What should a follow-up email after an interview say?
Thank the interviewer by name, mention one specific thing you discussed, say in one sentence why the role still interests you, and close with a short line about next steps. Keep it under 150 words. If you forgot to mention something important in the interview, one sentence on it is fine; a paragraph is not. Send a separate email to each person who interviewed you.
Template 1: thank-you within 24 hours
Use this after every interview. Send it the same day or the next morning, before any decision is made.
Dear [Name],
Thank you for your time today. I enjoyed our conversation, particularly the part about [one specific topic: how the team handled the migration last year / the plans for the Bengaluru office / the way you measure onboarding].
It confirmed my interest in the [role] position. The work on [specific thing] is close to what I did at [company], where [one-line relevant result], and I would like to bring that here.
If any further information would help, I am happy to provide it. I look forward to hearing about next steps.
Kind regards,
[Your name]
[Phone]
Template 2: check-in after the decision date has passed
Use this the working day after the date they said you would hear back, or about a week after the interview if no date was given.
Dear [Name],
I hope the week is going well. When we met on [date], you mentioned a decision was expected by [date]. I wanted to check whether there is an update on the [role] position, or a revised timeline.
I remain very interested in the role and the team. If there is anything else you need from me, such as references or a work sample, I can send it today.
Thank you again for your time.
Kind regards,
[Your name]
Template 3: after a second or final round
Use this after a later-stage interview, where the thank-you can be more specific about the role and the fit.
Dear [Name],
Thank you for the final-round conversation today, and for the detail on [specific area: the first 90 days / the team's roadmap / the reporting structure].
Having met [names or number] of the team, I am confident the role is a strong fit. The challenge you described around [specific problem] is one I would want to start on in the first month, beginning with [one concrete first step].
Please pass my thanks to [other interviewer] as well. I look forward to your decision and am available for any further discussion.
Kind regards,
[Your name]
[Phone]
Template 4: you have another offer and a deadline
Use this when another company has made an offer with a deadline and this role is your preference. Be honest and give them a real date.
Dear [Name],
I wanted to let you know of a change in my situation. I have received an offer from another company and have been asked to respond by [date].
The [role] at [company] is my first preference, because of [one honest reason]. If there is any possibility of a decision, or an indication of where things stand, before [date, a day or two before the deadline], I would be grateful. I understand if the timeline cannot move.
Thank you for your consideration.
Kind regards,
[Your name]
[Phone]
Template 5: the final check-in
Use this two or more weeks after the check-in with no reply. Short, gracious, and leaves the relationship intact.
Dear [Name],
I have not heard back since my note on [date], so I will assume the [role] position has been filled or paused. Thank you for the conversations; I learned a good deal about [company] and would be glad to be considered for future openings.
If the role is still open and I am still under consideration, I would of course be pleased to hear it.
With best wishes,
[Your name]
What to change before you send
Recruiters and hiring managers read many of these. The details are what they notice.
- The specific detail in Template 1 must come from your interview, not from the job description. If several people interviewed you, each email needs a different detail.
- Spell the interviewer's name and the company's name exactly as they appear in their email signature.
- Put the role title in the subject line; recruiters often run several searches at once.
- In Template 2, quote the date they gave you. If they did not give one, say "about a week since we met" rather than inventing a promise.
- In Template 4, only write it if the other offer is real and this role is genuinely your preference. Do not use it as pressure.
- Send from the same email address you applied with, so your thread and your application are easy to connect.
How long to wait
Thank-you within 24 hours, the same day if the interview was in the morning. Status check-in the working day after the decision date they gave you, or roughly a week after the interview if no date was given. If that gets no reply, one more check-in a week later, and a final note two weeks after that. Hiring decisions often involve several people and a budget approval, so a slow reply is not usually a no.
If a recruiter or agency is in the middle, send the check-ins to them rather than the hiring manager; they can see where the process is. How many days to wait before following up covers job applications in more detail.
Let Momo AI chase it
When you are interviewing at several companies, the dates blur: who said Friday, who said two weeks, who has gone quiet. Momo AI's follow-up tracking keeps every sent thread with no reply on one list, drafts the check-in in your own voice to Gmail Drafts after the days you choose, and leaves the sending to you; nothing goes out without your tap. On the other side of the table, the recruiters page shows how hiring teams use the same tool to keep candidates informed.
