You walk out of the interview feeling great. You connected with the hiring manager, gave strong answers, and feel confident about your chances. But in the competitive job market, what you do after the interview can be just as important as what you do during it.
A thoughtful and professional follow-up strategy can set you apart from other candidates. Here’s a simple timeline of what to do.
Within 24 Hours: The Thank-You Email
This is non-negotiable. Sending a thank-you email is a simple, powerful way to show your appreciation and reiterate your interest in the role.
Key components of a great thank-you email:
- A Clear Subject Line: Something simple like "Thank you - [Your Name]" or "Following up on the [Job Title] interview".
- Personalization: Address the interviewer by name. If you met with multiple people, send a separate, personalized email to each one.
- Express Thanks: Start by genuinely thanking them for their time.
- Reference a Specific Detail: Mention something specific you discussed that you found interesting. This shows you were engaged and listening. For example, "I particularly enjoyed learning about the team's upcoming project to refactor the user authentication system."
- Reiterate Your Value: Briefly connect one of your key skills or experiences to the conversation. For example, "Our discussion about the need for improved data analytics reinforced my excitement, as my experience in building Tableau dashboards could directly support that goal."
- A Professional Closing: End with a simple "Sincerely" or "Best regards," followed by your name.
Pro-Tip: Keep it concise. Three short paragraphs is perfect. Send it within 24 hours of your interview.
The Waiting Game: Be Patient
After you've sent your thank-you note, the ball is in their court. Resist the urge to follow up excessively. The hiring process often takes longer than you think.
If the interviewer gave you a specific timeline (e.g., "We'll be in touch by the end of next week"), respect it. Don't email them before that deadline has passed.
One Week Later: The Gentle Nudge (If Necessary)
If you haven't heard anything by the end of the timeline they gave you (or after about a week to ten days if no timeline was given), it's appropriate to send a brief and polite follow-up email.
Example Follow-Up Email:
Subject: Checking in regarding the [Job Title] position
Dear [Interviewer's Name],
I hope you’re having a great week.
I’m writing to politely follow up on my interview last [Day of interview] for the [Job Title] position. I truly enjoyed our conversation and remain very interested in the opportunity to join your team.
Please let me know if there is any additional information I can provide.
Best regards,
[Your Name]
This email is professional, non-pushy, and serves as a gentle reminder of your continued interest.
After the Follow-Up
At this point, you've done everything you can. Continue with your job search and apply to other roles. If they are interested, they will reach out. If not, consider it a learning experience and move on to the next opportunity. A professional follow-up process ensures that you leave a positive, lasting impression, regardless of the outcome.