How to Follow Up After Submitting a Cover Letter and CV
Submitting your cover letter and CV and then waiting is frustrating. The follow-up question — should you contact the employer, and if so how and when — is one many candidates get wrong in both directions.
When Following Up Is Appropriate
Following up is appropriate when:
- You applied directly (by email, not through an anonymous job board portal)
- You have a specific contact at the company (name and email)
- A reasonable amount of time has passed since the stated closing date
- The employer's instructions did not explicitly say "do not contact us directly"
Following up is not appropriate when:
- The application was submitted through an anonymous portal with no direct contact information
- The job description explicitly states not to contact the employer directly
- You have applied very recently (within the first week of an open application window)
How Long to Wait
If the job description gives a closing date: wait until two to three days after that date before following up.
If there is no closing date: one to two weeks after applying is a reasonable minimum. Most hiring processes at large employers take longer than this — following up in the first week signals impatience rather than enthusiasm.
What to Say in a Follow-Up
Keep it brief and professional. You are checking in, not reapplying:
Subject: "Follow-up: [Role Title] Application — [Your Name]"
"Dear [Name], I submitted my application for the [Role] position on [date] and wanted to confirm that it was received and to reiterate my strong interest in the role. I would be glad to provide any additional information if helpful. Thank you for your time."
This is direct, professional, and non-pushy. It achieves two things: it confirms receipt of your application and it keeps your name in front of the hiring contact.
After the Follow-Up
One follow-up is appropriate. Two follow-ups, if the first goes unanswered, is the maximum. After that, move on. Persistent follow-up damages your candidacy and professional reputation.
Build your CV free at CVCircuit and generate a cover letter for your initial application — then follow up strategically if appropriate.