Follow-Up Email After an Interview: When to Send It, With 4 Examples

A short follow-up email after an interview can leave a good last impression and get you an answer when an employer goes quiet. Here is when to send each kind, who to send it to, subject lines, four examples to adapt and the mistakes to avoid.

By Tony Musso on Wed Oct 21 2026

The interview is over and now you wait. A short, well-timed follow-up email after an interview won't turn a weak interview into an offer, but it leaves a good last impression, shows you're still keen and gets you an answer when an employer goes quiet.

This guide explains when to send each kind of follow-up, who to send it to and what to write, with four example emails you can adapt.

Which follow-up email do you need?

A thank-you email isn't required in the UK, and plenty of people get offers without sending one. It's a good habit, though, and it takes five minutes.

Who to send it to

• The person who interviewed you, or the lead interviewer if there was a panel. You can thank the panel as a group in one email.
• The person who arranged the interview, if you don't have the interviewer's email address.
• Your recruitment agency, if you applied through one. Let the recruiter pass messages on rather than contacting the employer directly.

Reply in the same email thread as your interview invitation where you can, so the reader has the context.

Large employers and public sector organisations often run recruitment through an online system and score candidates against set criteria. A thank-you email is still polite, but it's unlikely to change the outcome there, so keep it brief.

Subject lines that work

Keep the subject line plain, so it's easy to find:

• Thank you: [job title] interview
• [Job title] interview on [date]: follow-up
• Re: [job title] application
• Second interview for [job title]: confirmation

Example 1: thank-you email

Subject: Thank you: [job title] interview Hi [Name], Thank you for meeting me today about the [job title] role. I enjoyed hearing about [a specific project or challenge you discussed], and it made me even more interested in the job. Our conversation about [topic] reminded me of [one short, relevant example, such as how you cut response times in your last role]. I'd be glad to talk about it further. I look forward to hearing from you. Kind regards, [Your name] [Phone number]

Why it works: it's short, it mentions something specific from the conversation so it can't be mistaken for a template, and it adds one useful point without re-selling your whole CV. If you forgot to mention something important in the interview, this is the place for one sentence on it.

Example 2: chasing a decision

Subject: [Job title] interview on [date]: follow-up Hi [Name], I hope you're well. I interviewed for the [job title] role on [date], and you mentioned you hoped to make a decision by [date]. I wanted to check whether there is any update on the timescale. I'm still very interested in the role and happy to provide anything else you need. Kind regards, [Your name]

Wait until the date they gave has passed before you send this. Decisions often slip because someone is on leave or another candidate needs a second interview, so a delay doesn't necessarily mean bad news.

If you have another offer, you can say so honestly: "I've received another offer and been asked to reply by [date]. [Company] is my first choice, so I wanted to check where things stand before I decide." Only send this if it's true, and keep the tone friendly rather than turning it into an ultimatum.

If you hear nothing after one chase, it's reasonable to send one more about a week later. After that, put your energy into other applications. A reply may still come, but you've done what you can.

Example 3: asking for feedback after a rejection

Subject: Re: [job title] application Hi [Name], Thank you for letting me know, and for the chance to interview. I'm disappointed, but I enjoyed meeting the team and learning about [company]. If you have time, I'd be grateful for any feedback on my interview, especially anything I could do better next time. I'd also be glad to be considered for similar roles in the future. Best wishes, [Your name]

Employers don't have to give interview feedback, and many are short of time, so keep the request gracious and don't argue with the decision. When feedback does come, it's often the most useful thing you get from the whole process. If you want to see what the employer recorded about you, such as interview notes, you can make a subject access request under UK GDPR.

Being gracious matters for another reason: the strong second-choice candidate is sometimes offered the job when the first choice turns it down, or is invited to apply for the next vacancy.

Example 4: accepting an invitation to the next stage

Subject: Re: second interview for [job title] Hi [Name], Thank you, I'm pleased to be invited to the next stage. I can confirm I'll attend on [day and date] at [time] [at the address / by video]. Could you let me know who I'll be meeting and whether there's anything I should prepare in advance? I look forward to it. Kind regards, [Your name]

Asking who you'll meet and what to prepare is normal and helpful. It tells you whether to expect a presentation, a task or a meeting with the team. Our guide to second interview questions explains how to prepare for each.

When the offer arrives

If you're offered the job, thank them and ask for the offer in writing before you accept. If you want to discuss the salary, do it before you say yes; our guide to salary negotiation has the words to use. When you're ready, our free templates help you accept a job offer or decline a job offer politely, which matters if you might want to work with them in future.

Mistakes to avoid

• Chasing too soon. Following up before the date they gave looks impatient.
• Chasing too often. Two polite chases is the limit.
• Writing an essay. Five or six lines is plenty.
• Sending an obvious template. Check the company name, job title and interviewer's name, and mention something specific.
• Inventing pressure. Don't claim another offer you don't have.
• Attaching documents nobody asked for. If they want more information, they'll ask.
• Getting the tone wrong. No emojis, no text-speak and no complaints about how long they're taking.
• Chasing on social media. Email the person who contacted you. Don't message interviewers on LinkedIn about the decision.

Use the waiting time well

Straight after the interview, write down every question you were asked and how you answered. Whatever happens, those notes make your next interview easier. Keep applying for other roles until you have an offer in writing.

For the next interview, our step-by-step guide on how to prepare for an interview and our list of questions to ask at the end of an interview cover the rest of the process. If your CV needs work for the next application, CV Studio helps you tailor it to each role.

Not sure which direction fits? A career test can narrow the field, if you pick one that shows its reasoning.