How to Write a Follow-Up Email After an Interview (Template + Examples)
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There is a moment after every interview when the waiting starts to feel like silence. A good follow-up email breaks that silence without sounding anxious. It reminds the hiring team that you are genuinely interested, gives them an easy opening to reply, and quietly signals that you follow through. Sent at the right time and kept short, it can keep you in the running when a decision has stalled.
Below is a follow-up email template you can copy, a breakdown of what each part does, guidance on timing and tone, and the do-and-do-not list that keeps your note professional rather than pushy.
Follow-Up Email After an Interview template
Send this after the interviewer date for a decision has passed, or about a week out if none was given. Replace the names, role, and date with your own.
Subject: Following up on the Marketing Coordinator interview
Dear Ms. Carter,
I hope you are doing well. I wanted to follow up on our conversation about the Marketing Coordinator role at Brightwave Media on Tuesday, June 9. I enjoyed learning more about the team and the campaign work ahead, and I remain very enthusiastic about the opportunity to contribute.
I understand these decisions take time, so I wanted to check in on where things stand and whether there is anything further you need from me, such as references or additional work samples.
Thank you again for your time and for the thoughtful conversation. I would welcome the chance to continue the process, and I am happy to make myself available for any next steps that would be helpful.
Best regards,
Jordan Ellis
What each part is doing
- The subject line: A clear, specific line that names the role so the interviewer knows exactly what the email is about before opening it.
- The reminder: One sentence that references the interview, the role, and the date, so the reader places you instantly.
- The check-in: A polite line asking where things stand and offering anything they still need. This is the actual purpose of the email.
- The close: A brief thank-you and a warm sign-off that keeps the door open without pressure.
What to include in a follow-up email after an interview
Keep it to three or four short lines. Open by referencing the specific interview and role so the reader places you immediately, then restate that you are still interested. Ask for a status update in a single polite sentence, and offer anything outstanding such as references or samples. Close with a genuine thank-you.
Reply within the same email thread as your earlier correspondence whenever you can, so the interviewer has the full context in one place. Address it to the person who interviewed you or the recruiter coordinating the process, and write a subject line that names the role rather than leaving it vague.
When to send it and how long to wait
Timing matters more than wording. If the interviewer gave you a date for a decision, wait until that date has passed before following up. If no timeline was given, about one week after the interview is a safe, professional window. Sending too soon reads as anxious and can work against you.
Do not confuse this with the thank-you note you send within twenty-four hours of the interview. That note shows appreciation; this follow-up checks on the decision. Send only one follow-up at a time, and if you still hear nothing, wait several more days before a single, brief final nudge.
What to avoid
Avoid anything that sounds impatient or entitled. Do not imply they are slow, do not ask repeatedly, and do not send a long message rehashing your whole interview. Pressure rarely speeds a decision and often leaves a worse impression than the silence you were trying to break.
Skip ultimatums about other offers unless you genuinely have a competing deadline, and even then state it calmly as information, not leverage. Keep the tone warm and low-key; the goal is to stay top of mind as someone easy to work with.
Follow-Up Email After an Interview do's and don'ts
Do
- Wait until the promised decision date passes, or about a week if none was given.
- Name the specific role and interview date so they place you fast.
- Reaffirm your interest in one genuine sentence.
- Offer anything they still need, such as references or samples.
- Reply in the existing email thread and keep it to a few lines.
Don't
- Do not follow up the day after the interview; that is the thank-you note.
- Do not send multiple follow-ups in a short span.
- Do not sound impatient or imply they are taking too long.
- Do not use a false competing-offer deadline as pressure.
- Do not write a long message rehashing the entire interview.
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Frequently asked questions
How long should I wait before sending a follow-up email after an interview?
If the interviewer gave you a date for a decision, wait until that date has passed. If no timeline was given, about one week after the interview is the professional norm. Following up earlier tends to read as anxious and rarely helps.
Is a follow-up email the same as a thank-you email?
No. A thank-you email is sent within about a day of the interview to show appreciation. A follow-up email comes later, when the expected timeline has passed and you have not heard back, and its purpose is to politely check on the decision.
How many times can I follow up?
Send one follow-up first. If you still hear nothing after several more days, a single brief final note is acceptable. Beyond that, repeated emails work against you, so it is better to move your attention to other opportunities.
What should the subject line say?
Make it specific and easy to scan, for example "Following up on the Marketing Coordinator interview." Naming the role tells the reader what the email is about before they open it and helps them find your earlier thread.
