How Soon After an Interview Should You Follow Up?

After a job interview, the recruiter or hiring manager should reach out to you in a timely fashion, but it doesn't always work out that way. In this event, you will want to follow up. Following up is important to show the recruiter that you're still interested in the role, and it keeps you top of mind. But how soon after interviewing should you follow up?

A follow-up message is different from a thank you note, which you should send within 24 hours of your interview. When it comes to following up, you want to give the recruiter, hiring manager, and any other members of the team time to discuss your interview. You also want to make sure they have enough time to interview more candidates.

At the end of an interview, if the interviewer gives you a time frame in which you can expect to hear about the next steps, wait until that time frame has passed before following up. If they did not provide a time frame or a date, a good rule of thumb is to wait at least 10 days before checking in with the employer. You want to seem excited about the possibility of working for this company but also respectful of the process.

These factors affect the overall time frame:

• The size of the company. If you are applying for a job at a large company, it may take longer for the interviewer to decide. This is because they may have to interview more candidates, or they may involve more people in the interview process.

• The industry you are applying for. Some industries, like technology, move quickly. Other industries, such as financial services, tend to take longer.

When you do follow up, keep it brief and professional. Thank the interviewer again for their time and reiterate your interest in the position. You can also provide any additional information that you think would be helpful.

Tips for Following Up After an Interview

Here are some additional tips for following up after an interview:

• Address the email to the interviewer by name.

• Thank the interviewer again for their time.

• Restate your interest in the position.

• Provide any additional information that you think would be helpful.

• Ask if there is anything else you can do to help the process.

• Keep your follow-up email brief and to the point.

• Proofread your email before sending it.

Here is an example of a follow-up email:

Dear [Interviewer's Name],

I hope this email finds you well.

I wanted to thank you again for taking the time to interview me for the [position] position on [date]. I enjoyed learning more about the [company] and the [position] role.

I am still very interested in the position, and I believe that my skills and experience would be a valuable asset to your team. I am confident that I can make a significant contribution to the [company], and I look forward to hearing from you soon. Please let me know if there is anything else you need from me.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

After the Follow Up

If you don't hear back after your follow-up, don't be discouraged. It's possible that they're still interviewing other candidates or that they're simply taking their time to decide. They may have even made an offer to someone else, but that offer could fall through, and you might be next in line. You can send a second follow-up email a week after your first one, but don't be too pushy.

Stay positive but keep going on other interviews so you have options if this doesn't work out. If you're a good fit for the position, the company will eventually get back to you. If you never hear back, don't worry—you will have had great experience interviewing and following up, you will gain confidence, and you just might get that next job.