How to Follow Up After a Job Interview

Send a thank-you within 24 hours

Send a brief thank-you email to each person who interviewed you within 24 hours of the interview. Thank them for their time, reference something specific from your conversation, and reiterate your interest in the role. Keep it short — three to four sentences is enough. If you interviewed with multiple people, send personalized messages to each person rather than a group email.

Wait before following up on the decision

If the interviewer gave you a timeline for next steps, wait until that timeframe has passed before following up. If they did not provide a timeline, wait about one to two weeks after the interview. Following up too soon can seem impatient, while waiting too long can make you appear disinterested.

Keep the follow-up brief and professional

Your follow-up email should be short and to the point. Remind them of who you are and when you interviewed, reiterate your interest in the role, and ask if there is any update on the hiring timeline or if they need any additional information from you. Do not ask whether you got the job — ask about the process.

Handle no response gracefully

If you do not receive a response after your follow-up, wait another week and send one final message. If you still hear nothing, it is reasonable to move on. Unfortunately, some employers do not respond to all candidates. Continue your job search and do not let one silence discourage you.

Checklist

• Thank-you email sent within 24 hours
• Each interviewer received a personalized message
• Follow-up sent only after the stated timeline has passed
• Follow-up is brief and asks about the process, not the decision
• No more than two follow-up emails total