How to Follow Up After Applying for a Job in South Africa

How to Follow Up After Applying for a Job in South Africa

Submitting a job application can be one of the most frustrating parts of looking for work. You prepare your CV, complete the application, provide the requested documents and then wait.

Sometimes an employer responds quickly. Other times, days or even weeks can pass without any update.

Following up can be a good way to show that you remain interested in the opportunity, but there is a right way to do it. A useful follow-up should be polite, brief and professional. It should not pressure the employer or make you appear impatient.

This guide explains when to follow up after applying for a job, what to say, how to follow up by email or phone, and what to do if you do not receive a response.

Should You Follow Up After Applying?

Yes, in many situations a professional follow-up is perfectly reasonable.

Recruiters and hiring managers may receive many applications and may not respond to every candidate immediately. A short follow-up can confirm that your application was received and remind the employer of your interest.

However, following up does not guarantee an interview or improve every application. The purpose is to communicate professionally, not to pressure someone into making a decision.

Always consider the instructions in the original vacancy before contacting the employer. If the advertisement specifically says that applicants should not contact the organisation about the application, respect that request.

When Should You Follow Up?

The best time to follow up depends on the application process and the closing date.

If the vacancy has a clear closing date, it is usually better to wait until after the closing date before asking for an update. The employer may still be accepting applications and may not have started reviewing them.

If there is no closing date and the vacancy appears to be actively recruiting, you can generally allow several business days for the employer to review your application before following up.

If the employer gave you a specific timeframe, use that as your guide. For example, if they said shortlisted candidates would be contacted within a week, wait until that period has passed before asking for an update.

Do Not Follow Up Too Quickly

One of the most common mistakes is sending a follow-up message shortly after submitting an application.

If you applied this morning and send another message a few hours later asking whether your application has been reviewed, it is unlikely to help.

Give the employer reasonable time to process applications. A hiring team may need to review hundreds of CVs, compare candidates, arrange interviews or obtain approval before moving forward.

Patience is part of the process.

Check the Job Advertisement First

Before contacting anyone, go back to the original vacancy and check the application instructions.

Look for information about:

• The application closing date
• The person or department handling applications
• A recruitment email address
• An application reference number
• Expected response times
• Instructions about contacting the employer
• Whether shortlisted candidates will be contacted

If the advertisement provides a specific contact person or recruitment email address, use that information rather than contacting random employees at the company.

How to Follow Up by Email

Email is often the easiest way to follow up because it gives you an opportunity to keep your message short and professional.

Your email should remind the employer which position you applied for, when you applied and that you remain interested in the opportunity.

You do not need to write a long explanation about why you need the job. Keep the message focused on the application.

A simple follow-up could look like this:

Subject: Follow-up on [Job Title] Application

Dear [Recruiter or Hiring Manager],

I hope you are well. I am following up on my application for the [Job Title] position, which I submitted on [Date]. I remain very interested in the opportunity and would appreciate any update you may be able to provide regarding the application process.

Please let me know if you require any additional information from me.

Kind regards,
[Your Name]

Keep Your Follow-Up Short

A follow-up message does not need to be several paragraphs long.

The employer already has your CV and application. Your follow-up is simply an opportunity to confirm your continued interest and ask whether there has been an update.

Avoid sending your entire CV again unless the employer specifically asks for it.

There is also no need to explain your entire employment history or repeat everything you included in your cover letter.

What If You Applied by Email?

If you originally applied by email, it is often best to reply to the original email thread when following up.

This allows the recruiter to see your original application and can make it easier for them to identify the vacancy.

If the original advertisement provided a reference number, include it in your message.

For example:

Subject: Follow-up: Administrative Assistant - Ref: ADMIN-2026

Dear Hiring Team,

I am writing to follow up on my application for the Administrative Assistant position, reference ADMIN-2026, which I submitted on [Date]. I remain interested in the opportunity and wanted to check whether there is any update regarding the status of my application.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Kind regards,
[Your Name]

What If You Applied Through a Job Platform?

If you applied through an online job platform, check whether the platform provides an application status or messaging feature before contacting the employer directly.

Some platforms allow employers to communicate with applicants through the platform. In these situations, keeping communication in the same system may be easier for everyone involved.

SPAAN NOW is designed to help job seekers keep their applications organised. When you apply for opportunities through the platform, you can use your application information and status to keep track of where you are in your job search.

This is particularly useful when you are applying for several jobs at the same time. Instead of trying to remember which companies you contacted and when, you can use your application activity to keep your job search organised.

Explore jobs on SPAAN NOW and manage your applications as you continue your job search.

Can You Follow Up by Phone?

Sometimes a phone call is appropriate, particularly when the vacancy provides a telephone number specifically for recruitment enquiries.

Before calling, make sure you know the job title, reference number and date you applied.

Keep the conversation brief.

You could say:

“Good morning. My name is [Name]. I recently applied for the [Job Title] position, reference [Reference Number], and I wanted to check whether there has been any update regarding the application process.”

If the person tells you that applications are still being reviewed, thank them and end the call politely.

Do not repeatedly call different people at the organisation to try to get an answer.

What If You Are Contacting a Recruiter?

If your application was handled by a recruitment agency, the recruiter may be your main point of contact.

A short message asking whether there has been an update is appropriate after a reasonable period of time.

Recruiters may also be waiting for feedback from their client, so remember that they may not be able to give you an immediate answer.

Being professional with a recruiter is important because the same recruiter may have other opportunities that are suitable for your skills in the future.

What If the Job Has Not Closed Yet?

If the application deadline has not passed, it is usually better to wait unless you have a specific reason to contact the employer.

The company may still be collecting applications and may not have started the selection process.

If you have an important question that is not answered in the vacancy, you can contact the appropriate person if the advertisement provides contact details. Otherwise, there is usually little benefit in asking for an application update before the closing date.

What If the Employer Says They Will Contact You?

If an employer tells you that they will contact shortlisted candidates, you should not repeatedly ask whether you have been shortlisted.

Give them the time they indicated. If that period passes without an update, one polite follow-up is reasonable.

For example, if you were told that interviews would be arranged during the following week and you have heard nothing after that period, you can send a short message asking whether there has been an update.

How Many Times Should You Follow Up?

There is no universal number that applies to every job, but repeated messages are rarely helpful.

A sensible approach is to send one professional follow-up after a reasonable period. If you receive no response, you may send another follow-up later if the opportunity is still active and there is a genuine reason to do so.

After that, it is usually better to continue with your job search rather than repeatedly contacting the employer.

No response does not necessarily mean that you were rejected. The company may have changed its hiring plans, delayed recruitment, filled the position or simply chosen not to respond to unsuccessful applicants.

Do Not Stop Applying While You Wait

This is one of the most important parts of following up.

Do not put your entire job search on hold because you are waiting for one employer.

Continue looking for other vacancies and submitting applications that match your skills and experience.

Until you have received a confirmed job offer and completed the necessary employment process, treat the application as an opportunity rather than a guaranteed job.

Keeping several suitable applications active can also reduce the pressure you feel while waiting for individual employers to respond.

Use the Waiting Period Productively

While waiting for feedback, you can improve your chances with your next application.

• Update your CV
• Improve your cover letter
• Practise common interview questions
• Learn a new job-related skill
• Research companies you would like to work for
• Search for new vacancies
• Review previous applications for mistakes
• Prepare copies of commonly requested documents

SPAAN NOW also provides career tools that can help you prepare between applications, including CV support, interview preparation, career guidance, lessons and workplace simulations.

This means the time between applications does not have to be wasted time.

What Not to Say in a Follow-Up Message

A follow-up should remain professional even if you are frustrated about not receiving a response.

Avoid messages such as:

• “Why haven't you responded to me?”
• “I need this job urgently.”
• “You must tell me if I got the job.”
• “I have been waiting for you to respond.”
• “I know I am the best candidate.”

These messages can come across as demanding or unprofessional.

Instead, keep your message respectful and focused on the application.

Do Not Send Multiple Messages Every Day

Sending repeated WhatsApp messages, emails or phone calls will not normally improve your chances of being hired.

It can instead make it difficult for the employer to manage communication with you.

Once you have sent a professional follow-up, give the employer time to respond and continue with your other applications.

What If You Are Rejected?

If the employer tells you that you were not selected, try not to treat the rejection as the end of your job search.

You can thank them for considering your application and, where appropriate, ask whether they are able to provide feedback.

Not every employer will provide detailed feedback, but some may offer useful information that can help you improve future applications.

You can also review the vacancy yourself and compare its requirements with your CV. If you repeatedly apply for similar positions without receiving interviews, it may be worth improving your CV, application strategy or interview preparation.

What If You Get an Interview?

If your follow-up results in an interview invitation, respond promptly and professionally.

Confirm the date, time and interview format, and ask about anything you genuinely need to know in advance.

Then prepare for the interview by reviewing the job description and researching the organisation.

Think about examples from your education, work experience, projects, volunteering or other activities that demonstrate the skills required for the position.

Follow Up Without Putting Your Job Search on Hold

Following up after applying can show professionalism and continued interest, but it should be one part of a wider job search strategy.

Give employers reasonable time to review applications, follow the instructions in the vacancy and keep your communication short and respectful. If you do not receive a response, do not assume that you have to keep contacting the same employer indefinitely.

Keep applying for other suitable opportunities while you wait.

With SPAAN NOW, you can continue searching for jobs, preparing applications and keeping track of your application activity from one place. The goal is not simply to submit more applications, but to make your overall job search more organised and effective.

Quick Follow-Up Checklist

Before following up, ask yourself:

• Has a reasonable amount of time passed?
• Has the application closing date passed?
• Did the employer provide a specific response timeframe?
• Does the vacancy provide a contact person or recruitment email?
• Do I have the job title and reference number?
• Can I keep my message short and professional?
• Am I following the employer's communication instructions?
• Have I already followed up recently?

If the answer to these questions makes sense, send your message and then move on with your job search while you wait.

A follow-up is a reminder that you are interested, not a demand for an answer. Stay professional, stay organised and keep looking for your next opportunity.