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Getting a Job
Interviews

Following up by Email

Typing at a keyboardEmailing may be a better way to ask about the status of the hiring process.Why

Decide WHAT you are going to write when you email your potential employer. 

  • Email the person who interviewed you.

  • When contacting your potential employers, you should not directly write "Did I get the job?"  Instead, you must use some finesse and tact, which can be challenging. 

  • When writing an email, it may help to have someone assist you with the wording of your email before sending it. 

  • Make sure you proofread your email for correct punctuation and grammar.  Your email should look and sound professional.
Here is an example of a follow-up email:

Hi Mr. Lawrence,

Thank you again for meeting with me on Tuesday.  I really enjoyed learning more about the position at Carmichael Inc.  It seems like an excellent place to work, and I would look forward to the opportunity of being part of your team. 

I am emailing about the status of the hiring process.  Do you know generally when a decision might be made?  I am very interested in the position and look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

John Lewis


Once you have sent the email, it may take a few days or even a few weeks, before you receive a response from the interviewer. The response may indicate that you were not hired for the position or they may tell you that they have not made a hiring decision yet.

If they give you a general time frame for a hiring decision, and indicate that you should check back when appropriate, then it is okay to contact them via email once more. However, if they do not give you a general time frame, you should not contact them again.

What if they don’t respond to your first email?

  • It is appropriate to wait at least 1 week (or 5 business days) before sending a second email.

  • You should not show any hint or sign of impatience, frustration, or anger in that second email.

  • You could even send an email that is almost exactly the same as the first one you sent. 

  • If you don't hear back from them after you send 2 emails, do not contact them again.
Key Points

When you contact a potential employer by email, here are the points to include:

  • First, thank them again for giving you the opportunity to interview.
  • Express your interest in the job.
  • Politely ask when they might make a decision about who they are going to hire for the position.
  • Thank them again for their time.

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Tip

If an employer is interested in hiring you for the position you interviewed for, they will typically call you on the telephone; they won’t usually make an offer through email. However, if the hiring process involves multiple rounds (e.g., a first interview then a second interview), they may contact you through email to set up a second interview.