Okay, so—you just blasted through an interview interview. Your brain’s in “omg what did I even say?” mode, your heart’s doing a little jig, and you absolutely need to follow up, but… how? I’m here, pulling up a virtual bean bag, pouring us both some (probably cold) coffee, and I’ll spill the tea on doing that follow-up like it’s totally casual—not like you’re begging. Let’s make you an Interview Like a Pro follow-up champ.
Why even bother?
First off, why bother following up, right? Like, the interview’s done. But here’s the thing: a solid thank-you or follow-up email can be the difference between “meh, next” and “hey we kinda liked that person.” Recruiters say when there are two strong candidates, the one who sends a genuine follow-up often clinches the offer.
So it matters! And in a world where ghosting is, sadly, becoming a thing—even Gen-Z candidates sometimes go full-zombie mode and drop off post-interview—your follow-up shows you’re not that person.
Real Talk: How to Follow up After Interviews
When should you send it?
- Within 24 hours of the interview: ASAP, while your face and charm are still fresh in their mind.
- If it’s been radio silence after that thank-you, wait about five business days to a week and then follow up again. Just once more—don’t be that “did you get this? helloooo?” person
What’s in the follow-up?
Here’s your chill checklist to Interview Like a Pro:
- Simple subject line. Eg: “Thanks for your time today” or “[Your Name] – Interview follow-up”.
- One or two short paragraphs. Thank them, restate that “yes, I’m still into this role!”, and sprinkle in one detail you chatted about—for example, “I loved hearing about your weird obsession with Spotify playlists for brainstorming.”
- Be personal, not creepy. Mention that thing you connected on. Could be the podcast reference, the question about Netflix habits, something that reminded you that person is human.
- Drop in anything you forgot. Forgot to mention that side-project or your mad Excel skill? Oh, you can slip that in casually—maybe “BTW I forgot to mention…”.
- End with soft positivity. “Looking forward to hearing from you,” “happy to answer any more Qs,” super chill vibes.
Let’s actually write one (with some flair)
Subject: Thanks for your time today!
Hi [Name],
Thanks so much for chatting with me earlier—I really enjoyed learning about how your team uses Spotify playlists to brainstorm ideas (ngl, that’s such a vibe 😂). I’m still totally excited about the [Job Title] role—especially after hearing about the project you mentioned around [insert specific detail].
Also, I realized I forgot to share something cool: I built that small tool in Python that helped our team track outcomes in real-time. Happy to share more if you’d like.
Thanks again and I’d love to stay in the loop!
Cheers,
[Your Name]
[Your LinkedIn or contact info]
If you don’t hear back? Don’t ghost, but don’t creep either.
If you hit that one-week mark and still haven’t heard… do that second, polite follow-up. Something like:
Hey [Name], I wanted to touch base again re: the [Job Title] role—still really excited and would love any updates if you’ve got them!
Just once more, then step back gracefully—no pushy “um hellooo?” vibes.
A note on tone (Gen-Z/Millennials, listen up)
You can be casual—but keep it pro. Use “I” and “you,” maybe a “hmm” or “ngl,” but don’t go full meme mode. It should feel like you’re texting a friend who happens to also be your recruiter. Funny anecdote? Sure. Entire pew-pew-laser GIF? Maybe not.
Also—ghosting is trending, but let’s be the exception. A little follow-up goes a long way. And if someone tops out at your third email with no reply? That’s an answer, too
TL;DR cheatsheet
- Send first follow-up within 24 hours.
- Keep it short, personal, and polite—thank them, mention something from the convo, reiterate interest.
- Optional: quickly add something you forgot.
- If needed, send a gentle second reminder after ~5 business days.
- Don’t be a ghost—or let them ghost you without trying a little polite persistence.
Wrapping it up, ya’ll
Follow-ups are low-key powerful. They are your chance to reinforce interest, clarify anything you forgot, and yes—stand out from the pack like a true Interview Like a Pro. Just think of it like swiping right on someone who could be a match—it’s forward, but not clingy. You’re showing respect for their time and gentle enthusiasm about the role.
So next time you walk out of an interview, hit that follow-up button like you’re sending something to your bestie—quick, thoughtful, and totally authentic.
You got this! Now go slay—and hey, slide into that job offer’s DMs later if needed. Good luck, friend.
Friendly push-off: here’s your life line—do it, but keep it chill. You’re not desperate; you’re thoughtful. And that’s how you do it.
Catch ya later, and may the offers be in your inbox soon!
