECT Interview Follow-Up Email Template!)
How to tell if an interview went badly?
Signs your interview went badly include the interviewer seeming disinterested (checking the clock, looking away), the interview ending much shorter than scheduled, a lack of engaging follow-up questions, negative body language (slouching, frowning), and minimal discussion about the role or next steps, indicating a lack of connection or fit. You might also feel rushed, struggle to answer questions, or notice the conversation becoming one-sided and abrupt, signaling the interviewer decided you weren't the right candidate.
What is the 7 second rule in resume?
The "7-second resume rule" means recruiters scan resumes in about 7 seconds to decide if a candidate is a potential fit, looking for key info like skills, keywords, and achievements, often through an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) first. To pass this quick test, your resume needs clear formatting, a strong summary, quantifiable achievements with action verbs, relevant keywords, and to be tailored for the specific job, making it easy to spot your value quickly.
How do you ask if you're still being considered for a job?
How do you follow up after applying for a job?
- Wait one to two weeks after applying.
- Find the recruiter's contact information and research about the company culture.
- Write a short follow-up email.
- Ask for your application status.
- Be polite and professional in your follow-up.
How do you respectfully ask for a status update?
Status Update Requests Are a Standard Business Practice
You're just doing your part to keep things moving. Keep it short, polite, and clear. Use a gentle reminder like: “Just checking in to see if there's any update on this.” That's how you sound professional without sounding pushy.
How do you politely follow up after an interview?
To politely follow up after an interview, send a personalized thank-you email within 24 hours, referencing specific discussion points and reaffirming interest, then wait a week or until their stated deadline to send a brief check-in email asking about next steps while offering more information, ensuring a positive, professional tone and proofreading carefully.
What are the 3 C's of interviewing?
The "3 C's of Interviewing" vary slightly by source, but commonly refer to Confidence, Competence, and Credibility for candidates (showing you can do the job, have the right skills, and are believable) or Clarity, Confidence, and Commitment/Control/Chemistry for interviewers (setting clear expectations, projecting confidence in the role, and ensuring a good fit). For candidates, demonstrating these through specific examples helps prove you're the right person, while for interviewers, they guide a structured, effective assessment.
What are good signs an interview went well?
While you cannot say for certain whether you got the job, here are some good signs that your interview was successful.
- Your interview lasted longer than expected. ...
- You had an engaged conversation. ...
- The interviewer referred to you personally. ...
- Your interviewer's body language was positive.
How do you politely follow up on status?
Keep it polite.
Use a professional and respectful tone to avoid appearing pushy. For example, phrases like “I wanted to kindly check in” balance persistence with politeness. Avoid overly frequent follow-ups, which can seem intrusive; spacing them out by a week is typically a good rule of thumb.
What's the best subject line for follow-up?
Personalize your subject line. Consider adding your recipient's name, a company name or a shared connection or experience you have with the recipient to the subject line. This shows your attention to detail and can entice them to open it. Optimize the snippet.
What are signs I won't get the job?
17 signs you didn't get the job
- It's too quick. ...
- You feel like your responses were cut off. ...
- You're told you're lacking essential qualifications that can't be trained. ...
- They ask you to run through your resume and nothing else. ...
- They don't respond to your thank you email or other follow-up attempts.
Is it too pushy to follow up after an interview?
As far as whether or not you fear that you'll be too pushy or lax, know that—as long as you're respectful and tactful—following up is generally appreciated. Of course, this differs based on the organization.
How to write a follow-up email without sounding pushy?
Use these five practical tips to write a follow-up that gets results, without sounding pushy.
- Follow up early. Supportive: “Due in one week.” ...
- Be clear and specific. Skip vague lines like “Just checking in…” ...
- Tailor to the person. Some people prefer email. ...
- Use GenAI to help. Try this prompt: ...
- Remember the benefits.
How can I politely tell someone that I'm waiting for their response?
“I'm Looking Forward To Hearing From You ”: Business-Friendly Alternatives
- I'm eagerly awaiting your response. ...
- Your prompt response would be appreciated. ...
- Thank you for your timely response. ...
- I hope to hear from you soon. ...
- Please keep me informed of any updates. ...
- [Be direct and include a call-to-action]
What to say instead of checking in or following up?
Alternatives to “Just checking in” include opening your message with context, requesting a specific status update, sending a friendly reminder, and asking your recipient for any questions or concerns.
What is the 70 rule of hiring?
The 70% rule of hiring is a guideline suggesting you should apply for jobs or hire candidates if they meet about 70% of the listed requirements, focusing on trainable skills and potential rather than a perfect match, which often leads to better hires by bringing fresh perspectives and fostering growth, while also preventing paralysis by analysis for both applicants and recruiters. It encourages focusing on core competencies, transferable skills, and a candidate's eagerness to learn the remaining 30%.
How do I write a professional follow-up message?
Best practices for writing follow-up emails
- Start with a polite greeting – Address the recipient by name.
- Reference previous communication – Briefly mention past interactions.
- Clearly state your purpose – Keep your message focused and concise.
- Include a strong CTA – Clearly state what you want them to do next.
Should I inquire about a job after an interview?
Two weeks after the final interview: If you haven't heard anything within about two weeks, sending a follow-up to the recruiter or hiring manager (whomever you've been in touch with about the interview process most) is standard practice. At this point, you can ask about when you might expect to hear anything.
What are the 3 C's of a resume?
The 3 Cs of a resume typically refer to Clear, Concise, and Clean/Consistent, emphasizing that your resume must be easy to read, to the point, well-formatted, and free of errors to quickly show employers your qualifications for a specific job. A slightly different interpretation focuses on the candidate's qualities: Competence, Commitment, and Character/Chemistry, highlighting your ability to do the job, dedication, and fit with the company culture.
What are red flags on resumes?
Resume red flags are warning signs like typos, unexplained gaps, job-hopping, lack of quantifiable achievements, generic content, poor formatting, and irrelevant info, signaling to recruiters potential issues with professionalism, fit, or stability, while red flags include spelling errors, unexplained gaps, job-hopping, lack of quantifiable achievements, poor formatting, irrelevant info, and unprofessional emails. To avoid them, tailor your resume, focus on impact with metrics, keep it concise, and proofread meticulously.
What are the 5 P's of a resume?
The "5 Ps of a Resume" aren't a single, universally agreed-upon list but often refer to key principles for standing out, such as Positioning, Personal Branding, Presentation, Persistence, and Proofreading/Precision, focusing on clearly showing who you are, what problems you solve, and how you're a valuable asset, all while ensuring your application is flawless and targeted. It's about being strategic and making an immediate, positive impact with your application materials.