How to Follow Up After Applying for a Job

Why You Haven't Heard Back

You submitted your application three days ago. You've been refreshing your email every hour. The silence feels personal. It's not.

Here's what's actually happening on the other side: the job posting is collecting anywhere from 100 to 500+ applications. The recruiter is screening them in batches, not in real time. The hiring manager might not have even looked at the first batch yet because they're in back-to-back meetings all week. Internal approvals, competing priorities, and scheduling logistics all add friction.

The average time from application to first response is 1-2 weeks for roles that are actively being filled. For some companies, it stretches to 3-4 weeks. And yes, some companies never respond at all -- but that's a separate problem.

Following up is appropriate and often effective. But timing and tone make the difference between "proactive candidate" and "annoying candidate."

When to Follow Up

Timing depends on the situation:

The key principle: give them enough time to reasonably have reviewed your application, but not so much time that you've been forgotten.

Following up on a Monday or Tuesday morning tends to work better than Friday afternoon. People are more responsive early in the week.

Who to Contact

This matters more than most candidates realize. Sending a follow-up to [email protected] is like shouting into a void. Those inboxes are often unmonitored or checked sporadically.

Finding the Right Person

Your best targets, in order of priority:

1. The hiring manager (the person you'd report to)
2. The recruiter or talent acquisition specialist listed on the job posting
3. An internal connection who can forward your message or nudge the process

To find the hiring manager, look at the job posting for team or department information, then search LinkedIn for people with manager or director titles in that department at that company. You can often find the right person within 5 minutes.

Getting Their Email

Most corporate email addresses follow a pattern. If you know one person's email format at a company ([email protected] vs. [email protected]), you can usually construct anyone's. Tools like Hunter.io or Clearbit Connect can verify email formats, but you can also just try the most common pattern:

Common email formats (try in this order):
1. [email protected]
2. [email protected]
3. [email protected]
4. [email protected]

If you can't find a direct email, a LinkedIn message to the hiring manager or recruiter is a perfectly acceptable alternative. Keep it concise -- LinkedIn messages that scroll require effort to read on mobile.

What to Write

A good follow-up email does three things: it reminds them you applied, it adds something new, and it's short enough to read in 30 seconds.

The Structure

Subject line: Direct and specific. "Following Up: [Job Title] Application - [Your Name]"

Opening: One sentence establishing context. You applied, you're following up.

Middle: One to two sentences adding value. Don't just ask "any updates?" -- give them a reason to click on your application.

Close: A clear, low-pressure ask. You're requesting consideration, not demanding a response.

A Strong Example

Subject: Following Up: Senior Product Manager Application - Sarah Chen

Hi David,

I applied for the Senior Product Manager role last week and wanted to follow up briefly. I'm particularly drawn to this role because of Acme's expansion into the healthcare vertical -- I spent three years building HIPAA-compliant product workflows at my current company and would love to bring that experience to your team.

I'd welcome the chance to discuss how my background aligns with what you're looking for. My resume is attached for easy reference.

Thank you for your time, Sarah

This works because it's specific (references the healthcare vertical), adds value (mentions directly relevant experience), and doesn't pressure for an immediate response.

What Not to Write

• "Just checking in on my application status" (adds no value, easy to ignore)
• "I'm really passionate about this opportunity" (everyone says this, it means nothing)
• "I know I'd be a great fit" (that's for them to decide)
• "I haven't heard back and I'm wondering if there's been a mistake" (presumptuous)
• Anything longer than 150 words (they won't read it)

The Second Follow-Up

If your first follow-up gets no response, you get one more shot. Wait 7-10 business days after your first follow-up before sending the second.

The second follow-up should be even shorter than the first. You can reference new information -- maybe the company just announced something relevant, or you completed a certification that's listed in the job requirements.

Subject: Re: Following Up: Senior Product Manager Application - Sarah Chen

Hi David,

I wanted to circle back one more time on the Senior Product Manager role.
I noticed Acme just announced the partnership with MedTech Solutions --
congratulations. My experience integrating third-party health platforms
would be directly relevant to that initiative.

I'd love to chat if the role is still open. Either way, I appreciate
your time.

Best,
Sarah

After two follow-ups with no response, stop. Sending a third email crosses from persistent into pushy. The lack of response is itself a response, even if it's not the one you wanted.

Following Up After a Referral

If someone inside the company referred you, your follow-up strategy shifts. You have more standing, and you can be more direct.

Leverage the Connection

Mention the referral in your first follow-up: "Alex Johnson on the engineering team referred me and spoke highly of the team's work on [project]." This immediately differentiates your email from the hundreds of cold follow-ups in the recruiter's inbox.

Keep Your Referral in the Loop

Let the person who referred you know that you followed up. They may be willing to send a quick internal message on your behalf: "Hey, I referred Sarah for the PM role -- she's great, can you make sure her application gets a look?" Internal nudges are often more effective than any email you could send.

Following Up After an Interview

This is different from following up on an application. After an interview, you should:

1. Send a thank-you email within 24 hours. This isn't optional. Reference something specific from the conversation.
2. If they gave you a timeline, respect it. "We'll decide by Friday" means you wait until Monday to follow up.
3. If they didn't give a timeline, ask for one. At the end of the interview: "What does the timeline look like for next steps?" This gives you a clear follow-up window.

If You're Waiting on an Offer

When you're in the final stages and waiting for an offer, it's appropriate to be a bit more forward:

"I'm very excited about this role and wanted to check in on timing. I do have another process moving forward, and [Company] is my first choice -- I'd love to make sure the timing works out."

This isn't a bluff (don't say it if it isn't true), but it does communicate urgency without being pushy. Hiring managers understand that good candidates have options.

When Silence Means No

Not every company sends rejection emails. In fact, many don't -- especially for the application stage. If you've followed up twice with no response, the most productive thing you can do is redirect that energy into new applications.

This doesn't mean you burn the bridge. Companies re-open roles, create new positions, and sometimes circle back to candidates months later. Your professional follow-ups are now on record, and they paint a picture of someone who was interested, proactive, and respectful of the process.

The best antidote to waiting anxiety is volume. If you're applying to enough roles, no single application carries the weight of your entire job search.

Sources

• Harvard Business Review: The Right Way to Follow Up After a Job Interview -- Evidence-based guidance on follow-up timing and messaging, with data on how hiring managers perceive candidate persistence
• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey -- BLS data on job openings, hiring rates, and application-to-hire timelines across industries
• SHRM: Communicating with Job Applicants -- SHRM best practices on the hiring process timeline and what candidates should expect during the application review period

A strong follow-up only works if your resume got you on the radar in the first place. Superpower Resume helps you tailor your resume for every application so you're following up from a position of strength.