How to follow up on a job application (with examples)

Most applications are never answered, and most applicants never follow up. With roughly 300 applications per hire on some hiring platforms, according to our 2026 labour market study, a short, specific note to a real person is one of the few things that separates you from the pile.

When to follow up

If the posting gives a closing date, wait until a few days after it. If it says “no calls or emails”, respect that.

Who to write to

A named person, in this order of preference:

1. The recruiter on the posting or the confirmation message.
2. The hiring manager for the team, if you can identify them.
3. Someone you know at the company who can pass your name along.

A message to a careers@ mailbox is better than nothing, but only just. Finding the right person takes a few minutes on the company’s site or a professional network, and it is the step that makes the follow-up work.

What to say

Three sentences are enough: what you applied for, why you fit, what you are asking.

After applying:

Hi [name], I applied for the [role] position on [date] and wanted to introduce myself. I’ve spent [n] years doing [the main thing the role needs], most recently [one concrete result]. I’d welcome the chance to talk, and I’m happy to send anything that would help.

Second note, a week later:

Hi [name], a quick follow-up on my application for [role]. I remain very interested. If the position has been filled, I’d be grateful to know. Thank you for your time.

After an interview:

Hi [name], thank you for the conversation today. I especially enjoyed hearing about [something specific]. It confirmed my interest in the role, and I look forward to the next step.

For what to do when an interview is followed by silence, see Ghosted after an interview.

What not to do

• Do not send the same message to five people at one company. They compare notes.
• Do not follow up daily. Two messages a week apart is the limit.
• Do not paste your whole resume into the email. One reason you fit, then stop.
• Do not sound aggrieved. “I haven’t heard back” reads as a complaint. “I wanted to follow up” does not.
• Do not call unless the posting invites it.

Keeping track

Following up only works if you know what you sent, to whom and when. For five applications a notebook will do. For fifty it falls apart, usually around week three.

Glide keeps every application, reply and follow-up in one record. It reads employer replies, notices when a thread has gone quiet, finds the recruiter or hiring manager for the role and drafts the follow-up for you to send. You stay the one who decides what goes out.

Common questions

How long should I wait before following up on a job application?

About a week after applying, or a few days after the posting’s closing date if it has one.

Is it annoying to follow up on a job application?

One short, polite message is normal and often appreciated. It becomes a nuisance when it is repeated, long or demanding.

Should I follow up by email or phone?

Email, unless the posting gives a number and invites calls. Email lets the person answer when they can and gives them your details in writing.

What if I cannot find a contact?

Reply to the application confirmation if it came from a real address, or use the company’s general careers address. Then spend the saved time on an application where you can reach a person.