Follow-up email after an interview: when to send it and what to say.
A thank-you note goes out within a day. A follow-up is different: it is the polite nudge you send when the date they gave you has passed. Here is the timing and the wording.
Wait until the decision date the interviewer gave you has passed, or about a week if they gave none. Then send a short follow-up to the recruiter or hiring manager: restate your interest, ask whether there is an update on the timeline, and offer anything they need. If there is still no reply, send one more a week later, then stop and move on.
4 copy-ready templates
Illustrative: names, companies, dates and numbers in these templates and examples are fictional. Replace every bracket with your own true details before you send anything.
First follow-up (date has passed)
When to use: When the timeline they gave you has passed with no news.
Subject: Checking in, [Role] interview Hi [Name], I hope your week is going well. I wanted to check in on the [Role] position I interviewed for on [date]. I am still very interested and would be glad to provide anything else you need. Is there an updated timeline for next steps? Best regards, [Your name]
Second follow-up (one week later)
When to use: Only if the first follow-up got no reply.
Subject: Re: Checking in, [Role] interview Hi [Name], I'm following up on my note from last week about the [Role] position. I understand hiring timelines change. If the decision is still in progress, I'd appreciate a quick update when you have one. Thank you, [Your name]
Close the loop (final message)
When to use: After two follow-ups with no reply. Ends the thread politely and keeps the door open.
Subject: Thank you, [Role] Hi [Name], I haven't heard back about the [Role] position, so I'll assume the team has moved forward. Thank you again for the conversation; I enjoyed learning about [team or project]. If anything changes, I'd be glad to talk. Best wishes, [Your name]
Follow-up with news (another offer)
When to use: When you have a competing offer and need an answer by a date.
Subject: Timeline question, [Role] Hi [Name], I wanted to let you know I've received another offer and have been asked to respond by [date]. [Company] is my first choice, so I wanted to ask whether there is any update on your timeline before I decide. Thank you for your help, [Your name]
Disclosure: TryHired makes HIRED, a paid job-search program, so we have a conflict of interest when we mention it. Every template on this page is free to use without buying anything.
How many follow-ups, and when
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| Day 0-1 | Thank-you email (not a follow-up). |
| Their date passes, or day 7 if no date | First follow-up. |
| One week after that | Second follow-up, shorter. |
| One week after that | Close-the-loop note, then stop. |
| Any time you get a competing offer | Tell the recruiter and ask about timing. |
The same message, rewritten
Illustrative example with fictional details.
| Version | Example |
|---|---|
| Weak | Hi, just checking if you've made a decision yet? I really need to know soon. |
| Strong | I'm still very interested in the role we discussed on the 14th. Is there an updated timeline for next steps, and is there anything else I can send? |
Why it matters: The weak version puts pressure on the reader and makes your urgency their problem. The strong version is easy to answer in one line, which makes a reply more likely.
Mistakes to avoid
- Following up the day after the interview.
- Sending follow-ups to every interviewer instead of the recruiter.
- Calling repeatedly or messaging on several channels at once.
- Writing in a hurt or frustrated tone.
- Stopping your search while you wait.
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Questions people ask
How long should I wait to follow up after an interview?
Who should I send the follow-up email to?
How many times should I follow up?
Is it OK to follow up by phone?
Can following up hurt my chances?
How this page is built
Written by Maid Dizdarevic, a career coach and 8x LinkedIn Top Voice. The templates and timing guides are practical advice, labelled as advice. We do not publish response rates or success rates, and every example uses fictional details.
- How a specific employer or recruiter will respond: practices vary by company, industry and person.
- Legal advice: for contracts, severance releases or disputes, talk to an employment attorney or the relevant agency.
- Outcomes: no message, template or program can promise an interview or a job.
- TryHired editorial guidance by Maid Dizdarevic, career coach, Nov 2, 2026.