How to Follow Up After an Interview
A short thank-you message sent the same day or the next morning is a good, simple way to follow up after an interview. If you have not heard back after the time frame you were given, a polite email or phone call asking for an update is reasonable, usually after a few extra working days.
Why following up is worth doing
A brief thank-you message after an interview is a small gesture that shows good manners and continued interest in the role. It is not essential, but it rarely does any harm and can help you stand out slightly.
Following up also gives you a natural, low-pressure way to ask for an update later on if you have not heard anything, rather than wondering silently whether to get in touch.
Keep every follow-up message short and polite. This is not the place to add new information or ask about pay unless it genuinely was not covered.
It also helps you keep track of where each application stands. Sending a brief thank-you gives you a natural, dated record of when you last had contact with each employer, which is useful if you are applying to several roles at once.
Sending a thank-you message
Send a short thank-you email the same day as the interview, or the following morning at the latest. Thank the interviewer for their time, and briefly confirm your continued interest in the role.
If several people interviewed you, a single message to the main contact is usually enough, unless you have direct email addresses for everyone involved.
Keep it to a few sentences. A short, genuine thank-you reads better than a long message trying to restate everything from the interview.
Example thank-you email
'Dear Ms Owen, Thank you for taking the time to meet with me today for the Sales Assistant role. I enjoyed learning more about the team and I remain very interested in the position. Please let me know if you need anything further from me. Kind regards, Sam Taylor'
This example is short, polite, and specific to the role and the meeting, without repeating the whole interview or the CV.
How long to wait before chasing
Most employers give some idea of when you will hear back, whether that is a specific date or a general time frame such as 'within two weeks'. Wait until that period has passed, plus a couple of extra working days, before getting in touch.
If no time frame was given at all, waiting around one to two weeks before a polite follow-up is generally reasonable for most everyday roles.
Avoid chasing too soon. A message sent the day after the stated deadline can come across as impatient rather than keen.
How to chase for an update
A short, polite email is usually the easiest way to follow up. State the role, the date of your interview, and ask whether there is any update on next steps.
If you were given a phone number and told to call with any questions, a brief, friendly phone call is also acceptable, particularly for roles where phone contact was already used during the process.
Keep the tone patient and understanding. Hiring can take longer than expected for reasons that have nothing to do with your application, such as other interviews still being scheduled.
If you are actively considering another offer with a deadline of your own, it is reasonable to mention this politely when you follow up, so the employer has the full picture when deciding how quickly to respond.
- Wait until the stated time frame has passed, plus a few days
- Keep the message brief and polite
- Mention the role and interview date clearly
- Avoid sounding impatient or frustrated
Example follow-up message
'Dear Ms Owen, I hope you're well. I'm writing to follow up on my interview for the Sales Assistant role on 3 September. I remain very interested in the position and wanted to check whether there is any update on next steps. Thank you again for your time, and I look forward to hearing from you. Kind regards, Sam Taylor'
This message is polite, specific, and gives the reader everything they need to check on your application without any pressure.
If you don't hear back at all
Sometimes an employer does not reply, even after a follow-up message. This is disappointing, but it is not a reflection of your interview performance, and it happens for many reasons unrelated to you.
One further, brief follow-up after a reasonable gap is reasonable, but avoid sending several messages in a row if there is no response.
If you hear nothing after that, it is usually best to treat the application as closed and put your energy into other opportunities instead.
Following up by phone
A phone call can work well if the employer has already been in touch with you by phone during the process, or if you were told to call with any questions.
Keep the call short and polite: give your name, the role you interviewed for, and ask whether there is any update. Have the date of your interview to hand in case they need it.
If a call feels too direct for the way the process has gone so far, an email is just as acceptable and gives the employer more time to reply when it suits them.
Following up after more than one interview stage
Some everyday jobs involve more than one stage, such as a short first chat followed by a trial shift or a second interview. The same follow-up approach applies after each stage.
A brief thank-you after each stage keeps you visible without being repetitive, as long as each message is genuinely short and specific to that particular meeting.
