Most follow-ups don't help. The recruiter is buried, the application sits in an ATS, and your "Just checking in!" lands in a folder that nobody reads.

The follow-ups that do help are short, well-timed, and re-state what you bring — so the recruiter has a reason to find your resume in their queue. Here's how to do it.

When to follow up

First follow-up: 7-10 business days after submitting.

Anything earlier is too soon. Most recruiters batch-review applications weekly, sometimes biweekly. Following up at day 3 just looks anxious.

Second follow-up (optional): 21 days after submitting, if you've heard nothing.

After that, stop. If you haven't heard back after two follow-ups, the answer is no. Move on. There are 5M+ open jobs out there — swipe through some on Sorce instead of refreshing your inbox.

What to include in the follow-up

A good follow-up has four short paragraphs:

  1. Subject line that names the role. "Following up on Software Engineer application — Maya Chen" beats "Just checking in."
  2. One line restating you applied and when. Helps the recruiter find your resume.
  3. One specific reason you're a fit. Not "I'm passionate about your mission." A specific thing — a project, a number, a relevant experience.
  4. A clear ask. "Is there anything else I can send?" Or "Happy to share writing samples or talk through the role." Not "Just wanted to bump this up."

Email template (use this, edit lightly)

Subject: Following up on [Role] application — [Your Name]

Hi [Recruiter Name],

I applied for the [Role] position on [Date] and wanted to follow up. I'm still very interested in the role and the team.

A bit more on why I think I'm a fit: [one specific thing — a project you led, a metric you hit, a tool you use that they require, an experience that's directly relevant]. Happy to send a writing sample, walk through a relevant project, or jump on a quick call if useful.

Thanks for considering — let me know if there's anything else you need from me.

Best, [Your Name] [LinkedIn URL]

That's the whole email. Not 8 paragraphs. Not "I'm super excited about the opportunity to contribute to your innovative culture." A specific reason, a clear ask, gone.

LinkedIn fallback

If you don't have the recruiter's email but you can find them on LinkedIn:

Hi [Recruiter], I applied for the [Role] role on [Date] and wanted to make sure my application landed. Quick reason I think I'm a fit: [one specific thing]. Open to questions or sending more info — thanks!

Connect-and-message is fine. Don't pay for InMail.

Common mistakes that hurt your chances

  • "Just checking in." Useless phrasing. Replace with a specific value statement.
  • Following up at day 3. Too soon. The recruiter hasn't looked.
  • Following up 4+ times. You're now a problem. Stop.
  • Generic flattery. "Your culture is amazing" — they've heard it. Be specific.
  • Re-sending the entire resume in the email. Recruiter has it. A link to your LinkedIn or portfolio is plenty.
  • Asking for "feedback" before they've decided. Don't. Ask once you have a yes or no.

What if they say "we'll be in touch"?

That's a soft yes/no. Wait the timeline they gave; if they didn't give one, follow up at day 10 anyway with a different angle — something new you've added to your portfolio, a relevant article, a question about the role. New information is always a stronger reason to email than "any update?"

When following up is a waste of time

If the company posted the role 60+ days ago and there's been no movement, it's probably either filled or frozen. Following up doesn't change that.

If the role has reposted with the same description, that's also a frozen-then-restarted process. The new posting starts a new clock; treat your old application as dead.

The bigger pattern

Follow-ups matter — but they matter less than applying to more roles in the first place. One follow-up at the right moment can move you up a queue. Ten more applications can put you in front of ten more queues.

This is what Sorce was built for. 40 free swipes a day, our AI agent applies on the ones you swipe right, and you spend your follow-up energy on the 2-3 roles that actually matter.

For more on the apply side: how to fill out a job application, how long to wait after submitting, and how many applications it really takes to get a job.