Share

How to write a follow-up email to land your dream job

Written by
Gabriela Dittrichova
Published on
June 24, 2021

New year, new resolution, and maybe a new position. But how to stand out from the crowd when the competition is tough? This study shows that writing a follow-up email can increase your chances of getting a job by 91%. Albeit not common in the Czech Republic, making yourself familiar with this type of communication can make a difference when applying for work. Here is how to write a great follow-up email.

 

Rules to follow

  • Send the email ASAP
  • Start with a thank you
  • Be genuine
  • Email everyone

1. Don’t hesitate

By sending a follow-up email, you show your sincere interest in the position. Therefore, the sooner you do it, the more likely they are to remember you and see that you are keen to work with them. Looking from your own perspective, for how long are you likely to remember someone (especially if you meet multiple people on the same day)? For a day, an hour, or hardly a few minutes until the next person comes into the picture? Same applies to recruiters and hiring managers, so the longer you wait, the less likely they are to remember you. Make their work easier and email them right after the interview, so they have incentive to bring your application forward.

2. Say thank you

If you are unsure about how to start this kind of email, the advice is simple - start with a thank you. In your opening paragraph, thank the interviewer for their time, the opportunity, or advice. But don’t overwhelm them. Keep it short and sweet. Sometimes a simple thank you will do the trick.

3. Be genuine

Don’t just copy paste a universal thank-you email you found on the internet or used for your previous job interviews. Recruiters and hiring managers in particular can tell when a message has been duplicated. Therefore, ensure that your text is original and related to the subject. This will show that you are genuinely interested in the company and the role, and explain why you think you are the best fit for the position.

4. Email everyone

If you are interviewing for a large company, chances are you will interact with multiple people on the panel. Therefore, when sending a follow-up email, make sure everyone receives a copy. After your interview, all of those people are likely to review your profile individually, and thus it is crucial that each of them has a copy.  

NOTE: A follow-up email is recommended even if you are no longer interested in the job. You never know when these connections might become useful, so remember to ALWAYS follow up.


Connecting with interviewers in a timely and professional manner will help you beat your competitors and make landing a dream job a little easier. Therefore, if you want to hit a fresh start and get a new job in 2021, remember to email back right after the interview. Especially in Czechia, where follow-up emails are rare, sending a thank-you note can be your advantage when applying for work. If you are on the market and look for new opportunities, join our “Open to new opportunities” list and wait to hear from our hiring partners in case you’re a fit. And that is worth a try!

Join our newsletter
Receive the newest blog posts, event invites, and more
Read about our privacy policy.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Popular guides
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
See more guides

Latest blog posts

Career

"Life in business is life with stakeholders": Zuzana Kojdjak on leading with influence in tech

What does it really take to grow from technical expertise into real influence? In this interview, Zuzana Kojdjak, Head of PMO at Barclays Prague, shares why stakeholder management, executive presence, and mentoring matter so much for women in tech, and how the right support can turn ambition into action.
Femme Palette
August 13, 2023
Wellbeing

You don't have to choose: on motherhood, ambition, and leading with intention

Francesca shares how living and working across countries shaped her leadership, how motherhood made her sharper, more empathetic, and more decisive, and how she actively creates space for parents on her team to keep growing without guilt. As a senior marketing leader at Plzeňský Prazdroj, she knows firsthand that ambition and wellbeing are not opposites. They grow together.
Femme Palette
August 13, 2023
Mentoring

Mentor Spotlight: Gabriela Borutová, the mentor who helps you own your potential

Gabriela Borutová has spent over a decade in tech, but what drives her as a Femme Palette mentor has little to do with technical skills. In this spotlight, she shares why she said yes to mentoring, how our upbringing as women shapes the way we see ourselves across every generation, and why professional growth is so often less about learning something new and more about finally being heard. Plus her advice for mentors who want to go beyond giving advice and start creating real, lasting change.
Femme Palette
August 13, 2023

Sky rocket your career now!