How to follow up on a job application on LinkedIn
When to follow up after applying, who to message on LinkedIn, and what to write so you get a reply instead of a read receipt. With examples for students.
The short answer
Follow up once, five to seven business days after you apply, in the same LinkedIn thread as your first note. Message the recruiter or the hiring manager, not both on the same day. Add one new thing, such as a finished project or a relevant link, and give them an easy way to say no. If there's no reply a week later, send one polite close and move your energy to the next role.
On this page
- Should you follow up on a job application?
- How many days should you wait before following up?
- Who should you follow up with?
- What should a follow-up message say?
- Follow-up examples for every situation
- No reply to your first note
- LinkedIn says your application was viewed
- After an interview
- The polite close
- What if they still don't reply?
- How to make follow-ups automatic, without sounding automatic
- One good follow-up beats five reminders
- FAQ
#Should you follow up on a job application?
Yes, once or twice. A short follow-up reminds a busy person that you exist, gives them a second reason to open your application and shows you can communicate clearly. What hurts is the opposite: daily nudges, guilt trips or a wall of text.
#How many days should you wait before following up?
Five to seven business days after you apply is a good default. If the posting or the recruiter gave a timeline, such as "we'll be in touch within two weeks", wait until that date passes. For internships with a fixed deadline, follow up a few days before the deadline rather than after it.
#Who should you follow up with?
| Person | When to pick them | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| The recruiter | They posted the job or you've already talked | Whether the role is still open and what the timeline is |
| The hiring manager | You can see who leads the team | One question about the team's work, with your application mentioned |
| A teammate | Neither of the above has replied | What the team looks for, and whether they'd suggest anything |
Don't message all three on the same day. If you haven't contacted anyone yet, start with the person one level above the role. For how to find them, see who to message when a job is posted on LinkedIn.
#What should a follow-up message say?
- Reply in the same thread
It keeps your first note right above, so they don't have to search for context.
- Add one new thing
A project you finished, a relevant result or a short write-up. It gives them a reason to reply beyond politeness.
- Offer, don't ask
"Happy to share it if useful" lands better than "any update?"
- Give an easy out
"If the role is filled, no worries at all" makes a reply, even a no, feel effortless.
#Follow-up examples for every situation
These are examples, not real messages.
#No reply to your first note
Hi Jun, following up on my note from last week about the Analytics Intern role. Since then I finished a churn analysis on public SaaS data, and I'm happy to share the one-page summary if useful. If the role is filled, no worries at all.
#LinkedIn says your application was viewed
Hi Dana, I saw my application for the Software Engineering Intern role was viewed, thank you. Is there anything else that would help the team as they review? I'm also happy to share a short demo of my scheduling project.
#After an interview
Hi Marcus, thanks again for Tuesday's conversation about the data engineering internship. I enjoyed hearing about the pipeline migration. Is there an update on next steps, or anything I can send to help?
#The polite close
Hi Jun, I know you're busy, so this is my last note on the Analytics Intern role. I'd still love to stay in touch and hear about future openings on your team. Thanks for considering my application.
#What if they still don't reply?
Send the polite close and move on. Silence after two notes usually means the role is moving without you, or the person is overloaded. Neither is about you, and the time you'd spend on a third nudge is better spent on the next posting.
#How to make follow-ups automatic, without sounding automatic
In awwreach, the Warm referral path already includes the timing: a short note after a warm-up, a wait for a reply, then one follow-up written for that person. It stops the moment someone replies, so nobody gets a nudge after they've already answered.
Pair it with the daily job trigger and new postings for your target title land in your People list with the manager, a teammate and an alum attached, so every application starts with the right person and a follow-up date. For the full routine, see is LinkedIn Easy Apply worth it for students. For recruiter-specific wording, see how to message a recruiter on LinkedIn as a student.
#One good follow-up beats five reminders
Wait a week, reply in the same thread, add one new thing and make it easy to answer. Do that once, close politely a week later if needed, and put your energy into the next role. That rhythm keeps you remembered for the right reasons.
Frequently asked questions
Five to seven business days is a good default. If the posting or recruiter gave a timeline, wait until it passes. For a fixed deadline, follow up a few days before it.
