How to Follow Up on a Job Application (With Examples)

To follow up on a job application, wait about one to two weeks after you apply, then send a short, polite email to the recruiter or hiring manager repeating your interest and asking about the next steps. That is the whole move, done well.

A good follow-up is not begging. It is a quiet reminder that you are keen, organised, and easy to work with. Below is when to send it, who to send it to, and exactly what to write, with two examples you can copy the shape of.

When to follow up on a job application

Timing matters. Send it too soon and you look impatient. Wait too long and the role may already be filled.

Here is a simple rule:

• After applying: wait one to two weeks, then send your first follow-up.
• If the job post gives a date: wait until that date passes before you reach out.
• After an interview: send a thank-you note within 24 hours, then wait for the date they gave you before checking in again.

Hiring can be slow. A hiring manager (the person who will be your future boss) often juggles interviews with their normal job, so a two-week gap is normal and not a bad sign. Give the process room to breathe before you nudge.

Who to contact

Send your follow-up to a real person if you can. A message with a name lands better than one shouted into a general inbox.

Look for the right contact in this order:

1. The recruiter who emailed you or whose name is on the job post.
2. The hiring manager, if the post names them or you can find them on LinkedIn.
3. A general careers email (like jobs@company.com) only if you have no name.

To find a name, check the job listing, the confirmation email you received, and the company's LinkedIn page. Search the company plus a title like "talent" or "recruiter". If you truly cannot find anyone, a polite note to the general inbox is fine.

One thing to avoid: do not message five people at once. Pick the single best contact. Multiple pings across a team can look scattered.

How to write the follow-up message

Keep it short. Aim for under 150 words. A busy reader should get your point in ten seconds.

A strong follow-up email has five small parts:

1. A clear subject line that names the role, like "Following up: Marketing Assistant application".
2. A greeting with the person's name.
3. One line saying you applied and you are still interested.
4. One detail that shows you fit the role or the company.
5. A polite question about the next steps, and a thank-you.

That extra detail is what lifts you above a plain "any update?" It proves you actually want this job, not just any job.

Here is an example you can adapt after you apply:

Subject: Following up: Content Writer application

Hi Sarah,

I applied for the Content Writer role on 8 June and wanted to say I am still very keen. I especially like that the role focuses on plain-language guides, which is the kind of writing I do best, and I recently grew a blog's traffic by rewriting its help articles.

Is there any update on the timeline, or anything else you need from me? Thank you for your time.

Best, Amina Khan

Notice how short it is. It names the role, shows genuine interest, gives one proof point, and asks a clear question. No pressure, no essay.

If your CV is not landing replies at all, the fix may be the CV itself, not the follow-up. A clear, tailored CV gets read; a cluttered one gets skipped. You can build your CV free in minutes and send a sharper version next time. It also helps to pair it with a strong note; here is how to write a cover letter that gets opened.

Following up after an interview

Interviews need a different, warmer follow-up. Send a thank-you email within 24 hours while the conversation is fresh.

Your thank-you note should:

• Thank the interviewer for their time.
• Mention one specific thing you enjoyed talking about.
• Restate, in one line, why you want the role.
• Keep the door open for their next steps.

Here is an example you can adapt after an interview:

Subject: Thank you: Content Writer interview

Hi Sarah,

Thank you for meeting with me today. I enjoyed hearing how the team plans to rebuild the help centre, and it made me even more excited about the role.

I would love to help make those guides clearer for new users. Please let me know if there is anything else I can share. Looking forward to the next steps.

Best, Amina Khan

If the interviewer gave you a decision date and it passes with no word, send one short check-in. Keep it friendly: thank them again, restate your interest, and ask if there is any news. One polite nudge is plenty.

Do and don't

A quick checklist before you hit send:

Do:

• Keep it short and polite.
• Name the exact role and when you applied.
• Add one detail that shows you fit.
• Proofread for the right name and company.
• Send during work hours, midweek if you can.

Don't:

• Follow up the day after applying.
• Send the same message to several people at once.
• Sound annoyed or demand a reply.
• Write a long essay repeating your whole CV.
• Chase more than once or twice.

Silence usually means the process is slow or busy, not that you did something wrong. Stay warm and professional, and keep applying elsewhere while you wait.

Key takeaways

• Wait about one to two weeks after applying, then send a short, polite follow-up email.
• Send it to a named recruiter or hiring manager when you can, not a crowd of people.
• Keep the message under 150 words: name the role, show interest, add one proof point, ask about the next steps.
• After an interview, send a thank-you within 24 hours, and one polite check-in if the decision date passes.
• Follow up once or twice at most, then move on and keep applying.

Ready to give employers a reason to reply? Build your CV free and send a version that gets you to the interview.