How to follow up after sending your resume
When a recruiter doesn’t reply, it usually means they haven’t got to your email yet. A short, polite follow-up a week later is normal, and it often gets the reply the first email didn’t.
When to follow up
- Wait five to seven working days after your first email.
- If there’s still nothing, send one more a week after that.
- After two follow-ups, stop and move on. You can always write again when a new role opens.
If the post gave a deadline or an interview date, follow up a day or two after that date instead.
Reply in the same thread
Don’t start a new email. Open the one you sent and hit Reply, so the recruiter sees your original message and resume right underneath. It also keeps everything in one conversation in their inbox instead of two.
What to say
Keep it to two or three sentences. Remind them which role it’s about, say you’re still interested, and if you can, add one new thing: a certification you’ve finished, a project, or an earlier joining date.
Subject Re: Frontend Developer application (React, 3 yrs)
Hi Priya, Just following up on my email below about the frontend developer role at Acme. I’m still very interested and happy to share anything else that would help. Thanks for your time, Alex
Subject Re: Frontend Developer application (React, 3 yrs)
Hi Priya, I know you’re busy, so this will be my last note. Since I wrote, I’ve finished the AWS Cloud Practitioner certification, which seemed relevant to the role. If the position has been filled, I’d be glad to be considered for future openings on the team. Best, Alex
What not to do
- Don’t follow up the next day.
- Don’t email several people at the same company on the same day.
- Don’t guilt-trip (“I still haven’t heard back…”). Assume they’re busy, because they are.
- Don’t message them on LinkedIn, email and WhatsApp all at once. Pick one.
Knowing who opened your email
Some tools tell you whether your email was opened, which helps you decide who to nudge. Treat it as a rough signal. Some email apps block the tracking image and others load it automatically, so an email can show as opened or not opened when the opposite is true.
PostToHired marks every email you sent as Opened or Not opened yet, lets you filter to the people who haven’t opened it, and its Follow up button opens the original Gmail conversation with your follow-up message filled in, ready for you to review and send.