Follow up email after interview: Samples and tips

You put on your best business attire, practiced your interview answers one more time, and sat down across the table from your potential new boss. After the interview, you probably feel a huge sense of relief. The hardest part is behind you.

However, while much of your work is done, it is still important to conclude the process with a follow up email after interview. You can use post-interview emails for a variety of reasons. Exactly what you write in your email will have a lot to do with the purpose of your email and the timing of your correspondence. In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about a follow up email after an interview, including samples and tips.

What is an interview follow up email?

An interview follow up email is a correspondence you can use to reach back out to a recruiter or hiring manager. Not only is this note a great chance to say thank you for the opportunity to sit down for an interview, but it is also another opportunity to showcase your professionalism and interest in the position. It can serve a number of purposes, such as checking in on the status of the company’s hiring decision or bringing up something you forgot during your interview.

Depending on the purpose of your email, you’ll want to adjust the content of the letter to fit your needs. However, regardless of the intent, all interview follow up emails should be professional, concise, and address your interviewer by name.

Common types of interview follow up emails

There are numerous types of interview follow up emails. The type you write will depend on the situation you are in and what you are hoping to accomplish by sending your email. Check out the following common types of interview follow up emails and choose the right style for your particular scenario.

After interview status update

Your interview went well. The hiring manager told you they would have a decision for you by the end of the week, and then you hear radio silence. When crickets are chirping, a follow up email can be the perfect response.

A follow up email after interview status update is great when you don’t hear anything about the hiring manager’s decision. The key to making this email work is to be courteous in your request. For example, rather than saying the following, which sounds accusatory:

“I thought you said you would have a decision for me by the end of the week, but I haven’t heard anything from you. What is the status of your decision?”

You could try this instead:

“I enjoyed sitting down with you on Monday. I thought I’d check in on the status of your decision, as you mentioned that your team would be making a final choice by August 25. Please let me know if you have any other questions for me. I look forward to hearing back soon.”

Follow up thank you email

Another popular reason for sending a follow up email after an interview is to say thank you to your interviewer. This is not only courteous, but it is a wonderful way to help keep your name top of mind during the hiring process.

A thank you email should be sent promptly after your interview — generally within 24 hours of the interview. Along with saying thanks, the email should include a quick recap of the interview and invite the recruiter to reach out with any additional questions.

Follow up email withdrawing from consideration

In some cases, you might write a follow up email after an interview to indicate that you are no longer interested in the position. Just as you don’t want to be left hanging after an interview, a hiring manager deserves to know if you have moved on and are no longer interested in the role. Keep in mind, only send this email if you are positive you no longer want to be considered for the job. In some cases, even if you are pursuing another job offer, you might want to leave the door open until you have finalized a start date and know what compensation you are being offered. Once you retract your application, it is hard to undo.

Follow up email after interview examples

Use the following follow up email after interview examples to help you craft a professional follow up email after your next interview.

Example 1: Thank you

Dear Mr. Stridle,

I enjoyed sitting down with you today to discuss the Marketing Specialist role at ABC Agency. After hearing more about the position, I feel that my previous five years of experience as a Digital Marketing Specialist is the perfect fit for your needs.

Additionally, the current issue you discussed around increasing organic search for your brand is something I am excited to tackle. In fact, in my previous role, I was able to help one of my clients grow its organic reach by 50%.

In addition to my experience, I will bring to your team strong communication skills and a background in data analytics.

Thank you for taking the time to interview me today. Please reach out if you have any further questions for me throughout the hiring process.

Sincerely,

Jasmine Struss

Example 2: Status update (or follow up email after interview no response)

Dear Mrs. Flender,

Thank you for considering me for the role of Store Manager at ABC Storage. I thought I would touch base with you about your hiring decision, as you mentioned that you would be making a decision by August 31.

Please let me know if you have any further questions for me. I look forward to speaking with you soon.

Sincerely,

Kristin Lake

Example 3: Withdrawal of application

Dear Mrs. Anderson,

Thank you for considering me for the role of Customer Service Lead at PhoneTree. After careful thought, I have decided to withdraw myself from consideration.

I appreciate the time you spent speaking with me Monday, and I wish you and your team all the best.

Sincerely,

Frank Ackar

What are the best interview follow up email subject lines?

When you write a follow up email, one of the first things the recipient will see is the subject line of your email. This might make you wonder what are the best interview follow up email subject lines to get your email opened and read.

Try one of the following ideas or create your own based on something unique you discussed in the interview:

• Thank you, [Interviewer’s Name]
• [Position Title] Interview — [Your Name]
• I enjoyed meeting you today!
• Thanks for the interview
• [Interviewer’s Name], a quick follow up

Tips for how to follow up on a job interview

Following up with your interviewer is an important step in finalizing the interview process. Use the following list of insights to make sure that when you do follow up, you’re helping improve your odds of landing the job:

• Consider your timing: For a thank you email, it is best to send your follow up within 24 hours of your interview. For emails requesting a timeline update, wait until after the end of the business day they gave you as their deadline. If you are withdrawing your application, send the email the moment you are certain of your decision.
• Don’t be afraid to send it: Some candidates worry that a follow up email will be too pushy. However, hiring managers expect a follow up email, and when you write it well, it will indicate your enthusiasm rather than coming across as rude.
• Be aware of your tone: To prevent your email from sounding demanding or overly aggressive, make sure to read it over carefully, paying attention to your tone of voice. Be polite, courteous, and considerate.
• Respect a decision: If you receive an email in response indicating that you were not chosen for a role, respect this choice. Sending back an email debating the decision won’t help the situation. Instead, thank the person for their response and use it as a networking opportunity. Let the interviewer know that you’d love to be considered for future roles and will be continuing to keep your eye on their company openings.