How To Follow Up After An Engineering Internship Interview

Three ways to follow up after an interview (even if you’re worried you’ll seem like a pest)… You had a great interview. They said they'd get back to you "next week." So you wait. Watch a week pass. And wait some more… Too terrified to follow up because you don't want to seem pushy. What if they think you're desperate? What if you annoy them and they change their mind? So you sit there. Checking your email every ten minutes. Refreshing LinkedIn to see if they've been active. And the longer you wait, the more your chances slip away. You're worried about being "too much," but all you’ve become is forgettable. They're not sitting around thinking about you. They've forgotten half of what you said. And that silence you're hearing? It's not them carefully considering your candidacy. It's them being busy and distracted. So, what’s the solution? My client, Lisa, could tell you. She interviewed with a data analytics firm. Had a great conversation, the hiring manager was impressed and said he'd have an answer the following week. Instead of waiting and hoping, Lisa went home and created a quick work sample demonstrating what she could do using a tool they’d discussed. Took her 10 minutes, tops. No begging. No "just checking in." Just proof of her thinking. She sent it that evening. Got an offer the next morning. Here's how to follow up without looking desperate: Send value, not questions. Don't ask when they'll decide. Send something that helps them decide. Three options that work: 1. A relevant insight 💡An article or trend that speaks to their challenge. Shows you're thinking about their business. 2. A mini work sample 📈 Like Lisa did. Quick and dirty is fine. Just useful. 3. A strategic question 🙋🏼♀️ Not "when will you decide?" But "have you considered this angle?" Hiring managers don’t really know what they’re doing. They're second-guessing themselves, worried about making the wrong choice. When you follow up with proof instead of pressure, you're making their job easier. Giving them confidence in their decision. Showing them what working with you would actually look like. Stop being afraid of looking pushy. Start being afraid of being forgettable. What's the most valuable follow-up you've ever received after an interview? Follow Gwen Gayhart for more on finding meaningful work after 50.

"When should I follow-up after an interview?" It depends on one of three ways companies leave the interview. 1. Vague timeline 2. Clear timeline 3. Long timeline This question comes up constantly with my mentees. Here's my proven framework. ___ 1. Vague timeline. Example, "We are interviewing other candidates and will let you know." No timeline. No next steps. Here's what to do: • Thank you email in 2 hours • Check-in email after 5 biz days • Follow-up check-in email after another 5 biz days If ghosted or not given a new timeline, move on. They might come back, but focus your energy elsewhere. 2. Clear timeline. Example: "We will let you know the next steps by X." Either a day of the week or number of days. Here's what to do in this case: • Thank you email in 2 hours • Check-in email after given timeline • Follow-up check-in email after 2 biz days If you don't hear back, it's a judgment call. One final email after another 5 biz days is reasonable. If ghosted or not given a new timeline, move on. 3. Long timeline. Example (a mentee heard from Apple), "Expect the entire interview process to take 1-2 months. We will get back to you after reviewing other candidates." In this case, here's what you can do: • Thank you email in 2 hours • Credibility showcase in 5 biz days • Check-in email after another 5 biz days • Follow-up check-in email after another 5 biz days That's a total of 3 weeks since the interview. If ghosted or not given a new timeline, move on. ___ That's it. A simple and effective timeline for follow-ups. Remember: Be kind. Follow-up organically. Recruiters will see that as a strong credibility indicator.

Post-Interview Spiral? Read This. You walked out of the interview… And now your brain is like: 🌀 “Did I talk too much?” 🌀 “Should I follow up?” 🌀 “They said they’d get back to me — is it too soon?” 🌀 “What if they ghost me?” Let me stop you right there. Post-interview anxiety is real. But spiraling won’t get you the job. Strategy might. Here’s what to do instead: ✅ Within 24 hours: Send a real thank-you note. - Not the robotic “Thanks for your time.” - Mention something specific from your convo. - Remind them why you're excited. Leave them with a lasting impression. ✅ Haven’t heard back in 5–7 business days? Follow up. - Not to beg. Not to chase. - Just to check in like the thoughtful, professional human you are. Try something like: “Hi [Name], hope you’re doing well. I’ve been reflecting on our conversation and wanted to check in. I’m still excited about the opportunity and happy to share anything else the team might need. Any updates on next steps?” Clean. Calm. Confident. That’s the energy. ✅ And if they ghost you? That’s not failure. That’s data. It says more about them than it does about you. You didn’t miss out on a job. They missed out on someone who actually gave a damn. You did your part. Now protect your peace, prep for what’s next, and keep moving forward! The next company will be LUCKY to have someone like you on their team. — Follow me, Erica Rivera, CPCC, CPRW, for real-world career strategy, job search sanity, and bold advice that gets you hired—without the burnout.