By Spike Team , May 21, 2019

You applied for a new role and still haven’t heard back from the employer? Are you getting impatient but not sure how to follow up on the application? Look no further, this is where the almighty follow-up email comes into play!

After applying for a job, the eagerness to find out where your application stands can sometimes make the wait seem nail-bitingly long. When following up on a job application, you don’t want to seem too pushy, but not following up means another candidate might snatch the position away from you. Play your cards right however, and you might just boost your chances of getting that dream job!

Before You Follow Up

It’s important to understand that the hiring process can be lengthy, depending on many factors like the size of the company or the number of applicants. Here are a handful of reasons why you may not have heard back from your prospective employer:

The application deadline has not yet been reached

The employees responsible are ill or on vacation

More candidates than expected have applied for the position

The selection process is taking longer than planned

When Should You Ask?

As a general rule of thumb, you should wait a week or two before making an inquiry. It’s important to give the employer enough time to review the applications. Mark the date on your calendar and send a well-timed follow-up email—it’s a great way to raise your head above of the crowd!

Do’s and Don’ts

Stick to the following guidelines when you write your message:

Do Don’t Be friendly and polite when inquiring about your application status and avoid any implication of criticism. Pester the recruiter. If it’s a small business, allow a minimum of one week before following up, for larger companies, extend this to two weeks. Send a message too quickly. Try to be patient (we know it’s hard!) Express your interest in the position in an unobtrusive way. Simply repeat your cover letter. Reach out to the recruiter with new and interesting information. See if you can get an answer as to the next steps in the application process. Put all your eggs in one basket, keep applying for other roles!

When it comes to the perfect email, and especially if you’re applying for a role with a small business or a young startup that may take a more relaxed and informal approach, make sure your message is clear and concise but also friendly and conversational. Here’s how: