Following up after you apply or interview

Following up is a normal part of looking for work, and a short, polite message is all it takes. Hiring often slows down for reasons you can't see, such as holidays, other candidates or a role being rethought. A follow-up reminds the recruiter you're still interested, without pressure.

Know the timeline

At the end of every stage, ask: "What are the next steps, and when should I expect to hear back?" Write down the answer and the names of the people you met. That gives you a natural date to follow up, rather than guessing.

After an AI screen, the hiring team reviews every answer before deciding on the next step, and they'll be in touch about it. If they gave you a timeline, wait until it has passed. Questions about a screen go to the company that invited you, not to Emoti.

Send a polite follow-up

If the date passes, or about a week goes by with no news, send a short message to the recruiter. Mention the role and when you last spoke, say you're still interested, and ask for an update. For example:

"Hi Dana, I hope your week is going well. I'm following up on the product designer role we spoke about on 14 October. I'm still very interested, and I'd love to hear about next steps or timing when you have an update. Thanks, Alex"

If you have another offer and need an answer by a certain date, say so politely. That's useful information for them.

Write a thank-you note

Within a day of an interview, send a brief thank-you to the recruiter or the people you met. Three or four sentences is plenty: thank them for their time, mention one specific thing you talked about, and say why you're interested. It isn't required, but it's a courteous way to finish, and it's a chance to add something you forgot to say.

When you hear nothing

If your first follow-up gets no reply, wait another week or two and send one more short message. After that, assume the process has stalled and put your energy into other applications. A late reply can still come, and you can pick it up then. Try not to take silence personally: it often reflects the company's process rather than anything about you.

Handle a rejection well

Rejections are a normal part of a job search. Reply briefly and graciously: thank them for their time, say you'd welcome hearing about future roles, and leave the door open. A gracious reply leaves a good impression if another role comes up later.

Ask for feedback

You can ask why you weren't selected. Keep it short and focused, for example: "Is there one thing that would have made my application stronger?" Not every company gives individual feedback, and some can only share general comments. If you think a decision was based on a mistake, such as a misread application or a technical problem during a screen, say so and ask for a person to look again. See How decisions are made.