4 Ways to Follow Up After a Job Interview

What’s the best way to follow up after a job interview?

• First, write a thank-you note to the hiring manager no later than a day after. Keep it short and sweet, but mention one specific thing that you learned about their organization.
• If you don’t hear back by the date they said they’d make a decision, don’t panic. Wait a week, and if it’s still radio silence, follow up with a short note expressing your excitement about the role.
• Finally, if you don’t get the job, you can send one last note asking for feedback. Who knows, it may teach you something and lead to better opportunities down the line.

Much of the job application process involves waiting. You check job postings and wait for new opportunities that match your skills and interests. You put together a cover letter and a résumé, send them off, and wait to hear about a possible interview. If you land an interview, you prepare, give it your best shot, and then you wait for a response.

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Art Markman, PhD, is the Annabel Irion Worsham Centennial Professor of Psychology and Marketing at the University of Texas at Austin and founding director of the program in the Human Dimensions of Organizations. He has written over 150 scholarly papers on topics including reasoning, decision-making, and motivation. His most recent book is Bring Your Brain to Work: Using Cognitive Science to Get a Job, Do it Well, and Advance Your Career (HBR Press).

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Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Career Management. Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies.