Follow-Up: Emails and Calls
Don't just ask where things stand — give them a reason to remember you.
Why this matters
The follow-up communication is consistently mishandled. Most applicants either skip it entirely or send a message that amounts to "Did you get my application?" Neither approach serves you. The follow-up is not a status check — it's a professional communication that happens to remind them who you are.
The rule
Every follow-up should contain new content. A recently completed project. A re-rendered drawing. A reference to something the firm published recently or a project you noticed they're working on. Something that demonstrates continued engagement with your own work and genuine interest in their practice. You're not asking for anything — you're offering a reason for them to reconnect with your application.
Remember that to you, landing an internship might be the most important thing on your mind. To the firm, you're important, but so are the multiple projects, meetings, and deadlines they're already dealing with. Interviews and hiring processes vary firm-to-firm as well, but all take time. They will respond to you when they can. Remembering this might help mitigate some of your anxiety.
Timing
| After | When to follow up |
|---|---|
| Submitted application | One to two weeks if you haven't heard anything. |
| An interview | Within 24 hours. The same day if possible, the following morning at the latest. |
| A career fair conversation | Within 48 hours. Reference something specific from the conversation. |
After an interview
A follow-up email after an interview is not optional — it is a standard professional expectation. Brief and direct: thank them for their time, reference one specific thing from the conversation (this demonstrates you were paying attention, which many candidates demonstrably are not), and reaffirm your interest. A few sentences. This is not a second cover letter.
The follow-up call
More direct and more memorable than an email, used selectively. Have something to say before you dial. Know what the call is for, keep it brief, and end with a clear next step or a gracious close.
What not to send
"I just wanted to check in and see if there's been any update on my application."
This tells them nothing about you except that you're anxious. It wastes their time and rarely produces useful information. Every communication should earn its place in their inbox — this one doesn't.
Side-by-side of a weak follow-up email (status check only) vs. a strong one (specific new content + reaffirmed interest). Annotated to show what each communicates about the sender.