What is usually going wrong
You never follow up
Most candidates send nothing after applying — so the one polite, well-timed follow-up already puts you in a minority recruiters notice.
You cannot remember what you sent where
Without tracking, you cannot follow up because you no longer know which version went to whom, or when.
The silence feels personal
It is not. Roles get frozen, budgets move, recruiters drown in volume. Silence is process failure, not a verdict on your worth.
What actually moves the needle
- 1
Follow up once, on day seven
One short message a week after applying: restate interest in one line, add one relevant fact ("I just shipped X"), ask about timeline. That is it — polite, brief, memorable.
- 2
Track every application
Company, role, date, CV version, contact, status. A simple pipeline turns chaos into next actions — you always know who owes you a reply and when to nudge.
- 3
Keep the pipeline moving
The cure for one company's silence is three other processes in motion. Never pause applications while waiting on a single answer — even after a great interview.
See the application tracker
iwantanew.cv's built-in tracker keeps every application, CV version, and follow-up in one board — try the demo without an account.
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Straight answers
When is it acceptable to follow up?
Five to seven business days after applying, or two to three days after a stated decision deadline passes. After an interview, follow up the same day with thanks, then again a week later if they go quiet.
How many times should I follow up?
Twice, spaced a week apart, then let it go and keep the door open: "I'll assume the role is on hold — do keep me in mind." Persistence past that point works against you.
Is being ghosted after an interview normal?
Sadly common, and it says everything about their process and nothing about you. Send the two follow-ups, then treat it as a closed file and move energy to live processes.