Following up after applying – Page 2

Ask the HR contact or hiring manager politely, as you would for an external application, while respecting internal processes. Being visible internally helps, but pressure can hurt your reputation in your current role.

Tips:

• Check the internal job portal or HR announcements for timelines first.
• Send a brief email to the recruiter listed on the internal advert.
• If the hiring manager knows you, a short conversation is fine, but do not push.
• Keep your current work standards high during the process.

Example: "I wanted to check whether there is an expected timeline for the Senior Planner selection. I am very keen on the role and happy to provide anything further."

Send one brief follow-up about one to two weeks later, offering a short conversation or asking them to keep your CV on file. Speculative letters often go unanswered, so a polite follow-up can make the difference.

Example:
"Dear Ms Rao,

I wrote on 4 November about possible opportunities in your BIM team. I understand there may be no current vacancy, but I would welcome a brief call to learn about your plans, or for you to keep my CV for future openings.

Kind regards,
Daniel Kim"

If there is still no reply, move on. You can contact them again in a few months if you see the company expanding or advertising.

Thank your referrer, let them know when you applied, and ask whether they would be comfortable checking on the status informally. Keep the hiring follow-up with the recruiter, not through repeated requests to your friend.

Example message to the referrer:
"Hi Aisha, thank you again for referring me. I submitted my application for the Customer Success role on 10 November. If you hear anything or there's someone I should follow up with, I would be grateful to know. No pressure at all."

Tips:

• Do not ask your referrer for updates every few days.
• Tell them the outcome, whatever it is.
• If you get the job, thank them properly; if not, thank them for their help.

Send a brief message within one or two days, mention when and where you met and the topic you discussed, and complete any step they suggested, such as applying online. Recruiters meet many people at fairs, so a specific reminder matters.

Example:
"Dear Mr Patel,

It was good to speak with you at the Engineering Careers Fair on Wednesday about your graduate site engineer intake. As you suggested, I have applied online (reference GE-2027-12). Thank you for your advice on the assessment day.

Kind regards,
Yusuf Abdi"

If you collected a business card, write a note on the back after the conversation so your follow-up can be specific.

If they gave a timeline, wait until it passes; otherwise send a short note a few days later confirming your interest. You can also send a quick thank-you soon after the call.

Example (same day):
"Dear Ms Juarez, thank you for the call today about the Inside Sales role. I enjoyed hearing about the team's targets for the new region and remain very interested. Please let me know if you need anything further."

Example (after timeline passes):
"I wanted to follow up on our call on 6 November and ask whether there is any update on next steps."

Keep a note of what was discussed in the call, such as start dates or questions they asked, so you can follow up accurately.

Wait for the timeline they gave, then send a short email asking about the next step. If they gave no timeline, about a week is reasonable.

Example:
"Dear Recruitment Team,

I completed the online numerical assessment for the Graduate Finance Programme on 2 November. I wanted to ask when candidates can expect to hear about the next stage.

Kind regards,
Tanvir Ahmed"

For large graduate programmes, assessment results are often released on fixed dates, so check the programme page first. Do not ask for your test score unless the employer has said scores are shared.

Send a short thank-you within a day to your main contact, then follow up once the stated decision date has passed. Assessment centres involve several assessors and candidates, so decisions may take longer.

Example thank-you:
"Thank you for organising yesterday's assessment centre. I particularly enjoyed the group case study on store openings and learned a lot from the managers' presentation."

Example follow-up:
"I wanted to check on the timeline for decisions following the assessment centre on 15 November."

Do not contact other candidates for information or post details of the exercises online, as many employers ask candidates to keep them confidential.

Send a thank-you note within a day, then follow up once if the decision date passes. At the final stage, a clear and positive follow-up can help you stay top of mind.

Example follow-up:
"Dear Mr Haddad,

Thank you again for the final interview on 18 November. I wanted to check whether there is any update on the decision. I am very excited about the opportunity to lead the new branch's operations team.

Kind regards,
Mona Fathy"

If you have questions that affect your decision, such as start date or relocation support, you can ask them in this message briefly. Do not negotiate pay before an offer is made.

Wait a few working days, then thank them again and ask politely when you can expect the written offer. Do not resign from your current job until you have a written offer you are happy with.

Example:
"Dear Ms Grant,

Thank you again for the offer you shared on the phone on Monday; I am delighted. Could you let me know when I can expect the written offer, so I can plan my notice period?

Kind regards,
Victor Mensah"

Delays often come from internal approvals. If the delay continues for a long time, a second polite message is reasonable. Keep your job search active until the paperwork is signed.

First check with your referees whether they have been contacted, then send the employer a short note asking if they need anything else. Reference delays often happen because referees are busy or did not receive the request.

Steps:

• Message your referees: "Have you received a reference request from Atlas Engineering?"
• If not, confirm their contact details are correct.
• Email the recruiter: "I wanted to check whether you have everything you need from my referees, or if there is anything I can do to help."

Offer an alternative referee if one is unavailable. Thank your referees once the process is complete.

Usually no, unless the employer is a small local business where walk-in enquiries are normal, such as shops, restaurants or small clinics. For offices and larger companies, unannounced visits can be seen as intrusive, and security may not let you in.

When visiting can work:

• Retail, hospitality or trades businesses with a manager on site.
• The advert invites you to drop off your CV.
• Walk-in interview events.

If you visit:

• Go at a quiet time, not lunch or rush hour.
• Dress smartly and bring a printed CV.
• Ask politely for the manager; if busy, leave your CV and contact number.

It is fine to follow up, but expect slower responses and adjust your timing. During major holidays, many offices reduce hours or close, and hiring often slows.

Tips:

• During Ramadan in Gulf countries, working hours are often shorter, so send messages early in the working day and allow extra time for replies.
• Around Eid, Christmas, Diwali or New Year, consider waiting until the holiday ends.
• If you send a message during a holiday period, a short seasonal greeting can be kind but keep it simple and inclusive.

Do not treat a slow reply during holidays as a rejection. Follow up again after normal working hours resume.

Write it whenever you like, but schedule it to arrive during the recipient's working hours. Messages that land early on a working day are more likely to be read promptly.

Practical points:

• Check the employer's working week; in the UAE many companies work Monday to Friday, while some businesses in the region use different days.
• Adjust for time zones when applying abroad.
• Use your email app's scheduled send feature.

Avoid calling outside working hours or at weekends unless the employer has invited it. It is fine to reply quickly if a recruiter messages you in the evening, but you do not need to.

Yes, a light check-in every few months, or when you see a relevant opening, is reasonable. "We'll keep your CV on file" is often polite, but some employers do contact candidates later.

How to follow up:

• When a suitable role is advertised, apply properly and mention the earlier contact.
• Send an occasional update if you gain new experience: "Since we spoke in March, I have completed my CMA qualification."
• Keep it brief and relevant.

Avoid checking in every week; it can feel like pressure. Continue applying elsewhere and treat any later contact as a bonus.

It varies widely, from a few days to several weeks or more, depending on the employer, the role and how many applications they receive. There is no reliable standard timeline.

Things that slow hiring:

• Many applications to screen.
• Several interview rounds or assessment stages.
• Internal approvals, budget sign-off or restructuring.
• Holidays and key people being away.

Things that speed it up:

• Urgent vacancies.
• Small businesses with one decision-maker.
• Roles filled through agencies with set processes.

Because timelines are unpredictable, keep applying to other roles while you wait. Use the closing date and any timeline in the advert as your guide for following up.

After one or two follow-ups with no reply, move on mentally and keep applying elsewhere. Do not withdraw formally unless you have accepted another offer; just stop actively waiting.

Signs it is time to move on:

• Several weeks with no reply after your follow-ups.
• The portal shows "position closed" or "filled".
• The advert has been taken down and no one replies.

Moving on does not mean you were not good enough. Many processes stall for reasons unrelated to candidates. Keep a positive record so you can respond well if they contact you later.

Send one follow-up that lists the roles together, rather than separate messages for each. This keeps your communication tidy and shows you are organised.

Example:
"Dear Recruitment Team,

I applied for the Payroll Officer (Ref PO-11) and HR Administrator (Ref HA-07) roles on 1 November. I wanted to confirm my interest in both and ask whether there is an update on either application.

Kind regards,
Ritu Bose"

If one role is clearly a better fit, you can say so: "The Payroll Officer role is my first preference, given my four years in payroll." This helps the recruiter.

Thank the interviewer if you have a contact, then follow up once after the date they mentioned, by phone or email. Walk-in interviews often move quickly, so short and prompt communication works best.

Tips:

• Collect a name, email or phone number before leaving the interview, if possible.
• Send a brief thank-you message the same day.
• If they said "we will call within a week", wait until then, plus a day or two.
• Keep your phone switched on and answer unknown numbers politely during this period.

Example message: "Good afternoon, I attended your walk-in interview for Security Supervisor on 10 November and wanted to ask whether there is any update. Thank you."

Follow the programme's timeline if one is published; otherwise send a short, polite email one to two weeks after applying. Internship processes may run on academic calendars, so timing is key.

Example:
"Dear Mr Lee,

I applied for the Summer Marketing Internship on 15 February and wanted to confirm my continued interest. I am available from 1 June to 31 August and would be happy to provide any further information.

Kind regards,
Amal Haddad"

Use your university careers office if the internship was advertised through it; they may know the employer's timeline. Avoid following up repeatedly; internship coordinators often handle many students.

Keep your original subject by replying in the same thread, or use a clear new subject with the role and your name. The recruiter should recognise it instantly.

Examples:

• "Re: Application – Electrician – Ref EL-04 – Imran Ali" (reply in thread)
• "Follow-up: Data Analyst application – Sofia Martins"
• "Following up – Interview for Store Manager on 3 November – Paul Reid"

Avoid:

• "Any update???"
• "Urgent: please reply"
• "Hello again"

A clear subject makes it easy for the recruiter to find your original application and respond.

Usually wait until the closing date has passed. Before that, the employer is still collecting applications, and they may not start reviewing until the deadline.

Exceptions:

• You have a genuine question that affects your application, such as an unclear requirement.
• You need to correct an error in what you submitted.
• The advert says applications are reviewed as they arrive and the role is urgent.

If you must contact them early, make it a question, not a request for a decision. Use the waiting time to prepare for a possible interview instead.

Send one short, polite message in the same chat, mentioning the role and date you applied. Keep it as professional as an email, and do not send voice notes unless they were requested.

Example:
"Good morning. I sent my CV for the Restaurant Supervisor position on 2 November. I wanted to check whether there is any update. Thank you for your time. – Joel Mathew"

Tips:

• Send during working hours.
• Do not send repeated messages if you see your message was read but not answered; wait several days.
• Do not call the number unless calls were invited.

If the business also listed an email address, a follow-up there can be a good alternative.

Keep your search active until you have a signed offer. Waiting for one employer can cost you weeks, and having other options also strengthens your position if your top choice makes an offer.

Practical approach:

• Set a weekly target of tailored applications that suits your schedule.
• Keep your resume versions organised and up to date.
• Track all applications and follow-up dates in one place.
• Prepare general interview answers so you can respond quickly to invitations.

If you receive another offer first, be honest with both employers about timing. It is normal to be in several processes at the same time.

Only if your CV has changed meaningfully since you applied, such as a new job, qualification or major achievement. Otherwise, a follow-up without attachments is cleaner.

If you do attach a new CV:

• Mention what changed in one sentence.
• Name the file clearly, such as "Nadia-Karim-CV-Updated-Nov.pdf".
• Make sure it is tailored to the same role.

Example line: "I have attached an updated CV that includes my recent promotion to Senior Technician."

If you keep your resume in ResumeBuilder.ae, you can edit it and download again within 7 days of paying, up to 10 attempts, without paying again.

Thank the employer if they told you, ask to be considered for future roles if you are still interested, and move on. It is disappointing, but it happens to everyone.

Example reply:
"Thank you for letting me know. I enjoyed learning about your team, and I would be glad to be considered for similar roles in future."

Tips:

• Do not ask why they chose someone else unless you had an interview; even then, ask for feedback politely, not reasons.
• Update your tracker and review whether your application could be stronger next time.
• Keep the relationship positive; recruiters remember gracious candidates.