How to Follow Up with a Recruiter (After an Interview, On LinkedIn, and More Scenarios)

Key takeaways

• How to follow up with a recruiter can depend on where you are in the recruiting process. After initial connection, send a short, professional message within a few days expressing your interest in the role and asking whether they need any additional information.

• To follow up with a recruiter after an interview, send a thank-you note via follow-up email within 24 hours, using the same method of contact you used initially. Restate your interest in the role and request next steps.

• Follow up with a recruiter on LinkedIn by sending a brief direct message that mentions the role you applied for, expresses continued interest, and asks whether there are any updates or next steps. Keep it concise and professional.

Discover some of the best practices when it comes to following up with a recruiter so you can make a good impression. Once you’re ready to continue the interview and onboarding process, consider enrolling in Google's Accelerate Your Job Search with AI, in which you'll learn to build a stand out resume and a step-by-step job search plan utilizing tools like Gemini and Career Dreamer.

How to follow up with a recruiter: Overview 

Speaking with a recruiter, often called a phone screen, is usually the first step in the interview process. During a phone screen, a recruiter will set up a time to talk to you via phone or video to hear more about your background and career goals via the common question, "Why are you looking for a new job?" It's also an opportunity for them to share more about the position they're recruiting for and their company's culture.

Following up with a recruiter after your initial conversation shows you are serious about the role, have a vested interest in continuing the interview process, and value the recruiter's time.

How to follow up with a recruiter after initial connection

After speaking with a recruiter, it's recommended that you send them a thank-you note within 24 hours. The method of contact you initially used with your recruiter should influence the method you choose to follow up. For example, if you've been emailing, you should email your thank you, and if you've been using LinkedIn to message one another, you should follow up there. Recruiters often handle hiring for multiple roles and speak with numerous candidates per role, so it's helpful to keep communication to one thread rather than starting a new one or moving to a different platform.

In your note, you should thank them for taking the time to speak with you, express your interest in the job, and state your availability for the next steps, such as the hiring manager interview. 

How often should you follow up with a recruiter?

You should follow up with a recruiter soon after an interview and then check in periodically to stay in touch. Sending a brief email every two weeks shows respect for their time while letting them know you're still engaged in the process.

How to follow up with a recruiter after an interview

When drafting your message, consider responding to the chain of communication you've already established via email or LinkedIn so you can keep the conversation going. In the body of your email, make sure to include the following:

1. Say hello and address the recruiter by their name.

2. Include a detail you discussed during your previous conversation.

3. Mention your excitement about the position.

4. Remind them about your availability for the next steps.

5. Keep your email brief and close out the message with gratitude.

6. Make sure to proofread your email.

Free job search resources

Coursera's Career Resource Hub offers a powerful collection of free job search resources designed to support you whether you're starting out, switching fields, or aiming for a promotion:

• Industry-specific interview prep to ace your toughest questions

• Custom study guides for today's most in-demand skills

• Career quizzes for finding your ideal role (or the skills you'll need to get there)

• Cheat sheets and topic glossaries to support your independent study

• Career path maps to visualize your opportunities

• Career transition guides for making a smooth and successful change

Initial follow-up email after interview sample

Let's take a look at what this looks like in practice.

Hi Briana,

Thank you for taking the time to speak with me yesterday about the exciting UX designer position at Company X. I really enjoyed hearing about the potential creative projects this role would contribute to, and I remain interested in the position.

Given my experience working on multi-platform campaigns similar to the kind Company X regularly produces, I believe I'd be a strong fit and would bring some big ideas to the team. Please let me know about the next steps.

Thank you,

Jarvis Tate 

How to follow up with a recruiter after no response

Follow up with a recruiter after no response by sending a short, polite check-in about 5–7 business days after your last message. During a phone screen, be sure to ask about the hiring team's timeline for the next steps so that you can adjust your second follow-up accordingly.

Generally, if you haven't heard back from the recruiter, you should wait five business days, or a whole week, before following up again. (However, if you were told it would take longer to hear back, wait until that window has passed before reaching out again.)

For your second follow-up email, you'll follow a similar map to the one we outlined above, but this time, you'll emphasize the next steps by inquiring about when you can expect to hear about the next stage of the interview.

Second follow-up email sample

The second follow-up email should be briefer than the first and serve as a polite "nudge" to learn about the interview timeline. Use the example below to guide your own message:

Hi Briana,

I'm reaching out once more to follow up about the UX designer position at Company X. I enjoyed speaking with you last week and look forward to hearing about the next steps in the interview process. Please let me know if there's anything else I can provide in the meantime.

Thank you,

Jarvis Tate

3 reasons why you should follow up with a recruiter

Following up with your recruiter keeps the lines of communication open and serves to convey three important things:

1. It can help you stand out. 

Recruiters field a lot of candidates for a lot of roles. Following up can remind them that you are present and engaged. They’ll also see you’re serious about working for their company or organization.

Read more: How to Get a Job Fast: Quick Tips for Job Seekers

2. It demonstrates your interest in the role.

Following up lets your recruiter know you're truly interested in the position and want to continue participating in the interview process. This signals that you may be a good candidate to continue considering.

3. You can express your gratitude.

Even if you aren't the best fit for the role you've interviewed for, your conduct may make a lasting impression. When you're polite, express gratitude, and remain professional, you may be able to reach out to that recruiter in the future about new opportunities or remain on their radar as new roles open up.

Explore our free job search resources

Prepare for the next step in your career journey with our Career Resource Hub and other free, digital tools and tips to guide your job search:

• Get more tips: Job Search Tips for Entry-Level Roles 

• Watch on YouTube: 10 Insightful Questions to Ask a Recruiter for Career Success

• Take a quiz: Career Test: What Career is Right for Me Quiz?

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