Follow Up Email After Interview: No Response After 1 Week

You had the interview, it seemed to go well, and now it has been seven days of silence. This guide covers exactly what to send in a follow up email after interview, no response after 1 week. It includes a simple timeline, three templates you can copy and adapt, and notes on how expectations differ in the UK, US, Canada, Australia and Nigeria.

One honest point first: no email can make an employer say yes. A good follow-up does two things. It gets you an update sooner, and it leaves a professional impression whatever the outcome.

Before you send anything: a 5-minute check

Silence is not always silence. Before you write, rule out the obvious:

• Check your spam, junk and promotions folders. Interview invitations and updates often land there, especially from applicant portals.
• Log in to the application portal. Many employers update a status there without emailing.
• Re-read your interview notes. Did they give a decision date, such as end of next week? If so, that date sets your timeline, not the one-week mark.
• Check who to contact. Email the person who arranged the interview (often HR or a recruiter). If an agency recruiter put you forward, contact them rather than the employer directly.
• Check missed calls and voicemail, including from unknown numbers.

If they said they would decide in two weeks, a one-week chase can look impatient. Wait until one or two working days after their stated date.

The follow-up timeline

Here is a sensible default if no decision date was given. Count working days, and adjust for public holidays where the employer is based.

When	What to send	Purpose
Within 24 hours	Short thank-you email	Courtesy, reconfirm interest
Day 7 (about 5 working days)	Template 1: first follow-up	Polite request for an update
Day 14	Template 2: second follow-up	Brief nudge, shows continued interest
Day 21 to 28	Template 3: closing the loop	Graceful close, keeps the door open
After that	Stop emailing	Move on; respond if they get in touch

If they gave a date: send Template 1 one or two working days after it passes, then follow the same gaps from there.

Three emails is the ceiling. Beyond that, more messages rarely help and can harm the impression you left.

Template 1: the first follow up email after interview, no response after 1 week

This is the main one. Keep it short, warm and specific to the role.

Subject: Following up: [Job title] interview on [date]

Dear [Name],

I hope you are well. I wanted to follow up on my interview for the [job title] role on [day/date]. I enjoyed speaking with you and [other interviewer, if relevant], particularly about [one specific topic, e.g. the plans to expand the customer support team into new time zones].

I remain very interested in the role and would be grateful for any update on the timeline for a decision. If you need anything further from me, such as references or work samples, I am happy to send them.

Thank you again for your time.

Kind regards, [Full name] [Phone number]

Why it works:

• The subject line tells them what the email is before they open it.
• The specific detail helps them remember you among other candidates.
• Offering references or samples gives them an easy next step.
• It asks for a timeline, which is easier to answer than have I got the job?

Only mention topics that genuinely came up. Do not invent rapport or claim skills you did not discuss.

Template 2: the second follow-up (around day 14)

Shorter than the first. Reply in the same email thread so they can see your earlier message.

Subject: Re: Following up: [Job title] interview on [date]

Dear [Name],

I am following up on my message from last week about the [job title] role. I understand hiring decisions can take time, and I am still keen on the position.

Could you let me know whether there is an updated timeline, or whether the role has been filled? Either answer is helpful.

Best regards, [Full name]

The line either answer is helpful matters. It tells a busy hiring manager they can reply quickly, even with bad news, without an awkward conversation.

If you have another offer, you can add one honest sentence: I have received another offer and need to respond by [date], but this role remains my preference. Only say this if it is true. Inventing a competing offer is a risky bluff and can backfire if they ask for details.

Template 3: closing the loop (day 21 to 28)

This email accepts that the process may have moved on while leaving a good final impression. Some employers do reply to this one, because it feels low-pressure.

Subject: [Job title] application: thank you

Dear [Name],

I have not heard back about the [job title] role, so I assume you may have moved forward with other candidates or that the timeline has changed. I completely understand.

Thank you again for the opportunity to interview. I enjoyed learning about [team/company] and would be glad to be considered for similar roles in future. If you are able to share any brief feedback, I would appreciate it, but I understand if that is not possible.

Kind regards, [Full name] [LinkedIn profile URL, optional]

After this, stop. If they contact you later, respond promptly and positively.

What not to do

• Do not email daily or call repeatedly. It can turn a neutral impression into a negative one.
• Do not guilt-trip. Avoid lines like I was promised an answer or I have been waiting a long time.
• Do not go over the recruiter's head by emailing the CEO or messaging every interviewer on LinkedIn.
• Do not use a follow-up to re-pitch your whole CV. One line of interest is enough.
• Do not assume silence means rejection. Delays often come from internal approvals, budget sign-off, holidays or other candidates' interviews running late.

How expectations differ by country

The templates above work broadly, but tone and timing vary. Treat these as general tendencies, not rules; individual employers differ.

UK

A thank-you email is appreciated but less expected than in the US. Public sector employers, including the NHS, councils and the Civil Service, often state a decision date and can be slow because of panel processes and pre-employment checks. Check the job advert or portal before chasing. Keep the tone polite and understated; I would be grateful for an update reads better than anything pushy.

US

The same-day or next-day thank-you email is a strong norm in many industries, so do not skip it. Hiring processes may involve several rounds, and recruiters are often the main point of contact. A slightly warmer, more enthusiastic tone is common, but stay concise.

Canada

Similar to the US: a thank-you email is widely expected, and follow-up after about a week is normal. If you are a newcomer, it is fine to follow up in English or French depending on the language of the process. Larger employers and government roles can take several weeks.

Australia

Silence after an interview can sometimes mean your referees are being contacted, as reference checks often happen before an offer. It is worth giving your referees a heads-up so they respond quickly. Our guide to Australian CV referees covers how to prepare them. Tone tends to be direct but friendly; avoid overly formal phrasing.

Nigeria

Following up by email is standard, and a polite phone call to HR after the email can be acceptable, particularly with smaller firms. Large organisations, banks and multinationals may run long assessment processes, so check whether there are further stages. A firm but respectful tone works; you can open with Good day if that matches how they wrote to you. Be cautious if a reply asks you to pay for training, medicals or processing to secure the role. Legitimate employers rarely do this, and our checklist for spotting fake job scams explains the warning signs.

Remote and international roles

Send your email during the employer's working hours, not yours, so it sits near the top of their inbox. Most email tools let you schedule a send. Write dates unambiguously (for example Tuesday 14 May rather than 14/05), since date formats differ between the UK and US. If the role involves visa sponsorship, do not ask immigration questions in a follow-up; check official government sources such as GOV.UK or Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, and treat anything you read online, including this post, as general information rather than legal advice.

Quick checklist before you hit send

1. Have you waited until at least one working day after any stated decision date?
2. Is it addressed to the right person, with their name spelled correctly?
3. Is the subject line clear and does it include the job title?
4. Have you mentioned one genuine, specific detail from the interview?
5. Is it under about 120 words?
6. Have you proofread it, including your phone number?
7. Is it scheduled for the employer's working hours?

Use the waiting time well

While you wait, keep applying. Pausing your search for one role is the most common way a week of silence turns into a month of lost momentum.

It also helps to review how the interview went while it is fresh. Note the questions you found hardest and draft stronger answers, ideally using the STAR structure, so you are better prepared next time. If you want structured practice, our interview preparation tool can help you rehearse common questions. Whatever happens with this role, that preparation carries forward.

Further reading: How to Ask for Feedback After Job Rejection (Template)