Not hearing back after an interview can be very disheartening, especially if you really wanted the job and prepared a lot for the interview.
Following up after an interview can be a great way to gain clarity about where you stand and even increase your chances of getting the job of your dreams.
If it’s been a week after your interview, and you still haven’t heard back, you should send a followup email. Today, I’ll be showing you 10 followup email samples to send one week after an interview, and I’ll also provide some essential tips on writing the perfect followup email.
Why Should You Follow Up After an Interview?
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A lot of people are afraid to follow up after an interview. There are many reasons they avoid doing so, but it’s mostly due to the following reasons:
- They don’t want to appear pushy.
- They are afraid of appearing desperate.
- Alternatively, they lack assertiveness.
- They don’t believe they truly qualify for the job.
However, not following up is a big mistake. Throughout this article, you’ll learn the many benefits of following up after an interview, but here are the main reasons it’s essential to do so.
Also Read: Interview Mistakes To Avoid
Go for What You Want
If you want something, go for it! You can’t live life sitting around and hoping people will get back to you.
By becoming more assertive about what you want, you will get more things done and have more good things come your way. Whether you’re dealing with a client, job interviewer, or anyone else, following up will often give them the slight push they need to get back to you.
Can Put You in the Forefront of Their Mind
People get busy, especially interviewers. They might have interviewed many other candidates, and they may also have many tasks to do.
They may simply have gotten distracted and forgotten to get back to their top candidates. If you email them, you can stand out from the crowd and put yourself at the forefront of their mind.
Even if they don’t reply to your followup email right away, they will remember you first when they have time to start getting back to candidates. That will make them more likely to call you for a followup interview.
Explore: Most Asked Interview Questions & Answers
It Can Speed Up the Process
Every interviewer has a different timeline for how long it takes between interviewing a candidate and hiring them. It depends on their other job responsibilities and how many other people they need to run their decisions through.
By following up, you can give them a slight push, so they prioritize the task of hiring you. Alternatively, it could push them to follow up with other people who play a role in the decision-making who haven’t gotten back to them yet.
It Shows You Are Organized
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Following up shows that you are organized, especially if you time things right. Sending a followup email precisely one week after the interview shows you can manage a tight and precise schedule.
That alone can give the interviewer another reason to hire you. It shows you will come to work on time, meet deadlines, and not miss meetings or other important events.
Also Read: Worst Job Interview Answers & What To Say Instead?
Gives You Closure
If anything, following up can give you closure. If the interviewer hasn’t gotten back to you, you may be left wondering whether they are simply dragging their feet or have already found someone else.
You may wonder if you should reach out, but the uncertainty can eat away at you. Just take the step and reach out, and you may get the closure you need.
If the interviewer has chosen someone else, reaching out can help you get the update you need. That way, you can avoid spending any more mental energy on a job you were passed over for and focus your energy on applying for new positions and attending other interviews.
Tips for Writing a Followup Email
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Here are some tips to keep in mind when writing your followup email.
Include the Right Subject Line
Using the correct subject line is critical. If there is an existing email thread, it’s typically best to reply to that email thread, as it will provide the interviewer with necessary context.
If there is no existing email thread, however, consider using one of the following subject lines to catch their attention:
- One-Week Followup
- Interview Followup
- Regarding Our Meeting
- Re: [Job Title] Position
- Feedback Requested
- Update Regarding Interview
- Following Up
- Re: [Your Name] Interview
Also Read: Good Answers To Weaknesses Question In A Job Interview
Use Professional Language
It should go without saying, but avoid using colloquial text, slang words, text abbreviations (like lol), or inappropriate language in your email.
Keep things professional. It could help to use more professional language – a tool like Grammarly or an online thesaurus can help you find higher-level substitutions for commonly-used words.
That can help you seem more literate and educated, which is something that could tip the scale in your favor.
Proofread Your Email
Always proofread your email before sending it. Grammar and spelling mistakes reflect poorly on you.
Not only do they show that you have poor writing skills, which is vital for many jobs (even for just writing emails), but they also demonstrate a lack of attention to detail. You will look like you rushed through your followup email without taking it seriously.
Use a spelling and grammar checker tool like Grammarly to help you detect errors.
Sign Off With Your Contact Details
It’s a good idea to sign off with your contact details to make it easier for the interviewer to contact you. Otherwise, if they want to call you and discuss something over the phone, they might have to search through their files to find your information.
Include details such as:
- Your phone number
- Your LinkedIn profile
- Your Skype ID
Explore: What Motivates You In Life? Interview Question Answered
How Long to Wait Before Sending a Followup Email?
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The general rule is to send two followup emails. Here’s a good schedule to follow.
24 Hours Later
Send the first email 24 hours after your interview. This email should be a simple appreciation email – it’s a thank-you note that serves two purposes.
The first is to express your appreciation for the opportunity, thereby establishing a rapport with the interviewer. The second is to gently and indirectly remind the interviewer about you and stand out from other candidates.
The 24-hour rule doesn’t always apply. If your interview was on a Friday, for example, wait until Monday morning before you send your followup email.
Your interviewer in all likelihood isn’t checking emails over the weekend. On Monday morning, they will likely face a full inbox with tons of emails.
If you send your email on the weekend, it will be easy for it to get lost in a mountain of emails. Sending it on Monday morning, on the other hand, allows you to stay at the top of the inbox and increases the likelihood of it getting read instead of batch-deleted.
If you didn’t send your first followup email, don’t worry. You should still send your second followup email, which is one week after the interview.
Also Read: How To Respond To An Interview Request?
One Week Later
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Your second followup email should be sent one week after the interview, whether or not you sent the first followup email.
This email isn’t primarily a thank-you email, although you can express your appreciation again. Instead, it serves the purposes mentioned above (reminding them about you, gently nudging them to speed up the process, giving yourself closure, etc.).
As you read through the example emails, you will learn additional reasons to send this followup email. Let’s get into it.
Best Follow Up Emails After Interview & No Response for a Week
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1. Greet Them by Name
When writing your email, always start by greeting your interviewer by name. It will help establish a rapport.
Here’s an example of that:
“Hi Gertrude,
I’m following up on our interview last week. I really enjoyed the opportunity to meet you and learn more about the firm.
Please provide an update on the hiring process when you can. I continue to believe I can bring a lot to the table and help the firm grow.
Best Regards,
Bob”
Also Read: Zoom Interview Etiquettes & Tips
2. Be Short and Concise
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Don’t send a long, drawn-out email. Instead, keep it concise and to the point. Here’s an excellent example of that:
“Hi Bess,
This is Sam, following up on our interview last week. I’m still interested in the position, and I’m excited about the opportunity to work with your firm.
Please get back to me as soon as possible with an update.
Best Regards,
Sam”
3. Include Details About the Interview and Position
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The interviewer may have interviewed many candidates, both for this job position and other posts. It’s a good idea to include more details about the specific interview you attended, including:
- Your name
- The day and time of the interview
- Where the interview took place
- What job position you were interviewing for
That can give the interviewer a quick reference point to remember you. Here’s a good example:
“Hi Abraham,
This is John Smith, following up on our interview last Tuesday at 9 AM at your Manhattan branch. We discussed the vacant position you have for an IT technician, but I haven’t heard back from you yet.
I’d love to join your team, and I believe my experience in the IT field will allow me to contribute significantly to your company. I love the company culture, and I think I will make a great asset to your firm.
When you can, please get back to me and update me on where we stand in the process. I’m waiting to hear back from you.
Kind regards,
John”
Explore: Thank You Email Examples After Zoom Interview
4. Don’t Be Pushy or Act Frustrated
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Your followup email can provide a gentle nudge to get the interviewer to speed things up. However, what you don’t want to do is be extra pushy or show that you’re frustrated.
Being rude won’t help you get the job. In fact, it could make things worse for you and work against you.
Here are examples of phrases that you should NOT use:
- “Why haven’t you gotten back to me? It’s been one week, and I’ve been waiting the whole time, with no response!”
- “You guys are something else. One week and no followup? “
- “I’m pretty upset at how long this is taking.”
- “Not hearing back from you is so frustrating.”
Instead, use language like this:
“Hi George,
I appreciate the opportunity you gave me last week to attend an interview at your firm. I’m sending a quick followup email to check up on the hiring process.
While I understand things can get busy, I would greatly appreciate an update for my own peace of mind. I’m still available for the position, and I’m ready to start whenever you need me to.
Take care,
Sarah”
5. Use Polite and Respectful Language
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Always use polite and respectful language when writing your email. Never use rude or unprofessional language; don’t let your emotions get the better of you.
Here’s an example of polite, respectful language:
“Dear Mr. Jones,
It was an honor meeting you last week, and it was a pleasure learning more about your small business and your vision for it.
I trust you will make a decision about the hiring process soon, and I’m patiently awaiting your response.
Respectfully,
Diana”
Also Read: Things Not To Say In An Exit Interview
6. Give Ideas to Move the Company Forward
Your followup email could also serve as an opportunity to provide new ideas that might help the company grow. That shows that you have passion for the job, have really been thinking of it, and can deliver fresh talent to the firm that can help it advance.
Here’s an example:
“Dear Mrs. Cruz,
I greatly appreciated the opportunity to interview with you last Monday. I’ve been thinking about what you said about your goals for your company, and an idea came to my mind.
Instead of putting most of your efforts into acquiring new customers, implementing a loyalty program might make more sense in the long run. Research suggests that it costs a lot more to acquire new customers than to retain existing ones, yet I haven’t seen your firm focus on customer retention.
With a points-based customer loyalty program, I’ll be able to generate more repeat sales and membership renewals. Furthermore, I can help you set up an effective retargeting campaign to reach existing and previous customers on Facebook and Google, generating a higher ROI with your existing marketing budget.
Please let me know your thoughts. I’m genuinely excited about what this could mean for your firm, and I’d love to be at the forefront of this project to move your business forward.
Waiting to hear from you,
James”
7. Reiterate Your Qualifications
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Another advantage of sending a followup email is that it allows you to reiterate your qualifications. Due to nervousness during the interview, you may have forgotten to mention specific qualifications that demonstrate you are the ideal candidate for the position.
For example, you may have forgotten to point to past projects you have worked on as evidence of your skills. Alternatively, you may have neglected to mention the extra training you took to become more knowledgeable on the subject.
In your followup email, you can include those qualifications. That could make the interviewer reconsider you if they weren’t putting you at the top of their list.
Be subtle about it, though. Don’t make your entire followup email about that, as it will look like you are trying too hard.
Instead, include it at the end of the email.
Here is an example:
“Dear Mrs. Williams,
We spoke last Monday concerning the job position for a senior information security analyst. It was a pleasure meeting you, and I’d like to express my continued interest in the position.
I’d also like to once again point to my extensive experience in securing databases and systems. In fact, I’m also quite experienced in penetration testing and ethical hacking, as you can see from my portfolio on GitHub [include a link].
Those skills will prove helpful in ensuring there are no bugs or security flaws that could allow hackers to penetrate and gain control of your system. Rest assured that I will find bugs faster than any hacker could and fix them immediately.
Please get back to me at your convenience.
Wishing you all the best,
Brian”
Also Read: Why Should We Hire You With No Experience?
8. Express Your Appreciation Again
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It’s also a good idea to express your appreciation for the interviewer again. This is especially important if you forgot to send the first thank-you email 24 hours after the interview.
However, the one-week email shouldn’t be primarily a thank-you email. Instead, quickly move to ask for an update.
Here’s an example:
“Hi Norman,
I’d once again like to express my appreciation for taking the time to meet with me last Saturday. I’m just following up on what we discussed to see if you have any updates.
All the best,
Jason”
9. Reaffirm Your Interest and Passion
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Your followup email is also an excellent opportunity to reaffirm your passion and interest in the job. Often, what interviewers are looking for are people who are genuinely passionate about the job and want it at all costs.
These people will give the firm their best, working overtime and using their full powers of creativity and productivity. Just sending the followup email itself already shows that you are more interested in the job than others who haven’t followed up, so seize the opportunity to capitalize on that.
Here’s an example:
“Hi Robert,
This is Jack, following up on our interview last Wednesday. I’m excitedly waiting to hear your feedback on what we discussed.
I really enjoyed our meeting, and I feel like your company culture is the perfect fit for me. I’m excited about the prospect of joining your firm, and I feel like this job position will both challenge me to go beyond my limits and allow me to contribute significantly to the team.
Yours truly,
Jack”
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10. Ask the Question Directly
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You’re probably wondering what the interviewer is up to, whether they have made a decision, what stage in the hiring process they are, etc. Your followup email is the perfect chance to be straightforward about your question – just ask what’s on your mind.
Here’s an example:
“Hi Martin,
This is Fred, following up on our interview last week. Are you still considering me for the position? I’d love to hear back from you.
All the best,
Fred”
There are other ways you can ask this question. Here are some examples:
- “Have you made a hiring decision yet?”
- “At what stage of the hiring process are you?”
- “Has the position been filled yet?”
This email is designed to give you closure, so you don’t have to keep racking your brain about things. It might be a bit blunt, but it’s often effective.
Explore: Exit Interview Tips To Talk Out Bad Boss & Toxic Workplace
What if You Don’t Get a Response to Your Followup Email?
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After sending your followup email, give it 48 hours or so, not including weekends and holidays. Some people might even take several days to get back to you.
Patience is crucial. Sending yet another followup email 24 hours after your previous one probably isn’t a good idea.
If you still don’t hear back after several days, you can safely move on. It’s possible they will reach out to you, but don’t bet your money on it.
Some people have had interviewers reach out to them weeks or months down the line! However, you can’t put your life and career on hold.
In your mind, you should let go of this job and start looking for other opportunities. It’s not worth ruminating over.
Remember, you have finite energy and time. Spending your time and mental energy worrying about a particular job will be at the expense of other opportunities you could have applied to.
Don’t let it get to you, either. Interviewers could have all sorts of reasons why they pass you over for a job and don’t get back to you.
Perhaps they are swamped with emails and overwhelmed with responsibilities, or maybe they simply don’t care to give you closure. At the end of the day, however, you shouldn’t let it affect your life.
Also Read: Why Should We Hire You? Best Answers
Wrapping It Up
If you’ve been hesitating to send that followup email, don’t. A week is a long-enough time to follow up.
Remember, it can’t do you any harm as long as you write a respectful email and keep it professional. Nothing bad can come out of it, and it can even help you get the job when you otherwise wouldn’t have obtained it.
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