Follow-up email to a recruiter: what to send at each stage.
Recruiters juggle many open roles, so the best follow-up is short, names the role, and makes their next action obvious. Agency recruiters and in-house recruiters need slightly different notes.
To follow up with a recruiter, reply in your existing thread, name the role and the date of your last contact, and ask one clear question: is there an update, or do you need anything from me? For an agency recruiter, also ask whether you have been submitted to the client. Wait about a week between messages and stop after two.
3 copy-ready templates
Illustrative: names, companies, dates and numbers in these templates and examples are fictional. Replace every bracket with your own true details before you send anything.
After a recruiter screen
When to use: When the recruiter said they would share your profile with the hiring manager.
Hi [Name], Thanks again for our call on [date] about the [Role] role. Have you had a chance to share my profile with [Hiring manager or team], and is there anything else you'd like from me? Best, [Your name]
Agency recruiter: submission check
When to use: When an agency recruiter has put you forward to a client company.
Hi [Name], Could you confirm whether my profile has been submitted for the [Role] position with [Client or 'your client'], and whether there has been any feedback? I'd also like to know before I'm submitted for any other role. Thanks, [Your name]
Recruiter went quiet
When to use: One week after an unanswered follow-up.
Hi [Name], I know you're juggling a lot of roles. Is the [Role] position still active, and am I still in the running? Thanks, [Your name]
Disclosure: TryHired makes HIRED, a paid job-search program, so we have a conflict of interest when we mention it. Every template on this page is free to use without buying anything.
Recruiter follow-up timing
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| After a screen, no date given | Wait about a week. |
| Agency submitted you | Ask for feedback after the client's review window. |
| Recruiter promised a call | If the call is missed, reply the same day offering two new times. |
| Two unanswered messages | Stop and stay polite; recruiters move between companies. |
The same message, rewritten
Illustrative example with fictional details.
| Version | Example |
|---|---|
| Weak | Any news? |
| Strong | Have you had a chance to share my profile with the analytics team, and is there anything else you'd like from me before they review it? |
Why it matters: 'Any news?' makes the recruiter look up who you are and what role you mean. The strong version gives context and an easy next action.
Mistakes to avoid
- Letting an agency submit you to a company without your permission.
- Asking the same recruiter for updates on several roles in separate emails.
- Being rude to a recruiter after a no; they remember.
- Following up more than twice.
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Questions people ask
How often should I follow up with a recruiter?
What's the difference between an agency and an in-house recruiter?
Should I ask a recruiter for feedback after a rejection?
Can I contact the hiring manager directly instead?
How this page is built
Written by Maid Dizdarevic, a career coach and 8x LinkedIn Top Voice. The templates and timing guides are practical advice, labelled as advice. We do not publish response rates or success rates, and every example uses fictional details.
- How a specific employer or recruiter will respond: practices vary by company, industry and person.
- Legal advice: for contracts, severance releases or disputes, talk to an employment attorney or the relevant agency.
- Outcomes: no message, template or program can promise an interview or a job.
- TryHired editorial guidance by Maid Dizdarevic, career coach, Nov 2, 2026.