Use This 4-Word Phrase to Stand Out After a Job Interview, Says Career Coach

What you do after a job interview can be just as impactful to your candidacy as what you do during the interview. Sending strong thank-you notes and follow-ups is "a big differentiator of people who get the job versus don't get the job," says Beth Hendler-Grunt, founder of career coaching firm Next Great Step.

This post-interview diligence is particularly important in today's tough job market for entry-level workers. Many employers have scaled back entry-level hiring; between December 2025 and February, the average seasonally adjusted hiring rate of entry-level workers in the U.S. fell 6% compared to the same period a year prior. In a March report from employee testing company Criteria, 53% of job candidates reported having been ghosted by a recruiter or employer in the past year, up from 38% in 2024.

Building relationships and staying top of mind goes a long way toward getting the job, especially when there's stiff competition. It starts with a thank-you note. Send one within 24 hours of a job interview thanking the other person for their time, recapping one or two things you learned from your conversation, reminding them how your skill set would be a good fit, and reiterating your enthusiasm.

Many candidates stop there, but you should plan to send additional follow-ups after your initial thank-you note. They're a good marker of a candidate's "tenacity and grit." You can even mention in your thank-you note that you'll follow up again shortly; this way, the person knows to expect to hear from you again.

If a recruiter says they'll share an update in, say, two weeks, make a note to follow up if you don't hear by then. Otherwise, Hendler-Grunt recommends checking in on a weekly cadence.

After one or two follow-ups, especially if you haven't received a response yet, she suggests starting subsequent messages with a phrase like, "Please pardon my persistence." It strikes the right balance, showing that you're self-aware and respect the other person's time but also that you're diligent and interested in the position. "It can be really powerful," she says.

Your follow-ups shouldn't just ask if you got the job. The note should first show you've been thinking about the company's work: You can reference a podcast you listened to or an article you read, for example, that was relevant to your conversation, the business, or the role. Then, offer your thoughts or ask for theirs before finally seeking an update on your candidacy.

Similarly, former Google executive Jenny Wood told Make It in March 2025 that candidates should consider putting in their thank-you note three or four sentences on how they'd tackle the company's business problems. The same logic applies in the follow-up: The key is "adding value along the way."

Politely following up after a reasonable amount of time shows you're proactive. And introducing new information in each message "keeps the conversation active and gives the recipient a clear reason to re-engage."

If you don't hear back at first, don't be discouraged. But if you don't get a response after around four emails, it might be time to redirect your focus elsewhere.

When it comes to follow-ups, "a lot of young adults feel like they don't want to bother" their interviewers, Hendler-Grunt says, but often "that inbox is overflowing, and sometimes you need people to be persistent."