Best examples of follow-up email examples after informational interviews

Let’s start with the most common situation: you just finished the call, it went well, and you want to send a quick, thoughtful thank‑you. This is where many people overthink things.

Here’s a short example of a follow-up email you can send within a few hours:

Subject: Thank you for your time today

Hi Jordan,

Thank you again for speaking with me today about your work on the product strategy team at Acme. I really appreciated your insights on how you’re using customer interviews to shape the 2025 roadmap.

Our conversation confirmed that I’m excited to pursue roles that combine user research and data‑driven decision‑making. I’ll be looking into the resources you mentioned, especially the Reforge program and the PM communities on Slack.

If I can ever be helpful on your end—whether as a beta tester or by sharing your open roles with my network—please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Thanks again,

Taylor

[LinkedIn URL]

What works here:

• It’s specific (mentions product strategy, customer interviews, 2025 roadmap).
• It shows what you learned and how you’ll use it.
• It offers value back, even in a small way.

This is one of the best examples of follow-up email examples after informational interviews when you want to be brief but still memorable.

Longer, personalized examples of follow-up email examples after informational interviews

Sometimes the conversation is rich enough that a more detailed follow‑up makes sense. Maybe they shared career advice, personal stories, or multiple resources.

Here’s a longer example of a follow-up email you might send later the same day or the next morning:

Subject: Really appreciated our conversation today

Hi Dr. Patel,

Thank you for taking the time to speak with me this afternoon about your transition from clinical practice to public health policy. Hearing how you moved from residency into your current role at the state health department made the non‑linear path feel much more realistic.

I especially appreciated your advice to build a stronger foundation in epidemiology and health policy. I’ve already bookmarked the online courses you mentioned from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and will start with the introductory epidemiology course this month.

Your suggestion to attend local public health association meetings was also helpful. I’ll be checking the events calendar for our state chapter this week.

Thanks again for your generosity and honesty. I’ll keep you posted as I make progress, and if there’s ever a way I can support your work—whether through volunteering or research assistance—I’d be glad to.

Warmly,

Maya

[LinkedIn URL]

Use this style when you want to:

• Reflect back key parts of the conversation.
• Show you’re already acting on their advice.
• Open the door for an ongoing relationship.

These kinds of detailed notes are strong examples of follow-up email examples after informational interviews that feel sincere instead of transactional.

Examples include follow-up emails when you want to stay on their radar

Maybe you sent a thank‑you already, but now it’s a month later. You’ve taken some of their advice, or something relevant reminded you of them. This is a perfect time to send a light check‑in.

Here’s an example of a follow-up email for a “just keeping in touch” moment:

Subject: Quick update since our chat in March

Hi Alexis,

I hope you’ve been doing well and that Q2 is off to a good start for your team.

When we spoke in March about breaking into UX research, you suggested I start by running small user interviews on my own projects. I wanted to share a quick update and say thank you again.

I’ve now completed 10 user interviews for a volunteer project with a local nonprofit, and I used several of the question frameworks you recommended. It’s been incredibly helpful to see how real users interact with the product.

I also took your advice and joined the online UX research community you mentioned. It’s been a great way to learn about 2024 hiring trends and portfolio expectations.

No need to respond, but I wanted you to know how much your guidance has helped me move forward.

Best,

Chris

[Portfolio URL]

This kind of note:

• Shows you listened and took action.
• Keeps you top‑of‑mind without asking for anything.
• Builds long‑term goodwill.

As you collect your own real examples of follow-up email examples after informational interviews, you’ll notice many of the best examples follow this “update + gratitude” pattern.

Follow-up email examples when you’re interested in future roles

You should not turn an informational interview into a hard pitch for a job. But if the person mentioned potential openings or growth on their team, it’s reasonable to show interest in a respectful way.

Here’s an example of a follow-up email that balances interest with professionalism:

Subject: Thank you and interest in future roles

Hi Morgan,

Thank you again for talking with me yesterday about your work leading the data science team at Horizon Analytics. I really enjoyed hearing how your group partners with product and marketing to shape experiments.

Our discussion about the junior data scientist role you may open later this year was especially helpful. Based on what you shared about the mix of SQL, Python, and experimentation, this sounds very aligned with my background.

I’ll keep an eye on your careers page and on your LinkedIn updates. In the meantime, I’ve attached my resume in case it’s helpful down the line, and I’d welcome any feedback you’re comfortable sharing.

Thanks again for your time and transparency. I appreciated your perspective on how the data science job market is evolving in 2024.

Best regards,

Devon

[LinkedIn URL]

This is one of the best examples of follow-up email examples after informational interviews when you want to:

• Signal interest in future openings.
• Respect their boundaries (no pressure to “get you a job”).
• Give them a low‑friction way to keep you in mind.

For current data about the job market and hiring trends, you can cross‑check what you hear in informational interviews with resources like the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and university career centers such as Harvard’s Office of Career Services.

Examples of follow-up email examples after informational interviews when they referred you to someone else

Often, your contact will say, “You should talk to my colleague,” or, “I’ll introduce you to someone on another team.” You want to follow up in a way that:

• Thanks them for the referral.
• Makes it easy for them to send the intro.
• Keeps the tone light and appreciative.

Here’s an example you can send a few days after they mention a referral, if you haven’t seen an intro yet:

Subject: Thanks again & potential intro

Hi Renee,

I hope your week is going well.

I wanted to thank you again for our conversation last Thursday about brand marketing at Brightline. I’ve been thinking a lot about your point on how storytelling has become even more important in 2024 as budgets tighten and teams have to do more with less.

You kindly mentioned that you might be able to introduce me to someone on your performance marketing team. If that’s still feasible, I’d really appreciate it. I’ve included a short blurb below that you can forward or edit as you’d like:

—
“Hi [Name], I recently spoke with Taylor, an early‑career marketer interested in learning more about performance marketing at Brightline. They’re exploring roles that combine analytics and creative testing and would love to hear about your path and any advice you might have.”
—

Either way, I’m grateful for your time and for sharing how you’ve navigated your career.

Best,

Taylor

[LinkedIn URL]

This is one of those real examples of follow-up email examples after informational interviews that saves busy people time and increases the odds that the introduction actually happens.

“It’s been a while” follow-up email examples (weeks or months later)

Life happens. Maybe you had an informational interview months ago, fully intended to follow up, and then…you didn’t. It’s still worth reconnecting, especially if you have a genuine update.

Here’s an example of a follow-up email when some time has passed:

Subject: Update since our conversation in January

Hi Sam,

I hope you’ve been doing well and that the spring semester is going smoothly.

We spoke back in January about careers in higher education administration. At the time, I was just starting to explore student affairs roles and you encouraged me to get hands‑on experience.

I wanted to share a quick update and another thank‑you. Since then, I’ve started a part‑time role in the student success office at my local community college, and I’ve been volunteering with their orientation program. Your suggestion to look at opportunities at two‑year colleges, not just four‑year universities, made a big difference.

If you have any upcoming virtual events or panels for students considering this path, I’d love to attend.

Thanks again for your guidance—it truly helped me move from “thinking about it” to actually doing it.

All the best,

Jordan

[LinkedIn URL]

Notice how this:

• Acknowledges the time gap without apologizing excessively.
• Centers on progress and appreciation.
• Opens a door for light future engagement.

These “time gap” notes are underrated examples of follow-up email examples after informational interviews that can quietly revive a connection.

Follow-up email examples after informational interviews that include a specific ask

Sometimes you do have a clear, respectful ask: feedback on your resume, a quick look at your portfolio, or advice on a job posting you found. The key is to keep the ask small and easy to say no to.

Here’s an example of a follow-up email with a specific, reasonable request:

Subject: Quick question about a role we discussed

Hi Lee,

Thank you again for taking the time to speak with me last week about your work in cybersecurity at Northbridge. I’ve been reading more about current threats and best practices using resources from CISA and NIST, and it’s made me even more interested in security operations roles.

I saw that Northbridge just posted a Security Analyst position that sounds similar to what we discussed. If you have a few minutes in the next week, I’d really appreciate your perspective on whether this role seems like a good fit for someone with my background.

I’ve attached my resume and included a brief summary of my experience below to make it easy to skim. If your schedule is packed, no worries at all—I completely understand.

Thanks again for all your guidance so far.

Best,

Amina

[LinkedIn URL]

This is one of the best examples of follow-up email examples after informational interviews when you want to move from exploration toward a specific opportunity without putting someone on the spot.

How to write your own best examples of follow-up email examples after informational interviews

You don’t need to memorize every example of a follow-up email. Instead, keep a simple structure in mind and plug in your details.

Most strong follow-ups share three parts:

Gratitude. Start by thanking them for their time and naming the conversation.

• “Thank you again for speaking with me yesterday about…”
• “I really appreciated your insights on…”

Specifics. Mention 1–2 concrete things you learned or found helpful.

• “Your point about how remote work is changing hiring in 2024 stuck with me.”
• “I’ve already signed up for the course you recommended at MIT OpenCourseWare.”

Next step or light ask. Close with how you’ll use their advice, or a small, optional request.

• “I’ll keep you posted as I update my portfolio.”
• “If you’re comfortable, I’d welcome any quick feedback on my resume.”

When you look back at the real examples of follow-up email examples after informational interviews above, you’ll see this pattern repeating with different details.

A few 2024–2025‑specific tips:

• Acknowledge hybrid and remote work realities if relevant (for example, “Thanks again for making time between back‑to‑back Zoom meetings”).
• Keep time zones in mind when sending same‑day notes.
• Use LinkedIn thoughtfully—many professionals expect a connection request after an informational interview, especially in the U.S. and UK.

For more guidance on informational interviewing and professional communication, university career centers such as UC Berkeley Career Center and Harvard’s OCS publish helpful templates and advice you can cross‑reference with these examples.

FAQ: examples of common questions about follow-up emails after informational interviews

How soon should I send a follow-up email after an informational interview?
Within 24 hours is standard. Many of the best examples of follow-up email examples after informational interviews are sent the same day, while the conversation is still fresh. You can always send another update later if you have progress to share.

Is one follow-up email enough, or should I send more?
Start with a thank‑you within 24 hours. After that, it’s reasonable to send an update a few weeks or months later if you’ve taken action on their advice. For instance, when you look at any real example of a follow-up email that maintains relationships, it usually includes a progress update, not just “checking in.”

Can I ask about job openings in my follow-up email?
Yes, but gently. The better examples of follow-up email examples after informational interviews focus first on learning and gratitude. If a role comes up naturally in your conversation or you see an opening at their company, you can mention your interest and ask for their perspective instead of asking directly for a referral.

What if they don’t respond to my follow-up email?
If you used a polite, specific message like the examples include above, you’ve already made a positive impression. People are busy; no response doesn’t mean you did anything wrong. You can still send a later update if you have real progress to share, but avoid sending multiple “just bumping this up” messages.

Do I need different examples of follow-up email examples after informational interviews for phone, Zoom, and in‑person chats?
The structure stays the same. You might tweak small details (for example, “Thanks again for meeting me at the coffee shop yesterday” versus “Thanks again for hopping on Zoom”), but the core elements—gratitude, specifics, and a light next step—don’t change.

Use these templates as a starting point, customize them with your own details, and over time you’ll build your own personal library of examples of follow-up email examples after informational interviews that sound like you—and get answered.