How to Follow Up After an Interview: A Guide to Being ‘Pleasantly Persistent’

“I sent in a resume…” or “I had an interview… over a week ago and haven’t heard anything.  Should I call to follow-up?” or “How much is too much when calling or emailing to follow-up?”

I get asked this question in one form or another regularly, and my standard answer is: “It pays to be ‘Pleasantly Persistent’!”

• What Does it Mean to Be Pleasantly Persistent in Your Job Search?
• How to Follow Up After an Interview: Professional Best Practices
• Job Search Follow-Up Timeline: When and How Often
• Job Application Follow-Up: Setting Realistic Expectations
• Why Job Search Follow-Up is More Critical Than Ever
• Job Search Follow-Up Action Plan

What Does it Mean to be Pleasantly Persistent in Your Job Search?

Pleasant persistence means connecting multiple times in a way that draws employers to you rather than giving them the urge to avoid your calls. It’s the art of professional follow-up strategies that build rapport instead of creating an image of needy desperation.

Consider this: in most telemarketing sales, it takes multiple touchpoints to close a deal:

• 5% of sales are made on the 1st call
• 15% of sales are made on the 2nd call
• 80% of sales are made on the 3rd, 4th, or 5th call

The same principle applies to your job search follow-up efforts. The old adage “If at first you don’t succeed, try and try again!” definitely applies when following up after interviews and job applications.

How to Follow Up After an Interview: Professional Best Practices

Interview Follow-Up Email Strategies

How do you make multiple follow-up contacts that build rather than damage your professional relationship? Think about how you’d prefer to hear from someone pursuing you. Here are proven job application follow up tips:

Essential Follow-Up Communication Guidelines:

• Be upbeat, friendly, and cheerful – your energy comes through even in voicemails
• Maintain professionalism in all job search follow up interactions
• Show respect by asking: “Do you have just a minute, or did I catch you at a bad time?”
• Be BRIEF – don’t ramble on, get straight to the point
• Come prepared with a script so you don’t veer off course
• Leave well-prepared voicemails when you don’t reach them directly

Job Search Follow Up Timeline: When and How Often

Strategic Follow-Up Timing:

• Don’t leave multiple voicemails between actual conversations
• Alternate between voicemails and emails for variety in your follow-up approach
• Try calling at different times throughout the day to increase your chances of connecting
• Ask when they recommend you follow-up – this shows respect for their process
• Set clear expectations by saying: “I’ll check back next week to see where the process stands and whether I can provide additional information”

What to Say During Job Search Follow-Up

In each follow-up interaction, give them one more brief reason why you’re a strong fit based on their specific criteria mentioned in the job description or during your interview. This approach to interview follow-up demonstrates:

• Your genuine interest in the position
• Your ability to follow through on commitments
• Your initiative and professional persistence

Job Application Follow-Up: Setting Realistic Expectations

In today’s competitive job market, companies often take longer to complete their hiring process. Don’t take delays personally – they likely haven’t had time to review all applications yet.

Realistic Follow-Up Timeline:

• If you submit a resume on Monday, don’t expect a response by Wednesday
• Call toward the end of the week for your first follow-up
• Follow up every 7-10 days afterward, but respect their timeline
• If they say to check back in 3 weeks, call again in 2 weeks instead

Biblical Principles for Job Search Persistence

Parable of the Friend at Midnight

The Parable of the Friend at Midnight (Luke 11:5–10): Jesus describes a man who goes to his friend’s house late at night asking for bread for a guest. Though the friend initially refuses, he provides the bread because of his neighbor’s persistence. Jesus uses this to teach His followers: “ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”

This biblical example perfectly illustrates how to follow up after interview situations – with pleasant persistence that ultimately achieves the desired result.

Scripture on Pleasant Persistence

Galatians 6:9 encourages persistence in doing good, promising a harvest in due season if we don’t grow weary.

2 Thessalonians 3:13 reinforces this principle of not becoming weary in doing what’s right.

Philippians 4:13 reminds us: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” – giving us confidence in our job search follow-up efforts.

These passages should encourage us to persist in our job search while maintaining a winsome and professional manner that gets results.

Why Job Search Follow-Up is More Critical Than Ever

Now, more than ever, if you’re only doing what everyone else does (waiting passively for their call), you will have a very long job search.

To get noticed in today’s competitive job market, you must:

• Leave your comfort zone
• Show more initiative than other candidates
• Practice pleasant persistence in your follow up strategy
• Demonstrate professional follow through

Job Search Follow-Up Action Plan

Your Next Steps:

1. Create a follow up schedule for each application and interview
2. Prepare professional scripts for calls and emails
3. Track your interactions to avoid over-communicating
4. Set realistic expectations based on company feedback

Remember: effective job search follow-up isn’t about being pushy – it’s about being pleasantly persistent while demonstrating the initiative that sets you apart from other candidates.

In order to get noticed, you must be willing to leave your comfort zone and show more initiative… be ‘Pleasantly Persistent’!

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Harry Urschel has over 30 years experience as a Recruiter and currently is an independent Retained Executive Search consultant and Executive Outplacement Coach. He also leads the Minnesota Crossroads ministry out of Grace Church in Eden Prairie.