How to Follow Up After an Interview: Advice from a Senior Recruiter

By: Carly Richter, Sr. Recruiter

I want to talk to you about something that comes up all the time with candidates: what the heck to do after your interview. I know that interview follow-ups can feel confusing.

I see candidates handle it in every possible way. Some email immediately, others wait a day or two, some send a simple one-liner thank you, and others write something more detailed that calls out specifics from the conversation.

And honestly? Hiring managers vary just as much. Some expect a thank-you note and pay close attention to it; others don’t ask about it at all.

 

The Post-Interview Thank You Note (Yes, You Should Send One)

After your interview, send a customized thank-you note that includes the names of everyone you met with and references something specific that was discussed, ideally something that increased your excitement for the role.

Sometimes you only have the recruiter’s contact information. Totally fine. Send your interview follow-up to them and ask them to pass it along!

I love seeing thank-you notes, and I always make sure to forward them to the hiring manager. It’s such a thoughtful touch, and it really does land.

 

When to Send Your Interview Follow-Up

With a Known Timeline:

If the hiring manager gives you a timeline, don’t send your interview follow-up before that timeline has passed. Stick to what they shared.

No Known Timeline:

If no timeline was given, a good guideline is to wait about five business days before reaching out to request an update on your candidacy.

When I’m not totally sure about timing, I’ll often give candidates a rough estimate to the best of my knowledge, something like, “Most likely by Friday, but mid next week at the latest, so don’t worry if you don’t hear from me before the weekend.” And yes, you can always check in with me regardless!

Also, don’t be afraid to ask when the hiring manager expects to make a decision on next steps if it doesn’t come up naturally in the conversation.

 

Remember: Not All Hiring Managers Are Hiring Experts

Not all hiring managers are trained in hiring. In many companies, they get little to no guidance, or hiring becomes a full-time job on top of their actual full-time job. Phew.

So sometimes the interview follow-up process isn’t as smooth as it should be, not because they don’t care, but because they’re stretched thin.

 

What to Do When You Get a Job Offer (Congrats!)

You’ve just received a job offer. Congratulations!

Once an offer is made, make sure to:

• Convey excitement (in your own authentic way)
• Provide a timely response
• Ask clarifying questions that help you make your decision

If you want to negotiate or counteroffer, talk to a trusted advisor first. Bad advice is real, and it can tank an offer if you’re not careful.

A Cautionary Tale in Negotiation Etiquette

I actually had an offer situation recently that didn’t go great. I called the candidate, and they didn’t sound excited at all. And listen, everyone reacts differently, so you don’t need to fake anything. But when there’s zero tone of interest, it can give the recruiter or hiring manager pause.

This candidate also overshared personal details (car issues) that weren’t helpful in the negotiation and muddied the conversation. Be sure to navigate counteroffers carefully!

What to Do After You Accept an Offer

Once you’ve accepted an offer, ask for details about your first day and first week. Ask who you can expect to meet so you can connect with your new team on LinkedIn (if that’s appropriate for your industry). Ideally, hiring managers should send this proactively, but as we’ve covered, not all of them have hiring processes down to a science.

Don’t be afraid to reach out and ask!

My biggest advice for interview follow-ups, at any point in the process, is to be communicative, thoughtful, and clear.

That way, no matter the outcome, you can feel confident that you handled the process well and represented yourself with intention.

 

If you’re looking for your next role and want some support with navigating the job search and interview processes, be sure to check out our Career Coaching services here!