The follow-up email that actually gets a reply
A good follow-up is short, specific, and easy to say yes to. A bad one just asks "any update?" — which gives the reader nothing to reply to.
The four-line structure
- Line 1 — warm opener. Reference the specific role and, if you interviewed, one real detail from the conversation.
- Line 2 — restate fit briefly. One sentence on why you're a match, in the posting's own language.
- Line 3 — the easy ask. "Is there anything else I can share to help the decision?" beats "any update?" — it invites a reply.
- Line 4 — gracious close. Thank them for their time; no guilt, no pressure.
Copy-paste template
"Hi [Name] — thanks again for the conversation about the [Role] role; I especially enjoyed [specific detail]. I'm still very interested, and I think my experience in [skill] lines up well with what you described. Is there anything else I can share to help? Appreciate your time either way. — [You]"
Timing and limits
Send it ~5–10 business days after applying or interviewing. Follow up once, maybe twice — never five times. If there's still silence two weeks after your follow-up, treat it as a no and move forward. Persistent silence across a company's roles is worth logging, too.
Guidance from the GhostProofJob résumé team.
Ready to act on this? Our free Résumé Strength Checker scores your résumé in seconds — no account needed — and the app tailors it to any role in a couple of minutes.