Following up after applying

Wait about one to two weeks after applying, or until a few working days after the closing date if one was given. This gives the employer time to review applications without letting your application go cold.

Adjust the timing:

• If the advert says "we will contact shortlisted candidates within two weeks", wait until that time has passed.
• If the role was advertised as urgent, a follow-up after about a week is reasonable.
• For large graduate schemes with fixed timelines, follow the published schedule rather than following up.

There is no universal rule, and hiring timelines vary widely between employers. One polite, well-timed follow-up shows interest; several in quick succession can annoy the recruiter.

Before you send it, check the advert again for instructions such as "only shortlisted candidates will be contacted", and check any application portal for a status update. Note the date you applied in your tracker so your message can mention it accurately.

Example opening: "I applied for the Logistics Coordinator role on 4 November and wanted to confirm my continued interest."

Yes. A polite follow-up is normal and can show genuine interest, as long as you respect any instructions and do it once or twice at most. Many applicants never follow up, so a courteous message can help you be remembered.

When it is not appropriate:

• The advert says "please do not contact us" or "only shortlisted candidates will be contacted".
• You applied through a large portal with no contact person and an automated status page.

In those cases, check the portal's status page instead and focus on other applications. When you do follow up, keep it short, specific and friendly, and never sound demanding.

Email is usually the better first choice; it is less intrusive and lets the recruiter reply when convenient. Phone calls can work well for small businesses, local roles or when the advert lists a phone number for enquiries.

Choose email when:

• You applied by email or through a recruiter.
• The company is large or the role is office-based.

Choose phone when:

• The advert invites calls.
• The employer is a small shop, restaurant, clinic or contractor where decisions are made quickly.
• An email follow-up has gone unanswered and a number is available.

If you call, prepare a short script, be ready for a quick screening question and keep the call under two minutes unless they want to talk longer.

Introduce yourself, name the role and when you applied, ask politely about the status and thank them. Keep it short and friendly.

Example script:
"Good morning, my name is Ali Hassan. I applied for the Warehouse Supervisor position on 3 October and wanted to check whether my application was received and if there is any update on the process. … Thank you, I appreciate your help."

Be ready for:

• A quick question about your experience or availability.
• Being told to wait or to check the portal; accept this politely.
• Being asked to resend your CV; have it ready to email.

Call during working hours and avoid busy times such as lunch hours in restaurants or shops.

Leave a short, clear message with your name, the role, the date you applied, your phone number said twice and a polite thank you. Speak slowly so the number can be written down.

Example:
"Hello, this is Priya Sharma. I applied for the Dental Assistant position on 12 October and wanted to follow up on my application. You can reach me on 050 123 4567. That's 050 123 4567. Thank you, and have a good day."

Tips:

• Keep it short, about the length of the example above.
• Do not leave several voicemails; follow up by email if you get no reply.
• Make sure your own voicemail greeting is professional, in case they call back.

Usually once, and at most twice, spaced a week or two apart. After that, it is time to move on and focus on other applications.

A sensible pattern:

• First follow-up: one to two weeks after applying or after the closing date.
• Second (optional): another one to two weeks later, very brief, perhaps adding something new such as a recent certification.
• Then stop. If they are interested later, they will contact you.

Repeated messages can make a recruiter less likely to consider you. Keep your tone positive throughout; you may apply to the same company again in future.

Keep it even shorter than the first, add something new if possible, and give them an easy way to reply. A polite second note can work; a repeated demand will not.

Example:
"Dear Ms Torres,

I wanted to follow up once more on my application for the Marketing Coordinator role. Since my last email, I have completed the Meta Social Media Marketing certificate, which relates to the campaign work in the advert. I remain very interested and would be happy to share anything else you need.

Kind regards,
Kwame Asante"

Avoid phrases like "I still haven't heard back" or "As I said before". Do not express frustration. If there is no reply, this should be your last message.

Assume it is unlikely to move forward, but keep the door open. Many employers do not reply to every applicant, and some processes are slow because of approvals, budgets or holidays.

What to do:

• Send one polite follow-up if you have not already.
• Continue applying elsewhere; do not pause your search for one role.
• If they contact you later, respond positively; delays are common.

Silence is not always a judgement on you. Positions are sometimes put on hold, filled internally or cancelled. Keep a record of the application so you remember the details if they do call.

If they gave a decision date, wait until it has passed by a couple of working days, then send a short email asking about the timeline. If no date was given, about a week after the interview is a common time to follow up.

Example:
"Dear Mr Khalil,

Thank you again for meeting me on 14 October to discuss the Accountant role. I wanted to ask whether there is any update on the timeline for the next stage. I remain very interested in the position.

Kind regards,
Fatima Noor"

Keep it brief and positive. If you have another offer and need an answer, you can mention it politely, but do not invent deadlines. A thank-you note sent soon after the interview is separate from this follow-up.

Wait two or three working days past the promised time, then send a short, friendly message. Delays are very common; promised dates often slip because of interviews with other candidates or internal approvals.

Example:
"Dear Ms Lim,

I hope you are well. When we spoke on 5 November, you mentioned there might be news on the Business Analyst role the following week. I wanted to check in and see whether there is any update.

Kind regards,
Omar Said"

Do not imply they broke a promise. Show patience and continued interest. If you hear nothing after one more follow-up, keep looking while staying open to their reply.

Check the portal's status page first, then look for a named recruiter or general recruitment contact if you really need an update. Large portals often handle many applications and may not be set up for individual follow-ups.

Options:

• Log in to the candidate account to view status updates.
• Search the company's careers page for a recruitment contact.
• Look for the recruiter who posted the job on a professional networking site and send one brief, polite message.
• If none of these exist, wait and apply to other roles.

Do not email many people across the company to find someone. One well-chosen contact, or simply patience, is better.

Usually it means your application has been received and is in a queue or stage of assessment, but it does not tell you how far along it is. Each employer configures its system differently, so status labels can mean different things.

Common status meanings (vary by employer):

• "Received" or "Submitted": your application is in the system.
• "Under review" or "In process": someone may be screening, or it may simply be waiting.
• "Interview" or "Assessment": you have moved forward.
• "Not selected" or "Closed": the process has ended for you.

Some statuses never change, even after a decision. Do not rely on them alone; keep applying elsewhere and follow up once if appropriate.

Use a simple spreadsheet or notebook with one row per application and update it each time something happens. This prevents missed follow-ups and confusion when recruiters call.

Useful columns:

• Company and job title.
• Date applied and how (portal, email, agency, referral).
• Contact person and email.
• CV version sent (file name).
• Follow-up dates and responses.
• Next step and deadline.

Example row: "Blue Harbour Logistics | Inventory Controller | 2 Nov | email | Ms Patel | CV-Inventory-v2.pdf | follow up 16 Nov."

Saving the job advert text too is useful, as adverts are often removed after closing and you will want it before an interview.

Review the tracker once a week. Look for patterns: which kinds of roles lead to interviews, which CV versions get replies, and which applications are due a follow-up. A free spreadsheet app on your phone is enough; the habit matters more than the tool.

Follow up with whoever you have been dealing with, usually the recruiter or HR contact. Contact the hiring manager only if you already have a relationship with them or they invited you to.

Guidelines:

• Applied through HR or a recruiter: follow up with them.
• Interviewed by the hiring manager and they gave you their email: a brief follow-up to them is fine, especially after an interview.
• Referred by someone inside: you can let your referrer know you applied, and they may check informally.

Avoid going around the recruiter to the manager just because you are impatient. It can create friction and work against you.

Yes, if you have no email or your email follow-up went unanswered, a short message to the recruiter on a professional networking site can work. Keep it as professional as an email.

Example:
"Hello Ms Ahmed, I applied for the Junior Accountant role at Desert Line Trading on 1 November. I wanted to check whether the role is still open and confirm my interest. Thank you for your time. – Rohan Das"

Tips:

• Send a connection request with a short note, or use a message feature if available.
• Do not message many employees at the company.
• Make sure your profile matches your CV, because they will probably look at it.

Keep it short, positive and focused on the employer, and send it only once or twice. Desperation shows through repeated messages, emotional language and pressure, not through the follow-up itself.

Do:

• Thank them for their time.
• Restate your interest in one sentence.
• Offer something useful: an updated CV, availability, a recent achievement.

Avoid:

• "I really need this job."
• "Please, I am waiting for your reply."
• "Why haven't you responded?"
• Follow-ups every few days.

Example line: "I remain very interested in the role and would be glad to provide any further information you need."

Never write anything demanding, guilt-inducing, negative or untrue. A follow-up is a reminder of your interest, not a complaint.

Avoid:

• "I am disappointed I haven't heard back."
• "Other companies have already replied to me."
• "You said you would call and you didn't."
• Invented offers or deadlines to pressure them.
• Long repeats of your cover letter.
• Personal hardships as a reason to hurry.

Also avoid typos in the company name or the role. Read your follow-up once more before sending, as it is still part of your application.

Yes, this is one of the best ways to make a follow-up useful. A new certification, project result or relevant experience gives the employer a fresh reason to look at your application.

Example:
"Since applying, I have passed the CIPS Level 4 Diploma, which covers the procurement processes mentioned in your advert."

Tips:

• Keep it to one sentence and link it to the job.
• Attach an updated CV only if the change is significant.
• Make sure the achievement is complete; do not mention an exam you have not yet passed as if you have.

This turns a "just checking in" message into something with real value for the reader.

Tell them honestly and politely that you have an offer with a deadline, restate your strong interest in their role and ask whether they can share a timeline. Many employers will try to accelerate if they are interested.

Example:
"Dear Mr Rahimi,

I wanted to let you know that I have received another offer and have been asked to respond by Thursday 20 November. Your Project Engineer role remains my first choice, and I wanted to ask whether there is any update on your timeline before I decide.

Kind regards,
Sara Qureshi"

Only say this if it is true. Do not exaggerate the offer or deadline. Be prepared for them to say they cannot move faster, and decide based on what you know.

Yes, a short follow-up is reasonable, but do not read too much into the repost. Adverts are often refreshed automatically, reposted on new sites, or reopened to widen the pool, and that does not necessarily mean you were rejected.

What to do:

• Check your application status if there is a portal.
• Send one polite message confirming interest and asking whether your application is still being considered.
• If you have improved your CV since, you could reapply only if the portal treats it as a new vacancy (check the reference number).

Example: "I noticed the Graphic Designer role has been re-advertised and wanted to confirm my continued interest in the position."

It may mean they want more candidates, the role was refreshed automatically, or they decided not to move forward with current candidates. You cannot know without asking, so a polite check-in is fine.

Example:
"Dear Ms Varga,

I noticed the Operations Coordinator role has been re-advertised. I wanted to reconfirm my interest after our interview on 22 October and ask whether there is any update on my application.

Kind regards,
Hamza Butt"

Keep it neutral; do not sound upset or accusing. If they say they are widening the search, ask whether there is anything you could add, such as references or a work sample.

Reply politely to the rejection, thank them, and ask if they can share brief feedback to help you improve. Some employers will; many cannot because of time or policy, so accept either answer gracefully.

Example:
"Dear Mr Moyo,

Thank you for letting me know about your decision. I enjoyed learning about your team. If you have a moment, I would appreciate any brief feedback on my application or interview that could help me in future.

Kind regards,
Leah Abraham"

Ask only once. If they share feedback, thank them and do not argue with it. Feedback after an interview is more likely than after an unsuccessful application at the CV stage.

Yes. A short, gracious reply to a rejection can keep you in mind for other openings, especially if you reached a late stage.

Example:
"Thank you for letting me know. I appreciated the chance to meet the team and learn about your expansion plans. I would be glad to be considered for similar roles in future, and I will keep an eye on your careers page."

Tips:

• Reply within a day or two.
• Keep it positive, even if disappointed.
• Connect with the recruiter on a professional networking site, if appropriate.
• Apply again when you see a matching role, mentioning your earlier interview.

People who respond well to rejection are sometimes contacted when the chosen candidate declines or another role opens.

Usually it is not necessary. Automated rejections often come from a no-reply address, and replies may never be read. If the email comes from a named person, a brief thank-you is a nice touch.

When a reply makes sense:

• A recruiter signed the email personally.
• You had an interview or spoke with someone.
• You want to ask about future roles.

When to skip it:

• The email says "do not reply to this message".
• You were rejected at the online application stage with no human contact.

Either way, update your tracker and move on to the next application.

Send a short check-in asking whether any roles are progressing and whether your details are still current. Agency recruiters work on many roles, and a polite nudge keeps you on their radar.

Example:
"Hi James,

I hope you are well. I wanted to check whether there is any update on the Facilities Coordinator role you submitted me for in October, and to let you know I am still actively looking for similar roles in Abu Dhabi.

Best regards,
Neha Pillai"

Tips:

• Update them when your availability, location or preferences change.
• Ask which roles they have sent your CV to, so you don't apply twice to the same employer.
• Work with a few trusted agencies rather than many.