What you do after a job interview can have just as much impact on a candidate as what you do during the interview.
Sending a strong thank-you message and follow-up is “the difference between someone getting a job and someone not,” says Beth Hendler-Grant, founder of career coaching firm Next Great Step. The company has advised more than 1,000 college students and recent graduates about internships and early career employment.
This post-interview diligence is especially important in today’s tough job market for entry-level workers, according to Hendler-Grant. Many employers are cutting back on entry-level hiring. The seasonally adjusted average employment rate for entry-level workers in the U.S. from December to February 2025 was 6% lower than the same period last year, according to LinkedIn data.
A March report from employee testing company Criteria found that 53% of job seekers reported being ghosted by a recruiter or employer in the past year, up from 38% in 2024. In some cases, candidates report not hearing back about a hiring decision despite having conversations and multiple interviews for a position.
Building relationships and keeping yourself top of mind will go a long way toward landing a job, especially when there’s intense competition, says Hendler-Grant.
It starts with words of gratitude. According to Hendler-Grant, within 24 hours of your interview, send a message thanking the person for their time, summarizing one or two things you learned from the conversation, reminding them how your skill set is a good fit, and reiterating your enthusiasm.
Many candidates stop there, but she says you should plan to send additional follow-ups after your initial thank you note. These are good indicators of a candidate’s “tenacity and grit,” she added. In your thank you note, you can also mention that you will follow up with them again soon. This lets the other person know that they are expecting to hear from you again.
If the recruiter says they’ll share an update in, say, two weeks, make a note to follow up if you haven’t heard back by then. Otherwise, Hendler-Grunt recommends checking in on a weekly basis.
After one or two follow-ups, especially if you haven’t heard back yet, she suggests starting subsequent messages with a phrase like, “Please forgive me for being so persistent.” It strikes the right balance and shows that you are aware and respectful of the other person’s time, but also that you are hardworking and interested in the position. “It can be really powerful,” she says.
In your follow-up, you shouldn’t just ask if they got the job. Your memo should first show that you are thinking about the company’s work. For example, you can refer to podcasts you’ve listened to or articles you’ve read that are related to your conversation, business, or role. Then, state your opinion or ask for their opinion before finally asking for updates on your candidacy.
Similarly, former Google executive Jenny Wood told Make It in March 2025 that candidates should consider including three to four sentences in their thank you letters about how they will address the company’s operational issues. The same logic applies to follow-ups. The key, says Hendler-Grant, is “to add value along the way.”
Lorraine K. Lee, author of “Unforgettable Presence,” wrote on CNBC Make It in July 2025 that taking a reasonable amount of time to follow up politely shows proactiveness. And by introducing new information into each message, it “keeps the conversation lively and gives recipients a clear reason to re-engage.”
Don’t be discouraged if you don’t get a response at first. But if you don’t get a response after four emails, it might be time to turn your focus elsewhere, says Hendler-Grant.
When it comes to follow-up, “many young people don’t want to bother the interviewer,” says Hendler-Grant, but often “their inboxes are full and sometimes they just have to be persistent.”
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