How to follow up after an interview

So you’ve had your interview but haven’t heard anything back. 

Now what? 

Whether you’ve had a 1:1, group or telephone interview, it’s good to take matters into your own hands. Sending a follow-up email after an interview is a great way to keep yourself on the radar. Employers will see you’re proactive and keen on the position.

Use our guide to writing a follow-up email after your interview.

How long after an interview should you follow up?

Ideally, you’ll have asked the hiring manager during the interview how long it will be before you hear back. But if you’ve not done this, don’t worry. They’ve probably got other candidates to interview. So leave it a few days before sending your follow-up email.

How to write a follow-up email after your interview

Write a clear subject line

Chances are, the hiring manager’s inbox will be flooded with emails on a daily basis. So be sure to use a clear subject line that includes your name. Avoid anything vague or generic like ‘FAO manager’. This helps to make sure your email doesn’t get missed.

Examples

• Re: Tom Smith interview update
• Re: Jane Green, interview 12th August
• Re: Ben Lowe, Sales Associate interview

Address the hiring manager by name

When you start your email, address the hiring manager by their name. This makes the email more personable. Instead of writing, ‘Dear Mr Walker’, you can write ‘Dear Alan.’

Recount the details 

Some interviewers will interview many people for one role. And sometimes, the candidates start to blur into one. It’s not the interviewer’s fault! So don’t assume they know exactly who you are. Jog their memory by letting them know when you attended the interview, and what role it was for. If you can think of anything more personal to add, do it. For example, if you had a good chat about football, mention that.

Show them you’re still interested

Sure, you wouldn’t be writing a follow-up email if you weren’t interested. But it’s best practice to let the hiring manager know you’re still keen on the role. Or, tell them what you liked most about the position.

Clearly ask for an update

After your introductory lines, let them know you’re writing for an update. Ask them if they’ve made a decision on the role. Or you could ask when they’re likely to have a decision.

Don’t show frustration

Always keep the tone light. Even if you’ve had to send a couple of follow-up emails already, don’t show any frustration. 

Keep it short

Keep the email as short as possible. Hiring managers are busy people. And this isn’t an opportunity to re-sell yourself in an email. Keep it short and to the point.

Spellcheck

Don’t just double-check your email. Triple-check it. Typos can be really off-putting. So use a spellchecker and maybe even ask a friend to look over the email for you.

Example interview follow-up email

“Dear Sarah,

I hope you are well.

This is Alison Woods. I had an interview for the position of Sales Associate on Wednesday 3rd June in your Manchester branch.

Many thanks for your time – I really love the look of the job and company. I also really enjoyed our little chat about interior design!

I’m just writing to see if you have managed to reach a decision about the role?

Many thanks again for the opportunity. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours sincerely,

Alison Woods”

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