Waiting To Follow Up After A Job Interview? What To Do + How Long To Wait

Knowing when to follow up after a job interview can be nerve-racking. You should typically wait between five and eight business days to follow up about the status of your interview.

In this article, we’ll go over when the appropriate time to follow up with your interviewer is, and we will also provide samples of different ways that you can follow up to help you. We will also go over some of the reasons why your interviewer hasn’t responded to you to help ease some of those nerves you may have.

Key Takeaways:

• You should wait between five and eight business days for a job interview follow up.

• Always ask at the end of an interview when you can expect to hear back from the employer.

• When writing follow-up thank-you email for job interview, include how you are looking forward to hearing back from the employer.

• Companies may not get back to candidates due to unexpected changes or a desire to be meticulous.

How long should you wait after an interview to follow up?

You should follow up five to eight business days after an interview. For example, if you interview on a Wednesday, you should wait until at least the following Wednesday to follow up with your interviewer.

Where you are in the interview process can also determine how long you wait to follow up. For example:

• If you’re in the first round of interviews, then it’s okay to check in on the status of your application more quickly than if you’re in the later round of interviews.

• As you move past phone screenings and the initial interview round, you should give the employer more time to get back to you before reaching out.

However, the best idea is to finish your interview by asking the hiring manager or recruiter when you can expect to hear about the next steps. Whatever date or timeline they give you, allow them at least that much time to respond before following up.

We also recommend giving an additional one or two business days’ worth of buffer time to guarantee you won’t be seen as impatient.

One of the easiest ways to annoy a future employer after an interview is to contact them 24/7 for updates. They know people are waiting — but they are the ones who get to make the job offer on their schedule, not yours.

Sample ways to follow-up after an interview

Once it’s time to follow up with your interviewer, an email is the most common way, but you can call as well. No matter what way follow up, you should include some of these elements:

• The interviewers name

• Who you are and why you’re following up

• The position you interviewed for and the date

• Directly asking about the status and how you are looking forward to hearing back from them

• Restate your interest in the position and end it with a thank you

Here are different ways you can follow up as well as example messages you can tailor to your specific needs:

1. Phone. Before making your phone call, prepare for the conversation with a planned script. You should know what you want to say whether you get the interviewer or if you get their voicemail. You should also be aware of your tone to ensure you sound positive and excited about the opportunity.

   “Hello, this is Colton Flint calling to follow up from an interview I had with [interviewer’s name] on [date of interview] for the [job title] position.

   I am very interested in the role and would love to be a part of your team at [company name]. I am following up to ask if there is anything else your hiring team needs from me or if I can be of assistance in any way for the process.

   I look forward to hearing from you and thank you again for considering my application.”

2. Leaving a voicemail. If you get their voicemail, make sure you say your name, what position you applied for, and be sure to leave your phone number. Already having a script prepared can help you keep your message clear and concise.

   “Hello, this is [your name] calling to follow up from an interview I had with [interviewer’s name] on [date of interview] for the [job title] position.

   I am very interested in the role and would love to be a part of your team at [company name]. I am following up to ask if there is anything else your hiring team needs from me or if I can be of assistance in any way for the process.

   I look forward to hearing from you and you can contact me at [your phone number]. Thank you again for considering my application.”

3. Email. Don’t forget to write a good subject line. The best subject line is simply replying to your most recent correspondence with the interviewer if you have one. If not, try to mimic that feel with a subject line like “Re: [your name] Interview on Friday 4/2.”

   Dear [full name],

   I’m writing to check in on whether there have been any updates regarding my application for the [job title] position I interviewed for on [date].

   I enjoyed learning more about your company and the role and I’m still very interested in joining your team. I look forward to hearing about the next steps or any information you can share with me.

   Thanks you,
   [your name]

4. Email response if employer has no updates. If you’ve sent your email and received a reply that basically boils down to “no updates yet.” then you should reply to that email. Something along the lines of:

   Hello [full name],

   Thank you for letting me know. When would be a good time to check back in for status updates?

   I’m very excited about the opportunity, but I appreciate that hiring decisions take time, and don’t want to check in too often.

   Thanks again for your time and consideration,
   [your name]

5. Email response if employer doesn’t respond. If the employer fails to respond to your follow-up email after another five business days, then you’re in the clear to send a second email to check-in. That might look something like this:

   Hello [full name],

   I’m writing to check if you saw my last email inquiring about status updates regarding the [job title] position I interviewed for on [date]. I’m excited to hear back about potential next steps, as I am still very interested in the position.

   Thanks!
   [your name]

   If there’s still radio silence for a week after sending this email, things probably aren’t looking so good. But at this point, you’re also well within your rights to call the company up and ask someone directly what’s going on.

Why companies take long to reply

There can be several reasons why it has taken a long time to get a reply if the company hasn’t contacted you by the date specified. If this happened, give them a little breathing room — maybe something came up at work causing them to be behind on the hiring process. Wait a few days and then contact them. Some of the reasons it takes long could be:

• Unexpected illness

• The candidate search is paused

• Unexpected tasks interfering with the hiring process

• Hiring process continues

What to do if you don’t hear back from the interviewer

If you haven’t heard anything back about the position and it’s been weeks, then it’s time to begin the alternative plan of action for contacting the company.

Remember, persistence doesn’t always equal higher chances of success with getting the job. If they say they need time before contacting you after a follow-up, give them time. The last thing a hiring team needs is a billion eager candidates contacting them every two days.

At the same time, don’t put all of your eggs in one basket. Keep applying and interviewing for jobs as you wait for responses.

Just because you completed an interview doesn’t mean you have the job. The interview is not just a formality. Keep applying, and soon you will have job offers coming in left and right.

Questions to ask at the end of the interview

An important part of sealing the deal after the interview is to make sure you ask the right questions at the end of the interview and then follow those guidelines.

• When should I expect to hear back from you after the interview?

• If I don’t hear back by that date, who would be best to contact for follow up?

• If I have any questions about the position, who would be best to contact?

• Do you have business cards I can take with me?

If you ask questions similar to these, you have gained some very important information: When you should start worrying if you haven’t heard back and who to contact if that happens.

The day after the interview, send a thank-you email to each of the interviewers and address it using the business cards you took from the interview.

How long should you wait after a job interview to follow up FAQ

1. How long after a job interview should you hear back?

   You should hear back one to two weeks after a job interview. In fact, 44% of potential employees hear from employers within a couple of weeks of applying, while 37% hear back within one week.

   While this might seem like a lengthy amount of time, remember that the hiring manager is likely handling other interviews, and it can also take a while for your application to get through the HR department.

2. Are three days too soon to follow up after an interview?

   Yes, three days is likely too soon to follow up after an interview. This is something you’ll have to gauge based on the employer, but as a general rule, you should wait five to eight business days after an interview to follow up.

   If you’re not sure when to follow up, try to remember which round of interviews you were in. Those who were in one of the last rounds of interviews are more justified in contacting the employer sooner. However, if you were in the first round of interviews, you may have to wait longer.

3. Should I follow up two weeks after an interview?

   Yes, you should follow up two weeks after an interview. If you haven’t heard back from a potential employer in two weeks or more, it might be a good idea to send a follow-up email. Not only will the follow-up serve the purpose of letting you know what’s going on, but it will also keep your candidacy fresh in the employer’s mind.

   If you have waited two weeks or more though, don’t panic. Applications and interview information can easily get lost wandering through the HR department. Remember, employers are human too – often with busy schedules and several additional priorities.

4. Is it common to not hear back after an interview?

   Yes, it is common not to hear back after an interview. Roughly 60% of all potential employees never hear back from employers after an interview.

   That statistic highlights just how important following up really is. As employers become swamped with applicants and interview participants, it can be easy for you to get lost in the crowd. However, when you take the time to send a thank you or follow-up email, you’ll remind the employer that you’re a great candidate for the job.

5. Is it acceptable to follow up after a job interview?

   Yes, it is acceptable to follow up after a job interview. In most cases, it is even expected to follow up after the interview. When it comes time to follow up, you should wait 24 hours to send a follow up email thanking the interviewer for the opportunity and reiterating your interest in the position.

   You should then wait between five and eight business days to send another follow up email if you have not heard back from the interviewer. This email should state your interest in the position and you can also ask about the status of your interview.

Final thoughts

Still freaking out over the radio silence? We understand.

Applying for jobs can be incredibly stressful, but it is a great opportunity to practice interview skills and showcase your talents.

It is important to note that some companies will let you know if you didn’t get the job, but many may never contact you again after the interview. The important thing is to continue sending out job applications — you may end up with multiple job offers, but that’s hardly a bad thing.

It can be frustrating to not hear back anything after putting in a lot of time and effort into the applications, but that is all part of the job search process.

Don’t give up! It is normal to have to apply to many jobs and go through several interviews before finding the perfect fit. Keep these tips and tricks in mind, and you’ll land your dream job in no time.

References

1. U.S. Department Of Labor – Interview Tips

Author

Heidi Cope

Heidi Cope is a former writer for the Zippia Career Advice blog. Her writing focused primarily on Zippia's suite of rankings and general career advice. After leaving Zippia, Heidi joined The Mighty as a writer and editor, among other positions. She received her BS from UNC Charlotte in German Studies.