10 Best Follow Up Email After Interview If No Response [Samples and Examples]
10 Best Follow Up Email After Interview If No Response [Samples and Examples]. After a job interview, it’s only natural to want an update on the hiring process, particularly if you feel it went well. A follow-up email after a job interview can be far more than just a courtesy. It gives the applicant an opportunity to reinforce their interest and enthusiasm for the job in question and helps them stay on top of the hiring manager’s mind.
Here, we are going to show you how to send a follow-up email after an interview if you’ve gotten no response, including:
- The best subject lines to use for your follow-up emails.
- How long to wait before you send the email and when to send a second email if needed.
- How to politely ask for an interview result (while avoiding critical mistakes that can hurt your chances of getting the job).
- Word-for-word email samples and templates you can copy.
How long should you wait after an interview to follow up?
The first follow-up email after an interview should be sent within 24 hours, expressing thanks and inquiring as to the next steps. If you have not received any feedback in over a week after your first follow-up email, you can send a second follow-up email as a gentle reminder that you are waiting on feedback. This should be just as friendly, enthusiastic, and professional as the first follow up email, but shorter.
Why send a follow-up email?
Sending a follow-up email after an interview is often expected and can benefit your application in several ways. For one, it gives you the opportunity to reaffirm your interest in a position and to underline the value you would add to the company you are interviewing with. Moreover, it helps you to make a good impression on the hiring manager, showing that you are thoughtful and appreciative.
What Else to Do While Waiting for Interview Feedback
Keep in mind that delays happen and the hiring process takes time. So the best thing for you to do while waiting for a status update is to apply for more jobs and try to get more interviews scheduled. You shouldn’t stop doing this until you’ve signed a job offer! No matter how well you write your follow-up email, it isn’t going to get a company to move its process faster, bypass delays, skip over other candidates, etc. This is why you should keep applying for jobs until you’ve signed a job offer.
How To Write A Follow-Up Email After An Interview
If you’re about to send a second or third interview follow-up email after two weeks, writing a rude message or showing frustration won’t make the employer’s decision-making process move any faster, and it could even cost you the job. So use a positive tone, tell the employer that you’re checking for status updates and you’re excited to hear feedback when they have a chance, and then conclude by saying something like, “Thank you so much for your time.
1. Start by using a Strong Follow-Up Email Subject Line
Email subject lines are important because they determine whether your email gets opened, and how quickly. Follow up with whoever said they’d been in touch after your interview, or if you’re not sure, follow up with whoever you were emailing to schedule the interview.
The person who scheduled your interview is a good person to follow up with to check the status of interview feedback. The best way to write a subject line for a follow-up email is to simply reply to the latest email thread (that you used to schedule the interview) and leave the previous subject line. For example Re: Interview on Friday at 11:00 AM.
If you don’t have a previous email to reply to, then choose one of the following subject lines for your interview follow-up email:
- Interview status follow-up.
- Following up regarding interview results.
- Job interview follow-up.
- Following up regarding job interview.
2. Start Writing the Body of Your Follow-Up Email
Make sure the body of your follow-up email should be short and to the point. Most employers prefer to receive a short and sweet follow-up email after the job interview without any unnecessary info.
3. Finish your email.
Sign off with a formal or semi-formal closing phrase, depending on the degree of formality established in your previous exchange with the recipient, along with your name and contact details. Closing phrases such as “Best” and “Regards” are more semi-formal while “Sincerely” and “Respectfully” are considered formal. For Example: “Best regards, [Your Name], [Contact information].“
Summary on how to follow up after an interview?
- Open with a formal salutation and address the hiring manager by name.
- If you interviewed with several people, send a separate follow-up note to every one of them.
- Express your appreciation and reinforce your interest in the position.
- Maintain a positive tone throughout, and don’t show frustration, even if this is a second or third follow-up after no response.
- In the follow-up, refer to specific company plans that you discussed during the interview.
- Explain that you’re following up regarding the job you interviewed for, to ask about the status.
- Be specific when mentioning the job; include the job title, the date you interviewed, or both.
- Suggest how your experience and skills can help with their challenges.
- Say that you’re willing to provide the hiring manager with any additional information if necessary, and confirm when a final decision is to be made.
- Reaffirm your interest in the position.
- Run spellcheck, and proofread everything before sending your follow-up email.
- Finish by thanking the reader and signing off with your first and last name.
- Keep your interview follow-up email short and to the point without any unnecessary content.
How to Write a Second Follow-Up Email:
- Subject line: Rather than composing a new message with a different subject line, continue with the existing email thread that contains your first follow-up email.
- Salutation: Use the same salutation as you did in the first follow-up email.
- Body Section: The structure of the body should be shorter and more concise than in your first follow-up email but maintain the same degree of friendliness, enthusiasm, and professionalism. State that you are just following up on the interview, reaffirm that you are still very interested in the position, and ask for an update.
- Sign off: Use the same formal or semi-formal tone used in your first email.
Sample Follow-Up Emails After an Interview Example
#1. Second Follow-Up Email After No Response:
Hi [HIRING MANGER NAME],
I hadn’t heard a reply to my last email so I wanted to check back in to see how the interview process is moving on your end.
Are there any updates you can share regarding the [JOB TITLE] position? I’m still interested in the opportunity, and I look forward to hearing from you when you have any news to share.
Thanks so much,
[YOUR NAME].
#2. Interview Follow-Up Email Combined with a Thank-You Email:
Hi [HIRING MANGER NAME],
Thanks so much for taking the time to meet with me on Thursday to discuss the [JOB TITLE] position. I enjoyed our conversation and the information you shared about <specific topic> was interesting.
I’m following up to see if you have any updates regarding the position now.
I’m excited to hear about the next steps, and the role seems like a great fit for my background based on what I learned! Anything you can share would be great.
Thanks so much,
[YOUR NAME]
#3. Thank-you email template recommended after your interview within 24 hours.
Hi [MANAGER],
Thank you for taking the time to meet with me yesterday. I enjoyed our conversation about [SPECIFIC TOPIC], and the [JOB TITLE] position sounds like an exciting opportunity for me at this point in my career. I look forward to hearing any updates as they’re available, and don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.
Best regards,
[YOUR NAME].
#4. First Follow-Up Email After Interview:
Hi [MANAGER NAME],
I hope all is well.
I’m following up to see if you have any status updates regarding the [JOB TITLE] position that I interviewed for on [DATE].
I’m excited to hear about the next steps, and the role seems like a great fit for my background based on what I learned! Any updates you can share would be great.
Thanks so much,
[YOUR NAME].
#5. Second Follow-Up Email Template Sample
Dear Mr./Ms. [MANAGER’S Name],
I trust you are well. I was just following up on the [position for which you interviewed] position. I enjoyed meeting with you [indicate when the interview took place] and learning more about [company name] and [the position]. I am still very interested in the position and will gladly provide any additional information you may still require of me.
If you could provide me with an update regarding the process that would be much appreciated. I look forward to hearing back from you.
Thank you,
[Your name].
[Your contact information].
#6. Template for your own follow-up email:
Subject: John Doe – Re: Interview on Friday at 2pm
Hi [Kim / Ms. Jame],
Thank you for your time [yesterday / date of interview]. It was great to speak to you about the [job title] role and I’m convinced that the position is a perfect fit for this stage in my career. I was hoping to get an update on the recruitment process, so any information that you can give me about the next steps would be greatly appreciated. Also, feel free to ask me any follow-up questions that may have come up since we last spoke.
Looking forward to hearing from you,
John Doe.
#7. Sample Follow-Up Email After Phone Interview
Subject line: Thank you for the opportunity, [Hiring Manager’s Name]
Dear [Hiring Manager’s Name].
Thank you for talking with me today. I really appreciated learning more about [Company Name]. It was great to learn that you share my approach to [industry / business]. I particularly liked the way you [specific detail about the company you learned during the interview].
I’m looking forward to meeting with you in person and discussing our cooperation further. Please find attached my resume and cover letter with detailed work experience.
Best,
[Your sign-off].
#8. Competitive Job Offer Sample Second Follow-Up Email
Subject line: Following up on an interview for [the name of the position]
Dear [Hiring Manager’s Name],
I would like to let you know that I have been offered a position with [Company Name]. My deadline for accepting or rejecting it passes on [the established deadline].
However, I’d be happy to turn down that offer if you decided to choose me as your new [the name of the position]. Please, let me know if you’re likely to reach a hiring decision before the deadline I established with [Company Name].
If you need any additional information from me, please let me know.
Best,
[Your sign-off].
#9. Sample Second Follow-Up Email after Interview if no response
Subject line: Following up on an interview for [the name of the position]
Dear [Hiring Manager’s Name],
I thought I’d check in as, during our last interview, you mentioned that you’d be making the final recruitment decision for the [the name of your position] by [the established deadline].
Please, let me know if you have an update and if there are any additional details I could provide you with to facilitate the hiring process.
Best,
[Your sign-off].
#10. More detailed Sample Follow-Up Email After an Interview
Subject line: Pleasure to learn more about [Company Name]
Dear [Hiring Manager’s Name],
Thank you so much for taking the time to talk to me about the position of [the position you’re applying for] with [Company Name] this morning. It was a pleasure to learn more about your [innovative strategy / upcoming challenges / core values / industry insights].
The details you provided me with about the position convinced me that this is a job I would enjoy and one where I could make a valuable contribution with my skills and experience [refer to your specific area of expertise and how it can benefit your employer].
I was also thinking about what you said regarding [specific issue discussed during the interview]. In my last role as [your current or most recent position] I found that [data-backed explanation of how you would tackle the issue in question].
Finally, attached you will find the details of some of my projects we talked about. Please feel free to contact me if you find you need any more information. I look forward to our call next week as discussed.
Thank you once again, [Hiring Manager’s Name].
Best regards,
[Your sign-off].
Alternative ways of sending a follow-up email
Email may not be the best medium for following up, particularly if you haven’t communicated with the interviewer via email before. Depending on the job you’re applying for, some, or all of these alternatives may be more appropriate:
- Phone call.
- WhatsApp.
- An instant messaging platform (e.g. Skype, LinkedIn Messenger, Google Hangouts).
- LinkedIn.
Recommendation