The Right Way to Follow Up After an Interview

Two weeks ago you had a great interview with your dream company. You nailed every question, even the one meant to throw you off. They said they’d be in touch but then…crickets.

It can take a while for a company to interview all their candidates and make a final decision, but that doesn’t mean you should put it on the backburner until you hear something.

Before you leave, ask about next steps

At the end of your interview, the hiring manager will ask if you have any questions. Your last question should be, “What are the next steps in this process?” Not only does this show that you’re thinking ahead, you’ll also have a timeline on when to expect a decision.

If they give you a date, you can follow up after then, but no sooner. For instance, if you were told that a decision will be made by the end of the week and it’s been 10 days, you can send them a follow up email. Don’t send them a message on day 5 wondering if they’ve made a decision yet.

[Related: Questions You Should Never Ask at the End of an Interview]

Send a thank you note

The only exception to contacting the company before you’re expecting to hear back is to send them a thank you note after your interview. “Only about 25 percent of candidates send me a thank you email or note after their interview,” says Lisa Kodama, Personnel Manager at ALTRES. “While it’s not required, it shows your interviewer that you’re professional and that you appreciate their time.”

One important point: though it is common in Hawaii to send treats as a thank you once you’ve snagged the job, hold off on sending gifts if you’re still in the interview process. It comes off as bribery rather than a kind gesture.

Send a follow up email

If you haven’t heard from the company by the time they said they would respond, send a follow up email. When sending a follow up, personalize the letter with details to highlight your compatibility with the position.

Subject line: Checking In

Hi [first name],

It has been two weeks since we met about the [title] position. You mentioned you were looking for someone with [role requirements]. I’m still very interested in working with [company name], and I would love to show you how I can be an asset to your company.

Perhaps we could meet again to discuss how I could contribute to [company name]’s goal of [company mission]?

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Thank you again for your time and consideration.

[name]

Do not overwhelm them

Followed up twice and you still haven’t heard back? It’s best to stop there and not continue to demand a response. There are two reasons why you may not have heard back from the company.

1. They’re busy. You may be waiting by the phone day and night but most hiring managers are thinking about a hundred things other than this open position. Vacations, project status changes, and restructuring are all possible reasons you’re not hearing back as soon as you hoped.
2. They’re just not that into you. You may be a great candidate that meets all the qualifications but if a more experienced candidate applies that happens to be a perfect fit for the company culture, they’re going to hire that individual.

Whatever the case may be, you won’t be doing yourself any favors by demanding to hear from the company.

In the meantime, don’t let your job search come to a halt! A single application with ALTRES Staffing means our dedicated recruiters can match you to multiple potential employers. There is no fee and never any obligation.