How to Follow Up on a Job Application: Key Tips to Show Your Interest

If you're actively applying for jobs, waiting to hear back about an interview can be challenging, especially when you come across a posting that sounds like a great fit. Following up on a job application can be a good use of your time when you are a strong match and the job aligns well with your career goals.

Learn more about how to follow up on an application when you haven't yet been invited to interview, and other tips to stay top-of-mind with recruiters and hiring managers. Afterward, keep developing your skill set with a Coursera Plus subscription and gain access to over 10,000 courses.

Build job-ready skills with Coursera Plus

Start 7-day free trial

• 
• 
• 
• 

Start 7-day free trial

Following up on a job application

Applying for jobs is a time-consuming undertaking, especially now that the process has grown more competitive in recent years thanks to technology like applicant tracking systems. Even as a strong candidate, you may need to take additional steps, like contacting the hiring manager directly, to make your interest and fit known.

There are three possible follow-up scenarios when it comes to job hunting:

• Job application follow-up: You've submitted a job application—usually through an online portal—but you haven't heard from a recruiter about next steps, like a phone screen. While you don't want to follow up with every single job you apply to, identifying which jobs feel like the strongest fit and reaching out to the recruiter or hiring manager can be a good use of your time.

• Recruiter follow-up: Once you've been invited to interview, which usually involves a phone screen with a recruiter or HR professional, you may want to follow up with them to continue conveying your enthusiasm about the opportunity and highlight your interest in moving on to the next interview round.

• Interview follow-up: Once you've formally moved into the interview process and started meeting with the hiring manager and other potential team members, it's good practice—and courtesy—to send follow-up emails after each interview.

How to follow up on a job application

Generally, you don't want to follow up on every single job application you submit. But if you see postings that are exciting, seem like a particularly strong fit, or align with your career goals, then you'll want to take note of those and plan to follow up. Now, let's review how.

1. Wait at least two weeks after applying.

Companies and hiring managers balance many moving parts during the hiring process. Although the process will differ by company, an ATS typically first screens applicants, then a recruiter reviews the remaining resumes and meets with the hiring manager to identify top candidates. This process takes around 1-3 weeks, but it will vary depending on a company's size and priorities.

Experts recommend waiting around two weeks before following up about your application. While it can be tempting to reach out sooner, waiting at least two weeks shows that you're patient while giving potential employers time to work through the process on their end.

Also worth noting: It’s a good idea to reread the job posting before initiating contact. Some companies will request that you do not follow up. If they don’t mention anything about it, then you should feel comfortable reaching out.

2. Identify the hiring manager from the job posting.

When enough time has passed, it's important to reach out to the right person. Most often, you'll want to locate the hiring manager, who is responsible for filling the open position.

To find the hiring manager, first check to see who posted the job. If the poster is not the hiring manager, see if you can identify the managing title your potential role will report to from the posting, and then cross-reference by searching for the company's employees and looking for that title. Their direct email address may be listed there, or you may be able to find their contact details on the company's website. If not, you can still send them a message through the platform. Ensure your LinkedIn profile is up to date, as the hiring manager will likely peruse your page.

Learn more: How to Reach Out to a Recruiter on LinkedIn

3. Choose the best outreach method.

You can use several ways to follow up after submitting your application. However, in a world where the application process relies heavily on technology, recruiters and hiring managers usually prefer email follow-ups. That being said, depending on the job you're applying for, picking up the phone or visiting the store may also be acceptable.

If you send an email, do so after the start of business hours in the morning so your message doesn't get lost in their inbox as the day gets busier. And no matter how you reach out, be mindful about only doing so during business hours.

4. Work on refining your message.

When you reach out, you'll want to align the formality of your address to the company or industry you're applying to. For a more traditional company, considering using a formal salutation, such as "Dear Ms. Last Name" or "Dear Mr. Last Name." If, however, the company works in a more modern industry, a more informal greeting using their first name may be preferable.

To craft your follow-up email to a job application, you'll want to include several key elements:

• Reference the specific position

• Express your interest

• Add value rather than just checking status

• Include a clear call to action

Follow-up message example:

Dear Ms. Johnson,

I recently applied for the junior UX designer position at Company A and wanted to follow up on my application. After reading about Company A's recent launch of the mobile banking app redesign, I'm particularly excited about the possibility of contributing to your team's user-centered approach.

My experience leading the redesign of Company B's customer portal, which reduced user error rates by 45% and increased customer satisfaction scores by 32%, aligns well with your focus on measurable improvements. I'd welcome the opportunity to discuss how my background in financial technology interfaces could benefit your upcoming projects.

I've included a [link] to my latest case study on streamlining complex transaction flows for a preview of my work and problem-solving approach. Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to potentially discussing how I can contribute to Company A's incredible UX design work.

Best regards,

Sarah Chen

How to follow up on a job application by phone

Another option is to follow up by phone, though phone calls are typically less popular than emails, as unplanned calls may catch a hiring manager off guard. They may not have your application readily available, can forget key details of your call when they refer to your application later, or it may simply be a bad time for them.

Still, if you do choose to call, have your discussion points ready so you can have a quick, productive conversation. Thank the hiring manager for their time before wrapping up the call. Be mindful of the company's business hours and keep all calls before 4:00 p.m. in the company’s time zone.

How to follow up on a job application in person

If the job you’re applying to is local, such as a retail store, you may choose to follow up in person. To follow up with your application in person, ask to see the hiring manager. If they’re unavailable at the time, ask when they might be available and return then. Try to keep it casual and be understanding of busy schedules.

Job application follow-up tips

Explore tips to keep in mind as you follow up on job applications:

1. Keep your follow-up short and sweet.  

Hiring managers are usually in communication with many people and multiple candidates. Keeping correspondence brief shows that you respect their time. Be friendly, but try to sidestep delving into personal stories and experiences. Limiting the conversation to a professional discussion will serve both parties well. 

2. Highlight your eligibility and interest.  

Every communication with the hiring manager is an opportunity to advocate for your interest in the desired role. It’s essential to be informed about the company, demonstrate your skills, and connect your experience with the job description. Following up can be a great way to highlight your eligibility and interest in the job and to ask about their anticipated hiring timeline.

3. Invite clarification.

An essential part of following up on your job application is asking your recruiter if they have any questions for you. Be ready to expand on any parts of your resume. This is an opportunity to showcase your qualifications and skills even more.

4. Express gratitude. 

Hiring managers are not only seeking the most qualified candidate; they’re looking for applicants who are pleasant to interact with and enthusiastic about the job. It’s always good to conclude your emails to the hiring manager with gratitude.

Expand your skill set on Coursera

Develop or advance your skill set by learning from industry leaders, like Google, IBM, and Microsoft, and esteemed university partners. There are many different ways to learn a new skill, strengthen an existing one, get comfortable with a new technology, or even invest in a personal passion. Join for free to get personalized recommendations about how to keep growing. 

Build job-ready skills with Coursera Plus

Start 7-day free trial

• 
• 
• 
• 

Start 7-day free trial