How to Follow Up After Submitting Your Resume: Maximizing Your Chances

You’ve spent hours perfecting your resume and cover letter, and finally, you’ve hit "submit." Now what? The waiting game can be agonizing, but your job isn’t over. A strategic follow-up can significantly increase your chances of getting noticed, demonstrating your enthusiasm, professionalism, and persistence. While many job seekers hesitate to follow up, a well-timed and well-crafted message can make all the difference. This guide will walk you through the best practices for following up after submitting your resume, ensuring you maximize your chances of landing an interview.

Why Traditional Resume Methods Fall Short for Follow-Up

Many job seekers believe that once they’ve submitted their application, the ball is entirely in the employer’s court. This passive approach can lead to missed opportunities. In today’s competitive job market, recruiters often receive hundreds, if not thousands, of applications for a single role. A generic application can easily get lost in the shuffle. Without a strategic follow-up, your application might never receive the attention it deserves. Traditional resume advice often focuses solely on the initial application, overlooking the critical importance of proactive communication. To truly stand out, your follow-up needs to be as thoughtful and tailored as your initial application.

Step-by-Step Solution: Strategic Follow-Up After Resume Submission

1. Understand the Company’s Application Process

Before you follow up, review the job posting or company’s career page for any specific instructions regarding follow-up. Some companies explicitly state "no phone calls" or "no follow-up emails." Always respect these instructions. If no instructions are given, a polite follow-up is generally acceptable.

2. Wait an Appropriate Amount of Time

Patience is key. Following up too soon can make you appear impatient or desperate. A general guideline is to wait 1-2 weeks after submitting your resume before sending your first follow-up email. If the job posting provided a timeline for responses, wait until that period has passed.

3. Choose the Right Method of Follow-Up

Email (Most Common): This is usually the preferred method. Send a concise, professional email to the hiring manager or recruiter.
LinkedIn Message: If you have a direct connection with the hiring manager or recruiter on LinkedIn, a polite message can be effective.
Phone Call (Use with Caution): Only use this if explicitly encouraged or if you have a strong existing relationship with the recruiter. Avoid cold calls.

4. Craft a Concise and Professional Follow-Up Email

Your follow-up email should be brief, polite, and reiterate your interest. Include:

Clear Subject Line: "Following Up – [Your Name] – [Job Title] Application" or "Inquiry Regarding [Job Title] Application – [Your Name]"
Polite Opening: "Dear [Hiring Manager Name or Hiring Team],"
Reference Your Application: Briefly state when and for what position you applied.
Reiterate Your Interest: Express your continued enthusiasm for the role and the company.
Highlight Key Qualifications: Briefly mention one or two of your most relevant skills or achievements that align with the job requirements.
Call to Action: Politely ask about the status of your application or if there’s any additional information you can provide.
Professional Closing: "Sincerely," or "Best regards," followed by your name and contact information.

Example:

Subject: Following Up – [Your Name] – [Job Title] Application

Dear [Hiring Manager Name or Hiring Team],

I am writing to follow up on my application for the [Job Title] position, which I submitted on [Date]. I remain very interested in this opportunity and believe my experience in [Key Skill 1] and [Key Skill 2] aligns well with your team’s needs.

My background in [briefly mention a relevant achievement or experience] has prepared me to contribute effectively to [Company Name].

Please let me know if there is any additional information I can provide to assist with your review process. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

[Phone Number]

[Email Address]

5. Consider a Second Follow-Up (If No Response)

If you don’t hear back after your first follow-up (after another 1-2 weeks), you can send a second, slightly different email. This time, you might share a relevant article, a new project you’ve completed, or a brief thought on an industry trend, subtly reminding them of your expertise. This shows persistence and continued engagement.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Following Up Too Soon

Patience is a virtue. Give recruiters time to process applications.

2. Being Demanding or Impatient

Your tone should always be polite and professional, never pushy.

3. Sending Generic Follow-Ups

A copy-pasted email is easily dismissed. Personalize your message.

4. Typos and Grammatical Errors

Proofread your follow-up email meticulously. Errors undermine your professionalism.

5. Ignoring "No Follow-Up" Instructions

Always respect the company’s stated application process.

Pro Tips for Follow-Up Success

Track Your Applications: Keep a spreadsheet or use a job search tracker to record when you applied, when you followed up, and who you contacted.
Add Value: If you can, add a small piece of value in your follow-up (e.g., a relevant article, a new insight).
Be Prepared for a Response: Your follow-up might prompt a call or email. Be ready to respond promptly.
Utilize Espresso Resume: While Espresso Resume focuses on resume optimization, the principles of clear, concise, and impactful communication apply to all aspects of your job search, including your follow-up emails.

Conclusion

A strategic follow-up is a powerful, yet often underutilized, tool in your job search arsenal. By demonstrating your enthusiasm, professionalism, and persistence through well-timed and well-crafted messages, you can significantly increase your visibility and chances of securing an interview. Don’t just submit and wait; follow up and stand out.

Ready to master every step of your job search? Espresso Resume helps you create ATS-friendly, impactful resumes in minutes, so you can focus on what matters most: landing your dream job.

Resume Email Tips: Subject Lines That Get Opened

In today’s digital job search, your resume email is often the first point of contact with a potential employer. While your resume content is crucial, a compelling subject line is what determines whether your email gets opened or sent straight to the trash. A well-crafted subject line can grab a recruiter’s attention, convey professionalism, and encourage them to click through to your application. This guide will provide you with actionable strategies and examples for writing effective resume email subject lines that increase your open rates and get your application noticed.

Why Traditional Resume Methods Fall Short for Email Subject Lines

Many job seekers make the mistake of using generic or vague subject lines like "Resume" or "Job Application." While technically accurate, these subject lines offer no value proposition, fail to stand out in a crowded inbox, and often get lost among hundreds of other similar emails. Recruiters receive countless applications daily, and a compelling subject line is your first opportunity to make a positive impression. Traditional resume advice often overlooks the critical importance of this initial touchpoint, leading to missed opportunities. To truly maximize your chances, your email subject line needs to be strategic, concise, and informative.

Step-by-Step Solution: Crafting Effective Resume Email Subject Lines

1. Always Include Your Name and the Job Title

This is the most fundamental rule. Recruiters need to quickly identify who you are and what position you’re applying for. Place this information prominently at the beginning of your subject line. Example: "[Your Name] – Application for [Job Title]"

2. Reference the Job ID or Requisition Number (If Provided)

If the job posting includes a Job ID, Requisition Number, or Reference Number, always include it in your subject line. This helps recruiters quickly categorize your application and ensures it reaches the correct department. Example: "[Your Name] – Application for Marketing Manager (Job ID: 12345)"

3. Highlight a Key Qualification or Skill (Optional but Recommended)

To make your subject line stand out, briefly mention a key qualification, skill, or achievement that directly aligns with the job requirements. This immediately signals your relevance and encourages the recruiter to open your email. Example:

"[Your Name] – Application for Senior Software Engineer – 10+ Years in Cloud Architecture"
"[Your Name] – Marketing Manager Application – Proven ROI in Digital Campaigns"
"[Your Name] – Customer Service Representative – Bilingual (English/Spanish)"

4. Mention a Referral (If Applicable)

If you were referred by someone within the company, prominently mention their name in the subject line. Referrals often get preferential treatment and can significantly increase your chances of an interview. Example: "[Your Name] – Referral from [Referral’s Name] for [Job Title] Position"

5. Keep It Concise and Professional

Aim for a subject line that is clear, concise, and professional. Avoid using all caps, excessive punctuation, or emojis. Most email clients truncate long subject lines, so keep the most important information at the beginning.

6. Tailor for Each Application

Just like your resume, your email subject line should be tailored to each specific job application. A generic subject line is a missed opportunity to make a strong first impression.

Examples of Effective Resume Email Subject Lines:

Application: [Your Name] – [Job Title]
[Your Name] – [Job Title] Application (Job ID: XXX)
[Your Name] – Senior Marketing Manager – 10+ Years Driving Digital Growth
Application for Software Engineer – Expertise in Python & AWS
Referred by [Referral’s Name] for [Job Title] – [Your Name]
[Your Name] – Customer Service Role – Bilingual (English/French)
Application for Project Manager – PMP Certified with 5+ Years Experience
[Your Name] – Data Analyst Application – Proven Skills in SQL & Tableau
Inquiry: [Your Name] – [Job Title] (Experienced in [Key Skill])
[Your Name] – Application for [Job Title] – [Your Unique Selling Proposition]

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Generic Subject Lines

"Resume," "Job Application," or "Applying for a Job" are too vague and easily overlooked.

2. Missing Key Information

Failing to include your name or the job title makes it difficult for recruiters to identify your application.

3. Spelling or Grammatical Errors

A subject line with errors immediately signals a lack of attention to detail.

4. Overly Long Subject Lines

Keep it brief and to the point. Most email clients will cut off long subject lines.

5. Using All Caps or Excessive Punctuation

This can make your email appear spammy or unprofessional.

Pro Tips for Email Success

Proofread: Always double-check your subject line for typos and grammatical errors before sending.
Send a Test Email: Send a test email to yourself to see how the subject line appears in your inbox.
Follow Instructions: Always follow any specific instructions provided in the job posting regarding the email subject line.
Utilize Espresso Resume: While Espresso Resume focuses on resume optimization, the principles of clear, concise, and impactful communication apply to all aspects of your job search, including your email subject lines.

Conclusion

Your resume email subject line is your first and often only chance to make a strong impression. By making it clear, concise, and informative, and by strategically highlighting your relevance to the role, you can significantly increase the chances of your email being opened and your application being considered. Don’t let a weak subject line be the reason your dream job slips away.

Ready to get your resume emails opened? Espresso Resume helps you create ATS-friendly, impactful resumes in minutes, so you can focus on what matters most: landing your dream job.