What to Do After the Interview
Walking out of an interview can bring a sense of relief, but it also leaves many applicants wondering what comes next.
Should you send a thank-you email?
Should you contact the hiring manager?
Should you wait?
Many people worry that saying too much will seem pushy, while saying nothing will make them appear uninterested. How you conduct yourself afterward can continue to reinforce the impression you made during the interview.
Before You Leave, Understand the Next Steps
One of the easiest ways to reduce uncertainty is to ask about the hiring timeline before the interview ends.
Directly asking avoids uncertainty.
Something as simple as:
"What are the next steps in the hiring process, and when should candidates expect to hear back?"
are usually enough to get an answer.
Some employers know exactly when they expect to make a decision. Others may explain that they are still interviewing candidates or that approvals need to go through multiple people before an offer can be made. Don't take an indirect answer as rejection, often there really are multiple applications, and it takes time to sort through them. This is especially true with employers who still have a person review them.
Should You Send a Thank-You Email?
A thank-you email is rarely mandatory, but it can still be a thoughtful professional courtesy.
If you had a meaningful conversation with the interviewer, learned more about the role, or discussed specific experiences, a brief follow-up message can reinforce your interest and appreciation for their time.
It should not be sent because someone on the internet said it guarantees you'll get hired. It should be sent because it is a genuine, professional acknowledgment that someone took time out of their day to meet with you.
Keep It Brief
One of the biggest mistakes applicants make is turning a thank-you email into a second interview.
A professional thank-you message should generally:
Thank the interviewer for their time.
Mention that you appreciated learning more about the role.
Reaffirm your interest in the position, if appropriate.
Close professionally.
If something specific came up during the interview, referencing it briefly can make the message feel more personal and authentic.
If you forgot to mention something genuinely important, such as a certification, a major project, or an experience that directly relates to the position, you can briefly include it in the email.
Don't use the message to introduce every qualification you forgot to mention or explain why you deserve the job. If your follow-up starts feeling like another interview, it's
probably too much.
When Should You Send It?
If you decide to send a thank-you email, aim to send it within 24 hours of the interview.
If you interviewed late on a Friday, sending your email later that day or on Monday morning are both reasonable options. The exact hour matters far less than sending a thoughtful message within a reasonable timeframe.
Do not expect an answer back to your follow-up. Many employers have set timelines and simply cannot reply to everyone that applies. But your letter very well may push you to a higher consideration if it is reviewed by a person, as they know you are showing interest and proactiveness.
Keep Applying to Other Jobs
One of the biggest mistakes job seekers make is emotionally committing to one opportunity before an offer has been made. Even if an interview went exceptionally well, nothing is guaranteed until you have received and accepted a formal offer.
Continue applying for other positions while you wait.
Hiring decisions can take hours, days, or weeks depending on the company. Large organizations may have multiple interviews, background checks, HR approvals, or budget authorization to complete before making an offer. A slow response doesn't necessarily mean you weren't selected, just as a quick response doesn't guarantee that you were.
By applying to other jobs, you get a foot in the door (and hopefully more interviews) while you wait for a decision. It also increases the chance of multiple job offers, which gives you the ability to compare their pay and benefits and decide which is best for you.
Avoid Repeated Contact
Once you've sent a thank-you email, give the employer time to continue their hiring process.
If they gave you a specific date for when they expect to make a decision, wait until that date has passed before checking in.
If they didn't provide a timeline, a follow-up after several business days (3 to 4 days) is generally reasonable. Repeatedly contacting the employer every day or two, however, is unlikely to help.
Avoid going into the place of business and asking for a follow up. While it may seem proactive, often interviews are scheduled for specific times when the business is slow. By attempting to follow up in person, you may unintentionally interrupt the flow of business which hurts your chances.
Additionally, do not repeatedly call the employer or send multiple emails. One follow up after a couple days, and another after the job listing as expired is plenty.
What If You Do Not Receive a Response?
Unfortunately, not every employer communicates well. In fact, it is more common to hear not response than it is to get a rejection letter. While this can be frustrating, it has become increasingly common for employers to "ghost" applicants after the interview.
While you can't change the hiring process, you can make the decision to keep applying elsewhere to open up other opportunities while you wait. There may be circumstances where a job you looked forward to sends an acceptance letter long after you've found another position. Other times, you make received a rejection letter 6 months after applying. (Yes, really. I've seen it happen). It is not a reflection of your skill; it just shows that this employer was not the right fit at this time.
If You Receive a Rejection
Rejection is part of almost every person's career.
Even highly qualified candidates are turned down for positions.
Sometimes another applicant simply had more experience.
Sometimes an internal candidate was selected.
Sometimes the company changed direction entirely and removed the position.
A rejection is not the end of the job search process. It can be easy to be discouraged or even feel vengeful when you felt like the interview went well but you still didn't get the job. In almost all situations, it's usually one of the reasons listed above. Take that disappointment and anger and channel that energy into the next set of applications.
Final Thoughts
Following up after an interview is about professionalism, not persuasion. Send a thoughtful thank-you if you want to, follow the timeline the employer gives you, and continue looking for other opportunities while you wait.
Up Next: Waiting for an employer to respond can be one of the most frustrating parts of the job search. In the next article, we'll discuss what happens when you finally do get the job. In our next article, You Got the Job! Now What? we will discuss the post job acceptance steps, orientation, and how to be prepared for your first day.
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