An interview follow-up email is a short message asking where the hiring process stands. Send it once the date you were given for a decision has passed, one or two business days after it. If you were given no date, wait about a week after the interview.
Keep it to three or four sentences: name the role and the interview date, say you are still interested, ask whether there is an update on the timeline, and offer anything further they need. It is not the same as a thank-you email, which goes out within a day of the interview and asks for nothing.
Key takeaways
- The trigger is a missed date, not your nerves. Following up before the employer’s own deadline tells them nothing new.
- Write to the person who gave you the timeline, usually the recruiter, in the same email thread.
- Ask about timing and next steps, not “Did I get the job?”
- Two follow-ups about a week apart are enough. After that, move on.
- If another employer makes you an offer, say so immediately and give the deadline.
- Keep applying while you wait. An interview is a step, not an offer.
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How is a follow-up email different from a thank-you email?
| Aspect | Thank-you email | Follow-up email |
|---|---|---|
| When | Within 24 hours of the interview | After the decision date has passed, or about a week after the interview if no date was given |
| Purpose | Thank the interviewer and reinforce your interest | Find out where the process stands |
| Asks for | Nothing | An update on timing |
| Sent to | Each interviewer | One person: the recruiter or your main contact |
| Length | 80 to 150 words | Three or four sentences |
If you have not sent a thank-you yet, start with the thank-you email guide. If you are waiting to hear after applying, not after interviewing, see following up on a job application.
02
When should you follow up after an interview?
Berkeley’s career office states the principle: if you have not heard back within the expected time frame, you can send a follow-up email to ask about your candidacy and offer to provide additional information. So everything depends on what you were told.
| What you were told | When to follow up |
|---|---|
| A specific date (“by Friday the 14th”) | One or two business days after that date |
| A period (“in about two weeks”) | The day after the period ends |
| Nothing | About a week after the interview |
| “We are still interviewing other candidates” | A week after the date they expect to finish, or two weeks if they gave none |
| You have another offer with a deadline | Now |
This is why you ask before you leave the interview. MIT’s career office suggests the wording: “What is your timeline for hiring this position and when might I hear about next steps?”
Dates slip for ordinary reasons: another finalist’s interview was rescheduled, an approver is away, the budget is waiting for approval. Silence alone does not tell you much about your chances. How long it takes to hear back after an interview walks through what happens on the employer’s side.
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Who to send it to, and how
- Write to one person. The recruiter or coordinator if there is one, because tracking the process is their job. Otherwise the hiring manager. Do not email every interviewer.
- Reply in the existing thread, so that your earlier messages and the role are in front of them.
- Use email first. It can be answered in ten seconds or forwarded to whoever knows. Call only if the employer has mostly dealt with you by phone.
- Send it during working hours.
If you do call and reach voicemail, leave one short message.
"Hi [Name], this is [Your name]. I interviewed for the [job title] role on [date]. I'm calling to ask whether there's an update on the timeline, and to say I'm still very interested. You can reach me at [phone number, said slowly] or by email. Thank you."
04
What to say in a follow-up email
Four parts, in this order.
- Context. The role and when you interviewed, so they do not have to look you up.
- Interest. One sentence saying that you still want the job.
- The question. Is there an update on the timeline or next steps?
- An offer. Anything else they need from you.
Leave out anything that reads as a complaint (“I still have not heard back”), a second pitch for your candidacy, and apologies for writing.
Subject: Re: [job title] interview Hi [Name], I hope you're well. When we spoke on [interview date], you mentioned that you expected to decide on the [job title] role by [date]. I'm still very interested in the position and wanted to ask whether there is an update on the timeline. If anything further from me would help, such as references or work samples, I can send it today. Thank you, [Your name] [Phone number]
Subject: Re: [job title] interview Hi [Name], Thank you again for meeting with me on [interview date] about the [job title] role. I enjoyed the conversation and remain very interested. Could you let me know what the next steps are and roughly when you expect to make a decision? I'm happy to provide anything else that would be useful. Best regards, [Your name]
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How to send a second follow-up
If a week passes with no answer to the first message, send one more. Make it shorter, and change the question slightly: ask whether the role is still open and where things stand.
Subject: Re: [job title] interview Hi [Name], I'm writing once more about the [job title] role. I understand that hiring timelines shift, and I remain interested. Could you let me know whether the position is still open and where the process stands? Thank you for your time, [Your name]
After two unanswered messages, stop asking. You can send a brief closing note to leave things on good terms, then put your energy elsewhere. Employers sometimes reappear weeks later, and a courteous last message makes that easy.
Subject: Re: [job title] interview Hi [Name], I haven't been able to reach you, so I'll assume the [job title] search has moved in another direction. Thank you for the chance to interview. I enjoyed meeting the team and would be glad to be considered if a similar role opens in the future. Best regards, [Your name]
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How to follow up when you have another offer
This is the one situation where you should not wait for a date to pass.
- Ask the employer that made the offer for time. MIT’s career office lists requesting more time to decide on an offer among the things candidates can reasonably advocate for. Ask for a specific date.
- Tell your preferred employer the same day. Give the deadline and say honestly where they rank. You do not have to name the other company.
- Never invent an offer or a deadline. A bluff that is called can cost you the job you wanted.
- Be ready for either answer. Some employers will speed up. Others will tell you they cannot, which is also useful to know.
Subject: [Job title]: timing update from [Your name] Hi [Name], I wanted to let you know that I've received an offer from another company and have been asked to respond by [date]. [Company] remains my first choice, and I'd much prefer to decide knowing where I stand with you. Is there any chance of an update before [date]? I can make myself available on short notice for anything you still need from me. Thank you, [Your name] [Phone number]
While you wait, use the time to evaluate the offer you do have.
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Follow-up mistakes to avoid
- Following up before the date the employer gave you.
- Using email, phone and LinkedIn on the same day.
- Writing to everyone you met.
- Sounding hurt or impatient. Read the draft as the recruiter would.
- Pausing your search. Keep applying and interviewing until you have accepted an offer.
- Going silent after a rejection. Reply, thank them and ask for feedback; the guide to job rejection emails has wording.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How long should I wait to follow up after an interview?
Wait until the decision date you were given has passed, then follow up one or two business days later. If you were given no timeline, about a week after the interview is reasonable. The exception is a competing offer with a deadline, which you should mention right away.
Is it OK to send a follow-up email after an interview?
Yes. University career offices advise it: Berkeley’s says that if you have not heard back within the expected time frame, you can email to ask about your candidacy and offer more information. One short, polite question about timing is a normal part of the process.
How many times should I follow up after an interview?
Twice. Send the first message after the expected decision date and a second about a week later if there is no reply. After that, a brief closing note is optional. More messages are unlikely to produce an answer that two did not, so put the effort into other applications.
Who should I send an interview follow-up email to?
The person who has been managing your process, usually the recruiter or coordinator. If there is none, write to the hiring manager. Reply in the existing email thread so the context is attached, and avoid sending separate follow-ups to every interviewer.
What should I do if I have another job offer while waiting to hear back?
Ask the employer that made the offer for a specific date to decide, then tell your preferred employer immediately, giving that deadline and saying they are your first choice if that is true. Do not exaggerate or invent an offer. Make your decision by the deadline with whatever information you have.
What does it mean if I get no reply to a follow-up email?
You cannot tell from silence alone. It can mean the process is delayed, the role is on hold or another candidate is being pursued. Send one more message about a week later, then assume it is not moving forward for now and continue your search.
Sources
- UC Berkeley Career Engagement: Interview Process Overview: following up when the expected time frame has passed, and asking for feedback.
- Virginia Tech Career and Professional Development: After the Interview: following up on the status of a search by email and by voicemail.
- MIT Career Advising & Professional Development: Interview primer: asking about the hiring timeline in the interview and continuing your search until you have an offer.
- MIT Career Advising & Professional Development: Communicating effectively with employers: timely, direct communication and requesting more time to decide on an offer.
Published by Jobbie and last updated on October 6, 2026. This guide is general information for job seekers, not legal, tax or financial advice. Spotted something wrong? Tell us.