How to Send a Second Follow-Up Email After an Interview

Congratulations on your job interview—you've gone into the office, had your interview and nailed it. You've already even sent your first follow-up thank-you email letting your interviewer know how much you appreciated their time and how excited you were to talk about the next steps.

But they never responded to your first follow-up email, and now it's been a few weeks since you've had the interview. You're probably wondering if they've forgotten all about you, or if you've been passed up for the job. Maybe another candidate really did get the job over you, or maybe the company is still busy doing interviews.

Whatever the case, you have two options: wait patiently or send a second follow-up email. Here's how you do it.

Why is it important to send a follow-up email after an interview?

Sending a follow-up email after an interview helps the recruiter or hiring manager remember you and shows that you're serious about wanting that position. It also demonstrates that you enjoyed your conversation and found the information you learned about the company valuable.

But what about sending a second one? Is it OK to send two follow-up emails after an interview? Yes, it is, as long as you wait one or two weeks before contacting them again. Most recruiters appreciate driven candidates, but you have to keep in mind that they conduct dozens of interviews monthly—so, it's likely that you won't get an immediate response.

When you should send a second follow-up email

There are times when you certainly should and shouldn't send a second follow-up email after an interview. Here's when you should do it:

• When you really want the job, but it's been a few weeks since you've gotten any word;

• When you were told to expect to hear back by a certain date, and that date has passed;

• When they promised a follow-up interview or call, but didn't give you any details. 

When you shouldn't send a second follow-up email

In some situations, it's totally not recommended to send one more follow-up email. For example:

• When you think you'll probably reject the offer if you do indeed get it;

• When it's only been a few days, let alone hours;

• When the interviewer mentioned that it'd be a few weeks before you hear back;

• When the company or interviewer mentions that you shouldn't follow up.

How to write a second follow-up email after an interview

OK, you've decided to go ahead with sending a follow-up email, but don't know exactly how to do it. Even though it's a simple email, it's advised to write and format it as professionally as possible to make a good impression. Here are some tips to keep in mind:

1. Personally address the interviewer 

Start your email in a positive tone, and address the interviewer by their name. By this point, you likely know who they are and have their direct email, so there's no need to use generic greetings like “To Whom It May Concern.” 

Adapt your greeting depending on the tone of your interactions so far. If they were more formal, you can start with “Dear [Name],” but if they were more informal, a “Hi [Name]” or “Hey [Name]” is acceptable.

2. Express gratitude…

Keep in mind that recruiters receive many emails from candidates everyday. So use the opening paragraph of your follow-up message to let them know why you're reaching out, and make sure to thank them for taking the time to read (and hopefully reply) your email. 

3. … and your enthusiasm for the job

Show that you're a passionate candidate and are serious about this opportunity. You can phrase it by saying that you're interested in the position and eager to become part of their team. Here are some examples:

• I want to express my interest in the [job title] position and my desire to become part of the team

• I am deeply interested in the [job title] position and excited about the opportunity to join the team

• I want to reiterate my interest in the position and let you know that I'm eager to be part of your team

Remember to keep it concise and to the point. They already know you and your credentials, so there's no need to repeat it in a follow-up email.

4. Ask about the position

One of the key reasons for sending a second follow-up email after an interview is to find out if the position has already been filled. So, after expressing interest in the job, you can directly ask about it. “Am I still being considered for this position?” or “Has this position been filled?” are some possible ways to phrase your question.

5. Close with a call to action 

Instead of saying you're hoping for a call, you can close your email with a call to action or the assumption that you'll be in touch soon. For example:

“If you have time in the coming weeks, let’s schedule a call. I’m available from Monday to Wednesday morning. Let me know if any of those dates and times work for you.

I'm looking forward to keeping in touch.”

6. Proofread before sending it

If there's one thing that can mess up your chances of getting a job, it's sending an email full of grammatical errors. Thus, you should take time to proofread and edit your message before hitting the send button.

Second follow-up email after interview: Example

Now, it's time to apply all the advice we've given you so far. To make it easier for you to visualize how your message should look, here's a second follow-up email after interview sample: 

Dear Katherine,

It was a pleasure to finally meet you and talk about the Sales Manager position at Yxz Inc. I truly enjoyed learning more about the role and the company culture. Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions and my emails. Could you please confirm if I am still under consideration for the position?

During our conversation, we reviewed my resume and how my previous experiences align with the requirements of the Sales Manager role. I'm reaching out to reaffirm my interest in the position and my excitement for joining the team.

If you're available next week, let's schedule a call. I'm looking forward to hearing from you.

Best regards,

[Your name]

Second follow-up email after interview: Templates

Here are five second follow-up email templates you can steal for yourself. Remember to adapt as you see fit and to double check the information before sending it.

1. The "Nice to meet you, let's do it again sometime" follow-up email

Hi [First name],

I hope this email finds you well! I just wanted to touch base once more, as it was so nice to meet you at your office [date of interview]. Thanks again for your time. I really enjoyed learning more about the position and [something you discussed].

As I mentioned in my last email, I’m really interested to hear more about your [company], as [reason why you’re interested]. If you have time in the coming weeks, let’s [follow-up action]. I’m free on [dates], if any of those dates and times work for you.

I'm looking forward to keeping in touch.

Best,

[Your name]

2. The "I figured I'd give you another try here" follow-up email

Hey [First name],

I just sent you an email last week, but I figured I'd drop you another quick line in case you missed it. I know it's been a crazy week with [reason why the week may have been crazy, such as the holidays].

I just wanted to thank you again for taking the time to meet with me to discuss the position in more detail. I really enjoyed learning more about your company, and I look forward to talking more about the next steps. Please let me know if there's anything else you need from me in the meantime.

Thanks!

[Your name]

3. The "Thanks again" follow-up email

Dear [First name]

I just wanted to say thank you again for taking the time out of your busy schedule to talk to me about [the position] with [company name]. I appreciate your time and consideration.

After meeting with you and your colleagues, [names of colleagues], I believe that my experience posits me as the perfect candidate for this position. In addition to my enthusiasm for [the field], I would bring the [XYZ skills] necessary to get the job done.

I am reaching out once more to express that I am very interested in working for you and sincerely look forward to hearing from you soon. Please feel free to contact me at any time if you need any more information.

Thank you again,

[Your name]

4. The "I have another question" follow-up email

Dear [First name]

It was a pleasure meeting you a few weeks ago and discussing the [position] at [company]. I really appreciate the time you took to interview me for the role.

I enjoyed meeting everyone on the team and appreciate their honest answers to my questions about the role and company. The more I spoke with you and your team, the more I was convinced that my experience and my passion for [industry] make me a strong candidate for this position. I've been thinking a lot about the job since talking with you, and I wanted to reach out with just one more question since our last discussion.

[Question about the position.]

Thank you again for your time and consideration.

Best,

[Your name]

5. The "I have more materials for you" follow-up email

Dear [First name],

It was a pleasure to finally meet you after our many emails and phone conversations regarding the [position]. I truly enjoyed learning more about the [role] and [department] at [company]. And I appreciated you answering all of my questions.

I know we'd discussed my resume and how I feel that my previous experiences position me as the perfect candidate for this position. I've gone ahead and reached out to former employers who can vouch for my skills so you're not only hearing it from me. I'm attaching three reference letters that I'd like to share with you — I hope you find these helpful in making your final decision.

Best regards,

[Your name]