How Soon Should I Email After an Interview? The 24-Hour Rule

After wrapping up a job interview, you may be left wondering when the best time is to send a follow-up email. While there’s no one-size-fits-all answer, most career experts agree that the sooner you reach out, the better. In fact, according to a survey by TheLadders, 80% of hiring managers prefer to receive a follow-up email within 24 hours of the interview.

Why Is It Important to Email After an Interview?

There are several reasons why it’s important to email after an interview:

• It shows that you’re interested in the position. A timely follow-up email demonstrates that you’re genuinely interested in the job and that you took the time to reflect on the interview.
• It keeps you fresh in the hiring manager’s mind. In the competitive job market, it’s easy for hiring managers to forget about candidates who don’t follow up. A well-written email can help you stay at the top of their minds.
• It gives you an opportunity to reiterate your qualifications. In your email, you can briefly reiterate your key qualifications and how they align with the requirements of the position.
• It shows that you’re professional and organized. A well-written follow-up email can make a positive impression on the hiring manager and show that you’re a professional and organized individual.

What Should You Include in Your Email?

Your follow-up email should be brief, professional, and to the point. It should include the following elements:

• A thank-you note. Start your email by thanking the hiring manager for their time and consideration.
• A brief reiteration of your qualifications. In a few sentences, highlight your key qualifications and how they align with the requirements of the position.
• A call to action. Let the hiring manager know that you’re still interested in the position and that you’re looking forward to hearing from them soon.

When Should You Send Your Email?

As mentioned above, it’s best to send your follow-up email within 24 hours of the interview. If you can, send it even sooner. The sooner you send your email, the more likely it is that the hiring manager will remember you and your qualifications.

What Should You Do If You Don’t Hear Back?

If you don’t hear back from the hiring manager within a week, you can send a polite follow-up email. In this email, you can simply reiterate your interest in the position and ask if there is any additional information that you can provide.

Additional Tips for Sending a Successful Follow-Up Email

• Proofread your email carefully. Make sure that your email is free of any errors in grammar or spelling.
• Keep it brief. Your email should be no more than a few paragraphs long.
• Be professional. Use a formal tone and avoid using slang or abbreviations.
• Personalize your email. Address the hiring manager by name and reference the specific position that you interviewed for.
• Follow up in person. If you don’t hear back from the hiring manager after a week, you can try following up in person. Visit the company’s office and ask to speak with the hiring manager directly.

Following these tips will help you write a strong follow-up email that will increase your chances of getting the job.

Table 1: Benefits of sending a follow-up email after an interview

Table 2: What to include in your follow-up email

Table 3: When to send your follow-up email

Table 4: What to do if you don’t hear back