No response after your interview? Here’s how to write that follow-up email.

By Ahmed Wafi

Show you want the job without looking desperate.

You’ve aced that interview and you’re feeling good about it. There’s no way you’re not gonna land that job. But as days go by and you still haven’t gotten that confirmation email, you start to worry and think: “Should I follow up with an email or maybe a phone call? Will I sound desperate? Will that cost me the job? What should I do?”

First things first – don’t panic. It’s normal to be nervous while waiting to see if you’ll get the phone call receiving good news. It’s also normal to want to send a follow-up email asking about the job status, especially when it’s been a while after the interview.

We say, go ahead if you really must – and only if it’s been more than a week (and not just a day!). But there are some dos when writing that email. Like below:

Choose the right subject
The email subject is most likely the first things people see (apart from the sender’s address) and this helps give the receiver an idea of whether they should open the email immediately or KIV it. In this situation, make sure you have a clear enough subject so that your recipient knows exactly what it is about – and will actually click to read. And not something vague like “Hello” and “Job Application Status”, which can mean just about anything, even spam, to someone who works in HR. Some good email subjects? “Interview on 14 March” or ‘Follow up on senior executive role’. The key is to keep it simple and straight to the point.

Straight to the point
When it comes to the body of the email, make sure you are straight to the point in asking about how the interview went. Mention the job position you applied for, the date and time of the interview, and maintain your interest in the position. That’s it!

Have a Plan B
There could be a chance that your interview did not go the way you thought it did. Sucks but hey, see this as an opportunity to move up! Explore other options and who knows, you might actually find a job that’s more interesting than the one you applied for in the first place.

Photo by Ben White on Unsplash

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