How to Follow Up After a Job Interview (and What to Say)
Following up after an interview is expected but rarely done well. Here's a format that's appreciated rather than ignored.
Most candidates don't send a follow-up after interviews. Of those who do, most send a generic 'Thanks for your time, I look forward to hearing from you.' That's slightly better than nothing but not much.
A well-written post-interview follow-up is quick to write, shows genuine engagement, and distinguishes you from the field. Here's what makes one work.
Send it within 24 hours
The timing matters. A thank-you note sent the same day or the morning after feels genuine. One that arrives three days later feels like an afterthought. The longer you wait, the less the interviewer is likely to remember the specific things you want to reference.
Email is standard. LinkedIn messages are fine if that was your primary channel with the interviewer. Keep it to one medium per person - don't send both.
What to include
Reference something specific from the conversation. This is the detail that separates a real follow-up from a form letter. 'You mentioned that the team is working on [specific project] - that's actually very aligned with work I did at [previous company] where we [brief description]. I'd enjoy continuing that conversation.' That takes 30 seconds to write and makes the email memorable.
Restate your interest and fit. 'I left the conversation even more enthusiastic about the role than when I walked in - the team's approach to [thing they mentioned] is exactly the kind of environment I'm looking for.' Brief, but it closes the loop on intent.
What not to do
Don't follow up to ask about the timeline if they already gave you one. If they said 'we'll be in touch by next Friday' and it's Wednesday, wait. Following up early makes you look anxious.
If they didn't give a timeline, following up after one week is appropriate. 'I wanted to check in on the timeline for next steps - I remain very interested and wanted to make sure I'm still in consideration.' One follow-up is fine. More than that starts to feel pushy.
Don't send the same email to every interviewer if you spoke with multiple people. Each one should be personal and reference your specific conversation with that person.
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