How to Ask About Application Status Following an Interview

Co-authored by Lucy Yeh

Last Updated: March 13, 2023 References

Even if you walk out of an interview feeling like it was a success, you still have to wait for the company to make a decision. Sending a follow-up message is a way to move on with your life. All you need to do is send a simple email or make a short call. Be polite and to the point when asking about your application and you may get more information about where you stand in the application process.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Calling Your Interviewer

1
Call the interviewer directly if they gave you their number. You should make use of any contact number you were given in the interview. If the interviewer gave you their work number, you can score some points by getting in touch with them directly. If they didn’t give you a number, look up the company’s main number and call it to get in touch with someone.^{[1]
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- By calling the main number, you may get directed to a boss or supervisor. Higher-level employees may be more straightforward about your application.
- Avoid looking up personal numbers to call, especially cell phone numbers. Calling a personal number can feel invasive to your interviewer. Instead, let the front desk transfer you to the appropriate number.
2
Mention your interview time and date. Once the phone begins ringing, you get a few moments to determine what you’re going to say. Don’t let the anxiety of the impending call faze you. Instead, focus on the reason you called, which is the result of the interview you had. Remind the interviewer of your meeting to get them on the same page as you.^{[2]
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- The other person may have gone through a lot of applications and interviews, so reminding them of when you met can help them remember you as a candidate.
- For example, say, “Hello, I had an interview with you last Tuesday, the 27th.”
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3
Explain what job title you interviewed for. It doesn’t hurt to solidify your connection to the purpose of your application. Sometimes interviewers are looking to fill other positions too or have other responsibilities that make them forget the details of your application. Mentioning the job title serves as clear, concise communication that you are still interested in the job.
- For instance, you might say, “Hello, I’m calling to follow up with the interview I had on the 9th about the office administrator position.”
4
Thank your contact for their time. Be respectful no matter who you talk to. Listen to what they have to say and heed it. Leave on a positive note to display your professionalism even if you get bad news.^{[3]
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- A simple “Thank you for your time” or “Thank you for considering me” suffices in most cases.
- If you find out your application has been rejected, you might say, “I’m sorry to hear that, but I wish you luck with your new hire. If you have any other openings available, I’d love to hear about them.”
5
Call back at a later date if your inquiry goes well. If you aren’t told your application has been denied or that the position has been filled, you still have a chance at the job. Usually, keeping in touch with your contact is the right thing to do. Listen for additional information, such as a hiring deadline, and call back again a few days after it passes if you still don’t have an answer.^{[4]
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- Use your judgment. If the person you spoke to sounded cold, vague, or uninterested during your conversation, chances are you won’t get hired and should stop calling.
- Make no more than 2 follow-up calls. If, after 2 calls, you still don’t have an answer, you are likely better off looking somewhere else.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Sending an Email to Your Interviewer

1
Contact the interviewer through email if you have their address. Thanks to its convenience, email has become a more prominent way to get in touch with employers. Many interviewers now give out email addresses instead of phone numbers. You should also contact them through email if you submitted your application through email, such as on a job search website, or had an online interview.^{[5]
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- Email is a great way to get in touch with an interviewer who is busy. If your interviewer is hard to reach or traveling, for instance, you may not be able to call them.
- Follow the interviewer’s preference. If they give you their email, making use of their inbox is fine. If they give you a phone number, avoid using email.
2
Write a specific subject line listing the date of your interview. The trick to an attention-grabbing subject line is to make it seem like a reply to a previous conversation. The interviewer thinks you have had previous contact, so they are more likely to open your message. Listing the specific time of the interview leaves no doubt as to who you are as a candidate.
- For example, write, “Re: Interview on Wednesday at 9 AM.”
3
Start the email with a formal greeting. Address the body of your email the same way you would when writing a letter. Keep it friendly, treating your contact as a boss or colleague. Address them by using whatever name they called themselves during your interview. Then, leave a blank line between your greeting and the rest of the email.^{[6]
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- A less formal greeting you can use is, “Hi, Name.” Put the person’s name in place of “Name.” Being too formal can make you sound stiff, so you will usually be fine using a simple greeting like this one.
- A possible formal opening is, “Dear Mr. Hiring Manager.” Be sure to use the proper pronoun and substitute their last name for the “Hiring Manager” part.
4
Thank the recruiter or hiring manager for the interview. Use the body of your email to provide context. Start with a polite, professional opening so you sound like a diligent candidate. The ideal way to do is to mention the interview, posing your email as a follow-up. Consider mentioning the position you applied to in order to emphasize what you want.^{[7]
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- Say something like, “I enjoyed meeting you last week and wanted you to know how excited I am about the office manager position.”
- You may wish to mention the date of your interview. If you included it in the subject line, mentioning it in the text isn’t required.
5
Ask in clear, concise words about the status of your application. Make it known that you are interested in how the application process is progressing. Be clear about this, but avoid demanding a response. This is the main part of your email and you should limit it to 1 to 3 short paragraphs.^{[8]
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- For instance, you may say, “I am interested in the status of my application.”
- You can list some reasons why you are a good hire, but be brief. For instance, try writing, “You mentioned you are looking for a hardworking person. I believe I have what it takes and hope I get a chance to show it to your company.”
6
Offer to answer any questions or concerns your contact has. Making the offer gives the other person an excuse to reach out to you. Leave the invitation open-ended, indicating that you are available no matter what the other person has to say. Sometimes interviewers will call you back, giving you a chance to gain feedback and erase any doubts they may have about your application.^{[9]
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- Indicate your openness by saying something like, “Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns I can answer.”
- Another way to encourage them to respond to you is to ask a question you forgot during the interview, such as, “What would someone need to do by the end of the year to prove they were the right hire?”
7
Sign off with your first and last name. Your name at the bottom of the email serves as a reminder to your interviewer. Sure, you won’t break the law by leaving it off, especially if your name is in your email address. However, it is a good business practice that helps the interviewer identify and remember you.^{[10]
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- Sign off with a line such as “Thanks, Your Name.” Typically, including your first and last name is the best bet because the interviewer doesn’t know you well and may be dealing with a lot of different candidates.
- If you end up exchanging several emails with the interviewer in rapid succession, you do not need to put your name on each one. Put your name on the email if, after a few weeks, you start a new message chain.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Communicating Successfully

1
Ask a few days after you expected to hear from the interviewer. Your interviewer probably said something like, “We’ll let you know in a couple of weeks.” To avoid the risk of annoying the interviewer, wait out those couple of weeks. Let about 4 or 5 days pass after any specific deadline you were given.^{[11]
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- Asking for information too soon can decrease your chances of getting hired. If the interviewer feels annoyed by your calls, it reflects poorly on your candidacy.
- Remind yourself that interviewers are often busy people. They may still be conducting interviews, trying to make a decision, calling applicants back, or out of the office.
- If the interviewer didn’t set a specific deadline for a decision, wait at least 1 or 2 weeks before contacting them.
2
Be specific and to the point when asking about your status. Being called out of the blue may feel intrusive to the interviewer. Avoid taking up a lot of their time. As soon as you can after greeting them, state your reason for calling. This will improve your chances of getting a clear response as well.^{[12]
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- Tell your contact something like, “I am eager to find out if you have had a chance to review my application.” This is all you need to say to convey your request.
3
Speak in a polite, professional tone. While you should make the point of your call known right away, you should never come off as rude or demanding. Treat the person like they are already your new colleague and contact. Never try to force the person into making a decision. Instead, sound like you want the job but aren’t desperate for it.^{[13]
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- You might tell your contact, “I’d like to inquire about the status of my application and how the hiring process is progressing. Since our interview, I’ve been very excited about the opportunity to join your company.”
- Never accuse or attack the person, no matter how upset you are. You will burn bridges and cost yourself future opportunities.
4
Avoid overemphasizing your qualities as an applicant. You don’t need to sell yourself in your call or email. That is what the interview was for. Repeating your qualifications can feel tedious to the interviewer or worse, make you sound desperate. Even if you are fit for the job, you may end up bragging and get on your contact’s bad side.^{[14]
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- This is especially evident if you talk to someone other than the person who interviewed you. Focus on getting information about your application status. Only talk about yourself if you are asked to do so.
- You can briefly emphasize some of your qualities, such as your hardworking nature and eagerness to work. However, the act of following up your interview is meant to display these qualities.
5
Give the other person at least 3 days to reply. Sometimes you won’t get a response back from the person you contacted. They may be busy or out of the office. If you don’t hear back, you can call again or send another follow-up email. Continue to be patient and professional until you get a response.^{[15]
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- If you still can’t get a response after multiple attempts, you may be able to contact someone higher in the organization. Try a hiring manager or the HR department.
- Sometimes you need to know when to give up. Getting silence despite multiple attempts at reaching out isn’t a good sign, so consider focusing your energy on other opportunities.

Example Emails Asking about Application Status

Sample Example Emails Asking about Application Status

Expert Q&A
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Question

How do you politely ask about an interview result?

Lucy Yeh
Career & Life Coach
Lucy Yeh is a Human Resources Director, Recruiter, and Certified Life Coach (CLC) with over 20 years of experience. With a training background with Coaching for Life and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) at InsightLA, Lucy has worked with professionals of all levels to improve the quality of their careers, personal/professional relationships, self marketing, and life balance.

Lucy Yeh

Career & Life Coach

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

If someone within the company referred you, check with them on a good time to contact your interviewer. If not, remember that every situation is different, so make sure you pay attention to any directions or timeline given at the end of your interview.
Question

They have accepted my salary counter offer. However, there was no mention about a start date, how do I incorporate this in my acceptance response?

Community Answer

You could incorporate your question into a positive response. For example: "I am looking forward to becoming a part of your company. What day would be best suited for me to start?"