5 min read
You sent your application. Now there is silence. Should you call? Send an email? Wait? A lot of people either never follow up, or follow up so often that they annoy the recruiter.
A polite, well-timed follow-up can remind them you exist and show you are serious. Here is how to do it right.
Before you follow up, reread the advert. Some adverts say things like:
Respect this. If the advert says do not call, do not call. Many large companies and most government departments get so many applications that they simply cannot reply to everyone. In those cases, following up usually will not help, and your energy is better spent on the next application.
Follow-ups work best with smaller companies, recruitment agencies, and anywhere you have a named contact person.
As a rule, follow up once, and at most twice. After that, move on.
Email is usually best, because it is easy for the recruiter to reply when they have time. SMS or WhatsApp is fine if that is how they have been communicating with you. A phone call works for smaller businesses, if the advert does not say otherwise.
Whatever you use, keep it short, polite and professional. Always include your full name, the job title and the reference number if there is one.
Subject: Application for [Job title], Ref [number], [Your name]
Good day [Name, or "Hiring Manager"],
I applied for the [job title] position on [date] and wanted to confirm that my application was received. I am still very interested in the role and believe my experience in [one relevant thing] would be useful to your team.
Please let me know if you need any further information from me. I can be reached on [phone number].
Kind regards,
[Your full name]
Subject: Thank you, [Job title] interview
Good day [Name],
Thank you for meeting with me today about the [job title] position. I enjoyed hearing about [something specific you discussed], and it made me even more keen on the role.
I look forward to hearing from you. Please let me know if you need anything else from me.
Kind regards,
[Your full name]
[Phone number]
Subject: Follow-up, [Job title] interview on [date]
Good day [Name],
I hope you are well. I am following up on my interview for the [job title] position on [date]. I am still very interested in the role and wanted to ask whether there is any update on the process.
Thank you for your time.
Kind regards,
[Your full name]
[Phone number]
"Good day [Name], this is [Your full name]. I applied for the [job title] position on [date]. I just wanted to check if my application was received and if there is any update. Thank you, have a good day."
Use full words and proper spelling, not SMS short forms. Do not send voice notes unless they ask for them.
Have your details and the job title in front of you before you dial. Keep it short:
"Good morning, my name is [name]. I applied for the [job title] position last week and I am calling to check whether my application was received, and when you expect to start interviews."
Listen, thank them, and write down what they say, including the name of the person you spoke to.
Rejection is part of looking for work. Almost everyone who has a job today was turned down many times first. It feels personal, but it usually is not. They may have had hundreds of applicants for one post, or an internal candidate, or simply someone with one more year of experience.
If you get a rejection, reply politely:
"Thank you for letting me know, and for considering my application. I would appreciate any feedback that could help me improve. I would also be glad to be considered for future positions."
Some people will send feedback, and it can be very valuable. Some will not reply, and that is fine too. Either way, you have left a good impression. Companies do sometimes come back to good candidates when a new post opens, or when their first choice does not work out.
The biggest mistake is putting your whole job search on hold while you wait for one reply. Keep a simple list of every job you applied for: the date, the company, the contact person, and when to follow up. Then keep applying. The more good applications you send, the less any single one matters, and the sooner the right one says yes.