Follow-Up Emails for Job Interviews: 3 Templates

After an interview, send a follow-up email, whether or not you want the job. A thoughtful follow-up provides another opportunity to leave a positive impression and be remembered by the hiring manager or recruiter. Sending a quick note can set you apart from other candidates, and even if you don't get the position, you could be kept in mind for future openings.

These job interview email templates make sending follow-ups quick and easy. Just copy the template, fill in your information, add an optional personal touch, and send.

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Job interview follow-up email examples

You can write a follow-up thank-you note in just a few minutes with the right template and tools. Interviewers take time out of their day to meet with potential candidates. A quick thank-you email shows that you’re interested in the position and appreciate their time and effort.

"After the interview was completed, I didn't hear back. I waited two weeks, then I decided, You know what? Let me send a nudge to this client. Let me do a quick check-in to see if they’re considering me to join the team. So, I swallowed my pride and sent a message to the client. I asked, 'Do you think I'm a strong candidate for this position? I really loved this interview, and the job seems to be a perfect fit for my skills.' She responded right away, hired me, and onboarded me the following Monday. You have to be responsive. You just can't think that once you submit a proposal, that's it." 

— Vera Cruz, Top Rated Plus virtual assistant 

Try to end your job interviews on a positive note. First impressions set the tone, but the final impressions are the most recent in their memory and what people tend to remember most. Sending a follow-up can also keep you at the top of your interviewer's mind.

Have you ever finished an interview and realized that you forgot to mention something important and relevant to the position? Instead of kicking yourself, include it in your follow-up. This could be an opportunity to reinforce why you're the best candidate for the job and express your appreciation, balancing self-promotion with gratitude.

Use these quick and easy job interview follow-up samples — with fictional names and companies — as inspiration:

After a phone screening

Subject: Thank You – Email Marketing Role at Hooli

Hi Gavin,

Thank you for taking the time to speak with me today about the email marketing position at Hooli. I appreciated the opportunity to learn more about the team and the innovative work you're doing. It was both insightful and energizing.

I’m excited about the potential to contribute to Hooli’s marketing efforts. I bring experience creating targeted, data-driven campaigns. I am confident in my ability to help strengthen engagement across channels, particularly for products with the scale and ambition of Hooli Chat.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out if there’s anything else you need from me. I look forward to hearing about the next steps.

Thanks again,

Donald “Jared” Dunn

jared.dunn@email.com

(555) 246‑8101

linkedin.com/in/donaldjareddunn123

After meeting with the hiring manager

Subject: Follow-Up – UX Design Role Discussion

Hi Mr. Gilfoyle,

Thank you for taking the time to meet with me today and discuss the UX designer position in more detail. I appreciated the chance to learn more about the upcoming rebranding efforts and the new design direction that Pied Piper would like to go in. I could see myself contributing to your team.

Pied Piper's commitment to diversity and giving back to local communities really stood out to me. I think this position is a good fit for me because I was heavily involved in redesigning the Sliceline app's front end last year to simplify user flows and improve accessibility. 

Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you need anything further. I’m looking forward to hearing what comes next.

Thank you again for your time,

Dinesh Chugtai

dinesh.chugtai@email.com

(555) 987‑6543

linkedin.com/in/dineshchugtai123

After a late-stage panel or final interview

Subject: Thank You – Social Media Marketing Discussion at Raviga

Hi Laurie,

Thank you for taking the time to speak with me today. I’ve enjoyed learning more about how the product development team is looking to expand paid campaigns on Raviga’s social media channels.

After speaking with you and the team, I’m confident my background in A/B testing and developing high-performing ad creatives can support Raviga’s goals to boost engagement and drive sales.

Please let me know if you have any other questions or would like me to clarify anything.

‍Thank you again for your time,

Erlich Bachman

erlich.bachman@email.com

(555) 123‑4567

linkedin.com/in/erlichbachman123

Job interview follow-up email templates

You can use a template to make writing a follow-up email quick and easy. Templates help with writer's block, provide formatting guidance, and give you a great starting point for your email. Make sure to save your favorite templates so you can reuse them later on with appropriate adjustments. Just fill in your information, add any personal touches that you think help, and you're ready to send.

You can also use an AI tool like Uma™, Upwork’s Mindful AI (for follow-ups on Upwork), to help write a follow-up thank-you note using the following templates and previous examples as a reference for formatting and tone. 

Key content elements

Job follow-ups should be short and sweet. Try to get straight to the point while still feeling authentic and genuine. Keep in mind that if you’re messaging a client on Upwork and have been communicating back and forth, you can often make your message shorter and less formal than an email.  

“I do it quite often with these words: ‘Hey Brad, I have some time in my schedule this week. Would you like to proceed with the job we discussed earlier? Let me know.’ I would say it’s a low risk high reward thing to do. Got a few new milestones doing this to existing clients as well.” 

— Upwork user u/Tonggak on Reddit 

Follow-up emails are an opportunity to showcase your valuable soft skills, such as empathy, positivity, and communication. They also help interviewers get a sense of what it would be like to work with you, from how you communicate to how you show appreciation and professionalism.

When writing a follow-up email after a job interview, make sure it includes these key content elements:

• Use the interviewer's name. Address your interviewer by name to make the note feel personal and sincere
• Express your appreciation. Thank the interviewer for their time and the opportunity to learn more about the role
• Mention what stood out. Reference specific details from the conversation to show you were engaged and genuinely interested in the company
• Show your interest. Clearly state your enthusiasm for the role and why you’re excited about the opportunity
• Include any requested materials. Follow up with any samples, links, or information the interviewer asked for during your meeting
• Use a professional sign-off. Finish your email with a polished signature that includes your full name and contact details

Template 1: Quick thank-you

Subject Line: Thanks for your time today/yesterday, [Name]

Hi [interviewer's name],

I appreciate your taking the time to talk with me [today/yesterday] about the [position] opening. I enjoyed learning more about [insert company] and the specifics of the [insert specific] role.

What you shared about [company culture, mission, or values] really resonated with me, and I’m excited about the opportunity to contribute to that vision.

I hope I answered all of your questions. If you need anything else from me, please feel free to reach out.

Thank you again for your time,

[Name]

[Email]

[Phone number]

Template 2: Follow-up with additional information

Subject line: Great speaking with you [today/yesterday] regarding [position]

Hi [Name],

I enjoyed our conversation [yesterday/today] about the [position] at [company]. I'm excited about the opportunity and look forward to meeting more of the team and exploring how I can contribute to the role.

We discussed [insert topic], and I wanted to follow up with more [samples, etc.] as requested. I believe my experience with [skill] can help contribute to [goal of the role or company].

If you need anything else from me or have any additional questions, please don't hesitate to reach out.

Thank you again for your time,

[Name]

[Email]

[Phone number]

Template 3: Following up to check on interview status

Subject line: Following up on [position] role

Hi [Name],

Thank you again for taking the time to speak with me about the [position] at [company]. I wanted to check in to see if there have been any updates on the interview process or if there’s anything else you need from me.

I’m excited about the opportunity to join the [team] and contribute to [company’s goal or mission]. I believe the role is a strong match for my background in [brief skill/experience], and I’d be happy to continue the conversation.

Please feel free to reach out if you have any further questions.

Thank you,

[Name]

[Email]

[Phone number]‍

Job interview follow-up tips

Depending on the position and company, you may need to do several interviews with different team members or even company leadership. After finishing each interview, remember you still have one more task to check off your list: the follow-up.

Following up shows interest and enthusiasm, and it could be the small detail that sets you apart from other candidates. The right timing, tone, and content can make all the difference.

What to say

What you include in a follow-up email depends on where you are in the interview process. After an initial conversation with a recruiter or hiring manager, a quick thank-you message is a great way to show appreciation and reinforce your interest. If it’s been a week since your last update, you can appropriately send a follow-up to check in on next steps.

Follow-ups typically fall into one of three categories:

• Thank-you notes
• Additional information the interviewer requested
• Status updates

The tone of the emails should express confidence without seeming pushy. You want to sound like you know you're qualified for the job and did well in the interview without assuming you’ve already gotten the job. These are some signs that your interview went well and you’re moving on to the next stage or getting an offer.

When to send a follow-up email

Once you know what you want to say, the next step is to decide when to send your follow-up email. If your interviewer requested additional samples or more information, send that as soon as possible after the interview — before the end of the workday if you can.

For a thank-you note, the typical timeframe is within 24 to 48 hours (excluding weekends). If you haven’t heard back after that, it’s appropriate to follow up with a status check about five to seven days later.

Recruiters and hiring managers are busy and often do multiple interviews in a day, sometimes for different positions. You could accidentally fall through the cracks. How quickly you hear back from an interview can vary from company to company and even role to role. The higher a position is, the longer it often takes to make a decision. A follow-up is a great way to check in and make sure they remember you.

Pro Tip: When you talk to the recruiter or hiring manager, ask what the interview process looks like and how quickly you should expect to hear back, so you know when to follow up again.

How to customize the templates

Follow-up email templates and examples are great when you're unsure what to say. They can also help you cover all the important points a follow-up should have. When using a template, example, or AI, make sure you personalize it and double-check for any spelling or grammar mistakes before pressing send.

You don't want your interviewer to see any errors or know that you used a template or AI. This can be a red flag and have the opposite effect from what you’re intending. Copy and paste your message into a Word document, then use a grammar checker like Grammarly. Double-check that you've filled in all the blanks with your name, role, and company, and removed any placeholder text. Reading your note aloud can also help you catch any mistakes. 

Interview follow-up FAQs

What do you say in a follow-up email after an interview?

Always say thank-you first in a follow-up email after an interview and express appreciation for their time. If the interviewer requests more information, you can attach it in a follow-up email and include a thank-you.

Sometimes during an interview, you might forget to mention something important. A follow-up is an opportunity to add any extra information that you left out during the interview. You can also check in and ask for any updates if you haven't heard anything after a week. 

How do you write a short follow-up email after an interview?

Start your follow-up email by thanking the interviewer for their time and expressing your interest in the role and the company. Mention a specific topic you discussed during the interview to show you were engaged and paying attention. Wrap up by letting them know they can reach out if they have any additional questions. A follow-up email template can help make this process quick and easy. Just be sure to customize it with your own details.

How soon should you send a follow-up email after an interview?

A general best practice is to send your quick thank-you email within 24 to 48 hours after the interview. If you’re interviewed on a Friday, consider sending your email on Monday afternoon or Tuesday morning. When interviewers request additional materials, such as work samples or references, try to send them right after the interview and before the end of the day. If you’re waiting to hear back on next steps or a decision, wait at least five business days to a week before following up.

What should you avoid saying or asking in a follow-up email?

Avoid asking directly, “Did I get the job?” in your follow-up email. Instead, express your continued interest in the position and ask if there are any updates or next steps in the hiring process. Try to show enthusiasm without sounding overly eager or impatient. Confidence helps you stand out positively, but too much can feel presumptive and work against you.

Should you ask clarifying questions in a follow-up email?

Yes, questions are appropriate in a follow-up email. Recruiters and hiring managers give you their email for a reason; they want to keep the lines of communication open during the interview process and beyond. If you have logistical questions about the interview process or the job, you can email the recruiter for more information. You can direct any job-specific questions you didn't get to during the interview to the hiring manager. Avoid acting as if you've already gotten the job; instead, ask only questions relevant to the current stage of the interview process.

Should you send a follow-up to every person you interviewed with?

Yes,  ideally you should send a personal thank-you email to each person you spoke with during the interview process. You can start with a general template, but make sure to personalize each message so they don’t feel identical. Interviewers often compare notes, and thoughtful follow-ups can leave a strong impression. Try varying the structure slightly and include a sentence or two that references something specific you discussed with each individual person.

“I created my Upwork profile without any set expectations and started sending a few proposals. Then, something really big happened. I had an interview through Upwork with a large consulting firm based in the U.S. and they hired me on the spot. At that point, everything changed … One day, everything blew up and I started to have 10 to 15 interviews per week.” 

— Thiago Maior, Expert-Vetted DevOps engineer 

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