How to Follow Up After Applying Without Being Annoying

Many applications get no reply at all. A polite follow-up will not annoy a recruiter, and sometimes it is the reason your CV gets opened.

When to follow up

• After applying: wait about one week.
• After an interview: send a thank-you message the same day, then follow up if you hear nothing after the date they gave you.
• If no date was given, wait about one week after the interview.

Who to contact

The recruiter or hiring manager if you have their email or LinkedIn. If you applied through a portal with no contact, a short message to the company's recruitment page or a recruiter at the company on LinkedIn is fine.

What to write

Keep it to three or four sentences:

"Hello [name], I applied for the [role] position on [date] and wanted to confirm my interest. I recently [one relevant thing: finished a project, earned a certificate]. I would be glad to share anything else you need. Thank you for your time."

What not to do

• Do not follow up every few days.
• Do not ask "Did you read my CV?"
• Do not send your full CV again unless they ask.
• Do not sound upset about the delay.

When to move on

If you follow up twice and hear nothing, move on and keep applying. Silence is usually about the company's process, not about you.