WHAT TO DO AFTER THE INTERVIEW: THE FOLLOW-UP

You’ve just wrapped up an incredible interview. The role excites you. The conversation flowed. Everything felt aligned.

And then… silence.

Welcome to the waiting period—that awkward post-interview timeline where you refresh your inbox more times than you’d like to admit.

Let’s talk about how to follow up after an interview—what to say, when to say it, who to say it to, and how many times to say it (without becoming that annoying candidate).

First Things First: Before the Follow-Up Comes the Thank You

Before we even talk about follow-ups, here’s one thing that sets you apart: a thank-you email.

It’s simple, effective, and surprisingly rare. Send a short, thoughtful message to each interviewer within 24 hours, highlighting one or two takeaways and reiterating your interest in the role.

If you haven’t already baked this into your job search process—start now. It sets the tone for what comes next.

Who Should You Follow Up With?

Start with the recruiter. They’re the ones coordinating interviews, tracking your status, and managing the hiring timeline.

Yes, the hiring manager is your future boss, but they often don’t know where things stand in the overall process. If the recruiter hasn’t responded after 2-3 attempts, then you can reach out to the hiring manager—especially if you've already spoken with them during interviews.

When Should You Follow Up?

This should be part of your interview questions. Ask before the meeting ends:

“When can I expect to hear back?”

If they say “by the end of the week,” give them that full window. Still nothing? Then reach out. No timeline given? A safe bet is to follow up about one week after your interview, and definitely within two weeks. Any longer, and your name may have faded from memory.

How Many Times Should You Follow Up?

Some candidates don’t follow up at all. Others follow up every two days until the end of time. Let’s not do either.

 A three-email strategy is your sweet spot:

1. First email: Express interest and ask about next steps.
2. Second email: A polite nudge if they haven’t responded.
3. Final email: Acknowledge that it’s your last follow-up, and thank them for their time.

Remember—recruiters are often managing 60+ roles at once, with thousands of applicants. Delays aren’t always personal.

What Should Your Follow-Up Say?

Here’s a breakdown of what to write in each message:

First Follow-Up (around 7–10 days after the interview):

“Hi [Name],

I really enjoyed speaking with [Interviewer(s)] last week and left the conversation feeling even more excited about the opportunity at [Company].

I wanted to follow up and ask if there are any updates regarding next steps. Happy to provide anything else you might need from my side.”

Second Follow-Up (about a week after the first one):

“Hi [Name],

I know things can get busy, so just checking in quickly to see if there have been any updates on the [Job Title] role.

I'm actively exploring opportunities and would love to know where I stand in the process. Let me know if there's anything else I can share to assist.”

Final Follow-Up (about one week after your second email):

“Hi [Name],

I understand the team may have moved forward with other candidates, and I just wanted to thank you again for your time and for the chance to meet with [Interviewer/Team Name].

I’d love to stay in touch and remain open to future opportunities with [Company]. Wishing you all the best in finding the right fit.”

At this point, your follow-up process is complete—and ideally, you’ve already moved on to your next opportunity.

Bonus Tip: When It’s Okay to Skip the Waiting Game

There’s one situation where you don’t wait, and you don’t stick to the three-email plan.

If you’ve moved to the final interview stage elsewhere or have received another offer, let the recruiter know immediately.

“Hi [Name],

I wanted to keep you in the loop—I’m currently in final discussions with another company and may receive an offer soon.

However, I remain very interested in the role at [Company] and would love to understand where I stand in your process.”

If you’re still in the running, this may fast-track their decision. As a recruiter, I appreciated this honesty—it helped us move quickly and avoid losing top candidates.

Other Situations to Consider Following Up

Going on vacation or unavailable for interviews? Give a heads-up in advance.

Saw news about the company? Send a quick message to share your thoughts—it’s a great way to stay top of mind.

Final Thoughts

Post-interview silence can be nerve-wracking—but don’t let it paralyze your job search.  While you wait to hear back, keep applying, keep networking, and keep building momentum.

Best case: you’ll have multiple offers to choose from. 

Worst case: you won’t be left waiting with nothing in the pipeline.

Your role isn’t to wait. Your role is to keep moving.

Until next week!

Always rooting for you,

Shub (Your Career Growth Partner)

Content released on my YouTube Channel last week:

• Tips Tuesday (Watch time - 1 min 1 sec) - How My Client Got Noticed by Skipping HR
• Deep-Dive Thursday (Watch time - 15 min 16 sec) - 3 Steps To Come Out of $200K Plateau

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