{"id":534,"date":"2026-06-13T20:34:57","date_gmt":"2026-06-13T20:34:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/follow-up-email-after-job-application\/"},"modified":"2026-07-17T05:28:28","modified_gmt":"2026-07-17T05:28:28","slug":"follow-up-email-after-job-application","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/follow-up-email-after-job-application\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Write a Follow-Up Email After Submitting a Job Application"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Follow-Up Email After Submitting A Job Application is a key focus of this guide. Sending a follow-up email after a job application is one of those moves that most candidates skip because they are not sure if it is appropriate or when to do it. Done right, a follow-up can move your application from the pile to the top. Here is exactly how to do it.<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/job-search-strategy.jpg\" alt=\"Person planning a job search strategy in a notebook\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/follow-up-email-after-job-application\/#Wait_Five_to_Seven_Business_Days_After_Applying\" >Wait Five to Seven Business Days After Applying<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/follow-up-email-after-job-application\/#Find_the_Right_Person_to_Contact\" >Find the Right Person to Contact<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/follow-up-email-after-job-application\/#Keep_the_Email_Very_Short\" >Keep the Email Very Short<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/follow-up-email-after-job-application\/#Reference_Something_That_Reinforces_Your_Fit\" >Reference Something That Reinforces Your Fit<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/follow-up-email-after-job-application\/#Do_Not_Follow_Up_More_Than_Once_on_an_Initial_Application\" >Do Not Follow Up More Than Once on an Initial Application<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/follow-up-email-after-job-application\/#Read_next\" >Read next<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/follow-up-email-after-job-application\/#Frequently_Asked_Questions\" >Frequently Asked Questions<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/follow-up-email-after-job-application\/#How_long_does_a_recruiter_spend_looking_at_a_resume\" >How long does a recruiter spend looking at a resume?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/follow-up-email-after-job-application\/#What_do_recruiters_look_for_first_on_a_resume\" >What do recruiters look for first on a resume?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/follow-up-email-after-job-application\/#Should_I_include_a_summary_at_the_top_of_my_resume\" >Should I include a summary at the top of my resume?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/follow-up-email-after-job-application\/#How_many_bullet_points_should_each_job_have\" >How many bullet points should each job have?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/follow-up-email-after-job-application\/#Get_your_free_resume_review_from_a_real_recruiter\" >Get your free resume review from a real recruiter<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Wait_Five_to_Seven_Business_Days_After_Applying\"><\/span>Wait Five to Seven Business Days After Applying<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The right window for a follow-up is five to seven business days after submitting your application. This gives the recruiter or hiring manager time to process applications and shows that you are interested but not desperate. Following up the next day reads as impatient.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Find_the_Right_Person_to_Contact\"><\/span>Find the Right Person to Contact<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ideally, you send your follow-up directly to the hiring manager or recruiter listed in the posting. LinkedIn is the best place to find their contact information or at least their email format. If you cannot find a direct contact, the general company careers email is acceptable, though less effective. For more on this, see our guide on <a href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/how-to-follow-up-after-job-application\/\">follow up after submitting a job application<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Keep_the_Email_Very_Short\"><\/span>Keep the Email Very Short<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Three sentences is enough: reference the role you applied for and the date, express continued interest, and offer to provide any additional information they need. That is it. A long follow-up is not more impressive than a short one. Recruiters are busy and a tight, professional email is more respectful of their time.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Reference_Something_That_Reinforces_Your_Fit\"><\/span>Reference Something That Reinforces Your Fit<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In one sentence, remind them of your most relevant qualification or your connection to the company. &#8220;I wanted to reiterate my strong interest in the Operations Manager role. My background managing multi-site logistics for a 200-person team seems directly relevant to what you are building.&#8221; This is a reminder, not a full pitch.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_Not_Follow_Up_More_Than_Once_on_an_Initial_Application\"><\/span>Do Not Follow Up More Than Once on an Initial Application<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you do not hear back after your follow-up, that is the signal. One follow-up after an application is professional. Two is pushing it. Moving on mentally while keeping the application active is healthier than repeated outreach that is unlikely to change the outcome. For more on this, see our guide on <a href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/how-to-follow-up-after-job-application-2\/\">follow up after applying for a job<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Read_next\"><\/span>Read next<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><ul class=\"wp-block-list atr-read-next\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/subject-line-job-application-email\/\">How to Write a Subject Line for a Job Application Email<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/thank-you-email-after-interview-4\/\">How to Write a Thank You Email After a Job Interview<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/common-job-application-mistakes\/\">Common Job Application Mistakes and How to Fix Them<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Frequently_Asked_Questions\"><\/span>Frequently Asked Questions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_long_does_a_recruiter_spend_looking_at_a_resume\"><\/span>How long does a recruiter spend looking at a resume?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Recruiters typically spend 6-10 seconds on an initial scan. They look for job title relevance, company names, and whether the most recent role is at the right level for the position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_do_recruiters_look_for_first_on_a_resume\"><\/span>What do recruiters look for first on a resume?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most recruiters look first at your most recent job title and company, then check dates for gaps or progression, then assess whether the experience level matches what they need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Should_I_include_a_summary_at_the_top_of_my_resume\"><\/span>Should I include a summary at the top of my resume?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes, for experienced candidates. A 2-3 sentence summary that speaks directly to your target role helps recruiters understand your value instantly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_many_bullet_points_should_each_job_have\"><\/span>How many bullet points should each job have?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">3-5 bullets for recent roles, 1-2 for older ones. Each bullet should describe an accomplishment or outcome, not just a task or responsibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The visible job market, meaning the postings on LinkedIn and Indeed that everyone can see, represents only about a third of available opportunities at any given time. The other two-thirds exist in conversations that happen before a role is posted, often because a manager told their network they are planning to hire, or because a company is considering creating a new position. Getting access to that hidden market requires a proactive outreach strategy, not just application tracking.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A common mistake I see job seekers make is treating their search like a numbers game. Sending 50 generic applications a week feels productive, but the conversion rate is often less than one percent. Sending ten targeted, customized applications to roles where you have a genuine connection, a referral, or a specific point of differentiation will almost always generate more interviews and better outcomes.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tracking your applications in a spreadsheet is not optional, it is essential. Document the company, role, date applied, and contact name for every application. Follow up on every application where you have a specific contact. Set a calendar reminder to check in seven to ten days after applying. Candidates who follow up thoughtfully get callbacks at a significantly higher rate than those who apply and wait. For more on this, see our guide on <a href=\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/job-application-email-gets-read\/\">write a job application email that gets read<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Get_your_free_resume_review_from_a_real_recruiter\"><\/span>Get your free resume review from a real recruiter<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At AskTheRecruiter.com, every resume review is done by a human recruiter with years of hiring experience. You&#8217;ll get honest, specific feedback you can act on right away. No automated scoring, no generic tips.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-white-color has-vivid-red-background-color has-text-color has-background\" href=\"\/get-your-resume-reviewed\/\">Get My Free Resume Review<\/a><\/div><\/div><script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"atr-schema-jsonld\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"FAQPage\",\"mainEntity\":[{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"How long does a recruiter spend looking at a resume?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Recruiters typically spend 6-10 seconds on an initial scan. They look for job title relevance, company names, and whether the most recent role is at the right level for the position.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What do recruiters look for first on a resume?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Most recruiters look first at your most recent job title and company, then check dates for gaps or progression, then assess whether the experience level matches what they need.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Should I include a summary at the top of my resume?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Yes, for experienced candidates. A 2-3 sentence summary that speaks directly to your target role helps recruiters understand your value instantly.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"How many bullet points should each job have?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"3-5 bullets for recent roles, 1-2 for older ones. Each bullet should describe an accomplishment or outcome, not just a task or responsibility.\"}}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Job Search\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/category\/job-search\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"How to Write a Follow-Up Email After Submitting a Job Application\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/follow-up-email-after-job-application\/\"}]}]}<\/script>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Learn how to write a follow-up email after submitting a job application. Get timing guidance, a short example, and tips on who to contact for better response rates.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7690,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[25,17,31],"class_list":["post-534","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-job-search","tag-job-application","tag-job-search-tips","tag-networking"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/534","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=534"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/534\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5522,"href":"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/534\/revisions\/5522"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7690"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=534"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=534"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/asktherecruiter.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=534"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}