How to Follow Up After a Job Interview (Without Overthinking It)

 The Generation That Hates Work Most Isn't Who You Think

Think it's Gen Z? Think again.

A new survey of 1,000+ workers by KickResume asked people how they really feel about their jobs—and the results are messy.

The numbers:

- 38% feel neutral about work

- 15% actively dislike it

- 12% straight-up hate it

- Only 16% love their jobs

Gen X (ages 46-61) is the most miserable. 34% dislike their jobs, compared to 26% of millennials and just 22% of Gen Z. Over half of Gen Xers (53%) would quit tomorrow if they could afford to.

Turns out the "lazy Gen Z" stereotype is doing a lot of heavy lifting.

But here's the real story: Most people are faking it.

- 37% are "The Performers"—acting enthusiastic while secretly dreading work multiple times a week

- 26% are "Undercover Job Hunters"—smiling in meetings, scrolling job boards on the clock

- 86% admitted to faking enthusiasm at work in the past week alone

Only 13% are genuinely happy. The rest are either stuck, suffering silently, or white-knuckling it through every Monday.

 Modern workers may suck at finding jobs they love—but they're world-class at pretending they already have one.

Waiting to hear back after a job interview is tough. You don't need to write an elaborate essay to check in, and you certainly don't need to apologize for asking. Keep it brief, polite, and direct.

The First Follow-Up

If a week has passed and you want to know what happens next, a simple note is all it takes.

Subject: Following up: Customer Success Manager interview

Hi Rachel,

I’m following up on our conversation last Tuesday about the Customer Success Manager role. I’m still very interested. Is there an updated timeline for next steps?

Thanks,

Daniel

Tip: There is no need to apologize for checking in or pad the email with extra paragraphs explaining why you're qualified.

If you don’t hear back right away, try not to assume the worst. The hiring team might still be interviewing other candidates or waiting for final approval to make an offer. It’s frustrating, but delays don't automatically mean you're out of the running.

When to Mention Another Offer

If you receive a competing job offer with a real decision deadline, you have a solid reason to reach out to your preferred employer sooner. Be specific and honest about the timeline:

“I’ve received another offer with a decision deadline of [date]. I remain very interested in this role. Do you expect to have an update before then?”

• If the company is your first choice: Let them know.
  
  
• If it isn’t your top choice: Stating "I remain very interested" is professional and sufficient.
  
  

This prompt often helps the employer move faster, or they may inform you if they cannot decide before your deadline. Either way, it gives you the clarity you need to make a decision on your current offer. Only mention another offer if it is real, and always be accurate about the deadline.

The Final Follow-Up

If another week passes after your first check-in with no reply, it's time to send one final message. Make sure to reply directly to your existing email thread so your correspondence is easy to find:

Subject: Customer Success Manager interview

Hi Rachel,

I’m checking in once more about the Customer Success Manager position. If the hiring timeline has changed, or the team has moved forward with another candidate, I’d appreciate any update you can share.

Thanks again for the conversation.

Best,

Daniel

Knowing When to Stop

If you still don’t hear back after this, do not follow up again. You’ve made your interest clear and requested an update twice.

• Avoid contacting multiple people at the same company to ask for the same update; keep working through your primary interview coordinator.
  
  
• Keep applying and talking with other employers while you wait. If this company eventually gets back to you, you can evaluate the opportunity then.

Want $2,000 to Talk to Strangers? Someone’s Getting Paid to Do Exactly That

Small talk has a branding problem. Ask Gen Z about chatting with coworkers, and many will tell you they’d rather skip it. Now one company wants to turn that discomfort into a paycheck.

RiseGuide, a self-improvement app, is hiring a “chief small talk officer.” The job pays $2,000 for 30 days of starting conversations with strangers. Your assignment is simple: go to a café, a bookstore, a climbing gym, a cocktail bar, or a park, and talk to whoever’s there. The company even includes a going-out budget.

The job isn’t just chatting, though. The CSTO documents everything: notes, observations, short videos, and stories. That material becomes a ranking of the best places to meet people, plus tips and a full lesson for the app. It’s research disguised as a social experiment.

The timing makes sense. RiseGuide’s own research suggests only about a third of people would strike up a conversation with a stranger. Harris Poll data cited by Fortune points to a bigger gap among young workers. Over half of hiring managers said Gen Z graduates communicate poorly, and roughly two-thirds of Gen Z workers admitted they don’t know what to say to colleagues.

RiseGuide’s pitch is that conversation is a skill, not a personality trait. If that’s true, the job is a training ground. Better talkers get noticed at work, land better opportunities, and build stronger relationships, which might help with loneliness too.

Applications go through a short self-presentation video, and resumes are optional. Fittingly, the job is all about talking.

Would you take it, or does the thought of 30 days of strangers make you want to hide? Either way, you’ll have a great story for your next cocktail party.