Sample Email and Letter to Follow Up on a Job Application

It’s frustrating to send in a job application and not hear back from the company. When that happens, you have two options as an applicant: continue waiting or send a follow-up letter. 

What's the best way to follow-up? If you choose to send a follow-up, you’ll need to walk a fine line. While you want to remind the hiring manager of your interest and qualifications, you do not want that person to feel hounded. 

Get tips on how to send a follow-up letter that strikes that perfect balance below, plus review a sample note and template to help you write your own persuasive message.

How to Write a Follow-Up Email

Be polite. Avoid accusing the employer of forgetting your application or ignoring you. Assume the best—that the hiring manager is simply busy and has not yet had time to read your application or respond to you. Be extremely polite throughout the letter. 

Keep it short. The employer is likely very busy and has many applications to read through. Therefore, don’t add to his or her workload with a long letter. Get right to the point, explaining who you are and why you are writing.

Reinforce your skills (briefly). While your letter should be short, it's a good idea to briefly reiterate one or two things that make you stand out as a candidate. Emphasize why you are right for the job and/or the company.

Carefully edit and proofread your letter. This letter is a chance for you to make a first (or second) impression on the employer. Make sure it is professional and polished and in proper business letter format. Read through the letter carefully before sending it. Triple-check for typos (and in particular, make sure to spell the recipient's name, and the company's name, correctly). 

When to Follow-Up

Send your email or letter promptly. Wait a week or two after sending your job application. If you don’t hear back by then, consider sending a letter. Keep in mind that it will take at least a couple of days for the letter to get to the company. If you are in a rush, consider following up in a different way. You can also send an email or make a phone call.

Follow up again. If another week or so passes after sending your letter and you still haven’t heard back, you can send another. At that point, you might also follow up in a different way, such as a phone call or email, if you sent a letter the first time.

Follow-Up Letter Template

This is a job application follow-up letter example. Download the follow-up letter template (compatible with Google Docs and Word Online) or see below for more examples.

Sample Follow-Up Letter

Use the sample letter below as a template for your own letter. Be sure to personalize the letter to fit the particular job and company.

Follow-Up Letter Format Guidelines

This template shows the format to use when writing your letter. Edit it to fit your personal circumstances.

Your Name
Your Address
Your City, State Zip Code
Your Phone Number
Your Email

Date

Name
Title
Organization
Address
City, State Zip Code

Dear Mr./Ms. Last Name:

Use the first paragraph to thank the hiring manager for considering your application. Mention your interest in the job and how enthusiastic you are about it.

The second paragraph of your follow-up letter should include the reasons you are an excellent candidate for the job. List specific skills that relate to the job you applied for. The more detailed you are, the more the hiring manager will know about your qualifications.

The third paragraph (optional) can be used to mention anything else you'd like to bring to the attention of the employer. This gives you another chance to make a good impression, especially if you remembered something that may help your case for getting hired that you didn't include in your cover letter.

In your closing paragraph, reiterate your appreciation for being considered for the job and let the reader know you are looking forward to hearing from him or her soon.

Sincerely,

Your Signature (for hard copy letter)

Your Name

Sending an Email Follow-Up Message

If you're sending your follow-up message via email, list your name and the title of the job you applied for in the subject of the message. Your contact information should be listed in your signature. Here is an example of an email subject line for your follow-up: 

Subject: Jane Doe - Programmer Position

Here's an example of an email signature:

Jane Doe
jane.doe@email.com
555-555-5555

More Follow-Up Examples

Here are more examples of follow-up emails and letters to send after applying for a job or after you’ve interviewed.

• Email Follow-Up Template
• Resume Follow-Up Email
• Interview Follow-Up Email
• Email Interview Thank You Note With Follow-Up Information
• Follow-Up and Thank You for an Interview
• Follow-Up Letter After a Job Interview
• Influence Letter for After a Job Interview
• Phone Interview Follow-Up Email Message