Follow-Up Email After an Interview: 6 Templates and When to Send Them
A short, specific follow-up keeps you in the recruiter's mind without being pushy. The rule of thumb: thank them within 24 hours, follow up once when their stated deadline passes (or after about a week if they gave none), and send one final note a week later. Then move on.
Timing
| When | What to send |
|---|---|
| Same day / within 24 hours | Thank-you email (see template 1) |
| Their deadline passes, or ~5–7 working days | First follow-up (template 2) |
| 7 days after that | Second, final follow-up (template 3) |
| You receive another offer | Polite nudge with your timeline (template 5) |
Templates
Replace everything in {curly brackets}.
1. Thank-you email (within 24 hours)
Subject: Thank you – {Job title} interview
Dear {Name},
Thank you for taking the time to meet with me today about the {Job title} role. I enjoyed learning about {specific topic you discussed}, and it confirmed my interest in helping {Company} {goal or challenge they mentioned}.
If it would help, I'm happy to share {portfolio / references / a short plan for the first 90 days}.
Kind regards,
{Your name}
{Phone}
2. First follow-up when you haven't heard back
Subject: Following up – {Job title} interview on {date}
Dear {Name},
I hope your week is going well. I'm following up on my interview for the {Job title} role on {date}. I remain very interested in the position and in {something specific about the team or project}.
Is there any update on the timeline, or anything else I can provide?
Thank you,
{Your name}
3. Second and final follow-up
Subject: Re: {Job title} – checking in
Dear {Name},
I wanted to check in once more about the {Job title} role. I understand these decisions take time. If the position has been filled, I'd appreciate being kept in mind for future openings.
Best regards,
{Your name}
4. Follow-up after a second interview
Subject: Thank you for the second interview
Dear {Name},
Thank you for meeting with me again and for introducing me to {names}. Our conversation about {topic} made me even more excited about {Company}. I'm confident I could {specific contribution} in the first few months.
Please let me know if you need anything else from me.
Kind regards,
{Your name}
5. When you have another offer
Subject: {Job title} – timeline question
Dear {Name},
I'm still very keen on the {Job title} role at {Company}. I have received another offer and need to respond by {date}. {Company} remains my first choice, so I wanted to ask whether there is an update on your timeline.
Thank you for understanding,
{Your name}
6. Follow-up to a recruiter or agency
Subject: {Job title} at {Client} – any feedback?
Hi {Name},
Thanks again for putting me forward for the {Job title} role. Have you heard any feedback from {Client or the hiring team}? I'm available for a further interview on {days}.
Thanks,
{Your name}
Tips
- Mention one specific detail from the interview; it proves the email isn't a template.
- Keep it under 120 words.
- Reply in the same email thread so they have context.
- Don't follow up more than twice after the thank-you.
- Check spelling of names and the company.
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Related
FAQ
How long should I wait to follow up after an interview?
If they gave a decision date, wait until it passes, then follow up the next working day. If they didn't, about one week (5–7 working days) is standard.
Is it OK to follow up twice?
Yes, once after the deadline and once more a week later. After that, move on and focus on other applications.
Should I follow up by phone or email?
Email is safer and easier for busy recruiters. A phone call is fine if you worked with an agency recruiter who prefers calls.