How to Write the Perfect Follow-Up Email After an Interview [Templates + Expert Tips]
You did it. You landed the interview for your dream job, gave it your all, and now the hard part is over, right? Not quite. In fact, most hiring managers pay very close attention to how well (and how rapidly) you write a follow-up email after the interview.
Your follow-up email is an opportunity to reinforce your interest in the role, highlight your qualifications, and showcase your communication skills. Get it right, and you can boost your chances of landing the job. Botch it, and you risk undoing all your hard work in the interview.
In this post, I‘ll walk you through exactly how to craft the perfect follow-up email after an interview — including a proven formula for success and customizable templates for every post-interview scenario. Let‘s dive in.
Why Follow-Up Emails Are Crucial for Job Seekers
Before we break down the anatomy of a great interview follow-up email, let‘s talk about why these messages are so important in the first place. Here are a few key reasons:
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They show your continued interest. A CareerBuilder survey found that a staggering 91% of employers like to receive interview follow-up emails. Why? It demonstrates your genuine interest and enthusiasm for the role.
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They keep you top of mind. Hiring managers are often juggling multiple open roles and dozens of candidates. A timely, well-written follow-up email reminds them of who you are and why you‘re a great fit.
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They allow you to address any concerns. Did you flub an interview question or forget to mention a key qualification? Your follow-up email gives you a chance to clarify or expand on anything from the interview.
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They showcase your communication skills. In today‘s digital workplace, strong writing skills are essential for almost every role. A great follow-up email lets you demonstrate your ability to communicate clearly, concisely and professionally.
To put it simply, nailing your interview follow-up email is a critical step in the job search process. And yet, an estimated 75% of job seekers don‘t bother sending one at all. Talk about a missed opportunity!
The Perfect Interview Follow-Up Email: A Proven Formula
So what exactly goes into a winning post-interview email? Having helped hundreds of job seekers craft compelling follow-ups, I‘ve found that the best messages include these key elements:
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A clear subject line: Your subject line should make it immediately obvious what your email is about. Something like "Thank you for your time" or "Following up on our interview" works perfectly.
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An opening thank you: Begin by expressing your genuine appreciation for the interviewer‘s time and the opportunity to learn more about the role and company.
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Specific details from the interview: Mention something specific you discussed in the interview to jog their memory and show you were engaged and listening carefully. This could be a particular project they mentioned, a shared alma mater, or even a joke you both laughed at.
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Reiteration of your qualifications and interest: Briefly summarize why you‘re a great fit for the role, highlighting your most relevant skills and experience. Reaffirm your excitement for the opportunity.
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A strong closing and call-to-action: Close by thanking them again and letting them know you‘re available if they have any other questions. I also recommend ending with a question like "What are the next steps in the hiring process?" to keep the ball rolling.
One other thing – make sure to send your email within 24 hours of the interview. You want to strike while the iron is hot and you‘re still fresh in the interviewer‘s mind.
3 Proven Follow-Up Email Templates for Any Post-Interview Scenario
Knowing the core elements is one thing – but how do you actually put them together into a cohesive, compelling email? Never fear, I‘ve got your back. Below are three foolproof email templates that work for virtually any post-interview situation.
1. The Standard "Thank You" Follow-Up
Subject: Thanks for chatting with me!
Hi [Interviewer Name],
Thank you so much for taking the time to meet with me today. It was such a pleasure to learn more about the [job title] role and the incredible work you‘re doing at [company name].
Our conversation only reinforced my excitement about the opportunity and my confidence that my skills in [1-2 relevant skills] would enable me to add real value to your team. The [project/initiative you discussed] sounds particularly fascinating, and I would love the chance to contribute!
I also appreciated your insights on [something they shared about the company culture]. It really resonated with me and made me all the more certain that [company] is where I want to be.
Please let me know if there‘s anything else I can provide to support my candidacy. I‘m deeply interested in the role and look forward to hopefully working together soon!
Warmly,
[Your Name]
2. The "Oops, I Forgot to Mention…" Follow-Up
Subject: One more thought!
Hi [Interviewer Name],
Thanks again for the great conversation yesterday about the [job title] position at [company]. I really enjoyed learning more about the role and your team‘s goals for the coming year.
I wanted to quickly mention one thing I forgot to bring up when you asked me about my experience with [skill/tool]. Last year, I [brief example of how you‘ve used this skill/tool at work]. I think this experience would serve me well in diving into [relevant aspect of the role] with your team.
I know we also discussed [issue/challenge they mentioned] as a key priority. In my previous role at [company], I [how you tackled a similar issue]. I‘d be excited to bring those learnings to this position.
Just wanted to share those additional details! Let me know if there‘s anything else I can elaborate on. I‘m very enthusiastic about this opportunity and think I could hit the ground running.
Looking forward to next steps,
[Your Name]
3. The "Checking In" Follow-Up
Subject: Enthusiastic about next steps!
Dear [Interviewer Name],
Hope you‘re having a great week! I just wanted to briefly check in and see if you had any updates on the [job title] role since we last spoke.
I‘ve been thinking a lot about our discussion, especially what you mentioned about [key challenge/goal for the role]. I have some ideas around how I could help tackle this, drawing on my experience [brief relevant example]. I would love the chance to brainstorm further!
Please let me know if I can provide any additional information to aid in your decision making process. I understand these things take time, but I did want to reiterate my deep interest in the opportunity.
Thank you again for your consideration. Wishing you a great rest of your week!
Warmly,
[Your Name]
What If You Don‘t Hear Back?
So you crafted the perfect follow-up email, hit send eagerly…and then crickets. Radio silence. Now what? First, don‘t panic. It‘s completely normal for a few days (or even a week or two) to go by without a response. Hiring managers are busy, and these decisions take time.
That said, if it‘s been over a week with no word, I think it‘s appropriate to send a short, polite email to check in. You can essentially use Template #3 above. Acknowledge that you know they‘re busy, and reiterate your interest in the role and the value you could add.
If another week passes and still no response, you can assume this likely isn‘t moving forward. I know it‘s disappointing, but try not to take it personally. Respond graciously, thank them for their time and consideration, and ask that they keep you in mind for future opportunities. If this was a role you were especially excited about, consider connecting with the interviewer on LinkedIn to keep the relationship warm.
The reality is, job searching is a numbers game. You may face many rejections (or just straight up ghosting) before you find the right fit. But with each interview, you‘re gaining valuable experience and honing your skills. Keep putting your best foot forward and sending those stellar follow-ups, and your efforts will pay off.
Follow-Up Emails Are Your Secret Job Search Weapon
When I‘m coaching job seekers, I always tell them that great follow-up is what separates the good candidates from the truly memorable ones. In a sea of applicants with similar qualifications, the person who goes the extra mile to write a thoughtful, timely email is going to stand out every time.
Think about running a marathon (or hey, even a 5K). You wouldn‘t just train for months, show up on race day, run 26 miles, and then immediately go home and crash on the couch, right? Of course not. You‘d celebrate your achievement, do some post-race recovery, and bask in that runner‘s high.
Interviewing for a job is like running a race. You can‘t just prepare extensively, crush the interview itself, and then drop the ball at the finish line. The follow-up is your post-race celebration and recovery. It‘s an essential part of the process.
So the next time you walk out of an interview feeling great, don‘t just wait and wonder what‘s next. Seize the moment, and write that standout follow-up email. Leverage the templates and tips above and make it impossible for the hiring manager to overlook you.
In the wise words of Lin-Manuel Miranda, "You‘ve got to be in the room where it happens." So go get in the (inbox) room, and make it happen! The job you‘ve been dreaming of is within reach. I know you‘ve got this.
