You wrote the perfect résumé. You quickly landed a job interview. You nailed the meeting - and you are pretty sure they loved you.

But you can still screw it all up.

Your follow-up plays a bigger part in the process than you may realize. The quality of your follow-up can underscore - or sabotage - a successful interview. Not sending a thank you quickly enough (or at all) can seriously hurt your chances - as can excessive checking in.

Following up with hiring managers is tricky to navigate because it’s not always easy to gauge your standing, and a lot is at stake. Sometimes, if the chemistry is right, you can flat out ask where you stand, but that’s a big “if.”

You want to come off as interested, but not desperate or impatient. So how can you strike that perfect balance?

The follow-up process will look different depending on your specific situation. Below are some general guidelines on how many times you should check in after the interview - - 

Check-in #1:  The initial follow-up

Sending a stand out thank you note is an easy way to set you apart from a host of candidates. Write a thank you email that afternoon if your interview was in the morning. If it was in the afternoon, send it first thing the next day. Hiring managers will be gauging your enthusiasm, and by being prompt, your action speaks volumes. It also shows respect for their time.

The thank you note is also a great avenue to expand one more time on what you can bring to the organization and how you’re an ideal fit. For instance, by mentioning what intrigues you about the department and / or company after having met the key players, you’re demonstrating your listening abilities, how you process information, and how you apply it in selling “the fit.” It’s your opportunity to market yourself and demonstrate how well you fit the corporate culture.

Check-in #2:  A couple of days after they said you’d hear from them

Hopefully, you asked, “When can I expect to hear from you again?” or “When do you expect to make a decision?” in the interview. If you did, and they mentioned a specific day or time frame (“By the end of next week” or “By Monday,” etc.) it’s acceptable to check in a few days after that date passes.

Check-in #3:  When they ask you to check in again

Perhaps their email said something like, “We are still interviewing candidates and should be making a decision soon. If you don’t hear from me by Thursday, please feel free to follow up.” If so, go right ahead and do just that!

Check-in #4:  If - and only if - they still seem very interested in you

If you aren’t getting any feedback, be careful not to pester the hiring manager or Human Resources. You don’t want to appear desperate (there is a fine line between enthusiasm and being too aggressive).

If you’ve received positive feedback each time you’ve talked to the hiring manager, or are asked to keep them apprised of your job search progress, you have the green light to keep the lines of communication open until told otherwise (e.g., “We will get in touch with you,” or get no response).

How you approach this tricky part of the interview process speaks to your ability to fit into the workplace culture. This is a litmus test of your emotional intelligence, which can override your credentials. Your handling of follow-up can confirm that you’re courteous, respectful, reliable, and a team player. Or, you can appear disinterested or disorganized by not responding on a timely basis.

Check-in #5:  If weeks or months go by and they still have not made a decision

If the job opening lasts for a couple weeks or months - and they still seem interested in you - there is no harm in keeping in touch and sending another email or two. However, vary your messages. You might send links to interesting articles, let the hiring manager know of a relevant industry webcast or seminar, keep them apprised of any kudos you’ve received at your current job, a charitable project you just completed, and so on.

Check-in #6:  If you didn’t get the job but want to thank them again for their time and consideration

Hopefully, you do get the job and don’t have to send this “thank you anyway” email. But if you don’t, it’s smart to send one last (non-bitter!) email thanking them for their time and consideration - and asking if they might be able to share any feedback. You can also say something like, “If you think I might be a good fit for any roles that open up in the future, please don’t hesitate to contact me. I’d be very interested in exploring other opportunities.”