How to Follow Up After Applying for a Job in Australia

When is the right time to follow up in Australia?

Start by reading the job ad carefully. Many Australian ads specify a closing date, a recruitment contact, and sometimes a note such as “only shortlisted candidates will be contacted” or “no calls please.” Respect those instructions. If an ad lists a closing date, the most professional time to follow up is two to three business days after that date. For rolling ads (no closing date), allow five to seven business days from your application before you follow up. Avoid public holidays and consider the employer’s local time zone (AEST/AEDT or AWST).

If you applied via an agency, follow up with the recruiter named in the ad rather than going direct to the employer. If you were referred internally, it’s fine to check in slightly sooner because your referrer can often confirm timelines. As a rule, aim for mid‑morning Tuesday to Thursday when inboxes are more manageable and people are easier to reach.

• If the ad has a closing date: follow up 2–3 business days after it closes.
• If the ad is rolling: follow up 5–7 business days after applying.
• If you applied very close to the closing date: follow up 2–3 business days after the close.
• If referred internally: follow up after 2–3 business days (or ask your referrer first).
• If an ad says “no calls” or “do not contact”: do not call; if contact is prohibited, don’t email either.

Who should you contact, and how do you find the right details?

Go to the source first. The job ad may include a recruiter, talent acquisition partner, or hiring manager. If an agency posted the ad, contact the named recruiter and avoid approaching the employer directly. For in‑house roles, search the company’s website or LinkedIn for the People & Culture or Talent Acquisition contact tied to your function (for example, “Talent Acquisition – Engineering” or “Recruiter – Sales”).

If no contact is listed, try the company’s main phone number and ask reception who manages recruitment for the role. For public sector, university, and large corporate portals, there is often a general HR or recruitment email and a requisition number—use these and follow any stated process. Some organisations explicitly ask that you don’t contact the panel; in those cases, respect the instruction and let the portal process run.

• Best sources: job ad contact, company careers page, LinkedIn (People & Culture/Talent Acquisition), the agency recruiter, or the company switchboard.
• Public sector and graduate programs often centralise communication; use the portal help email or hotline if provided.
• Red flags: “no calls please,” “do not contact,” or instructions to communicate only via the portal—don’t bypass them.
• If you only find generic emails (e.g., careers@company.com), include the job title and requisition/reference number in your subject line.

What should a job application follow up email include?

A strong job application follow up email is short, specific, and useful to the reader. Aim for 120–150 words. Your subject should clearly reference the role, your name, and any job reference. Open with context (how and when you applied), link your value to a key requirement from the ad, and ask a small question that’s easy to answer—usually about next steps or timelines. Close with thanks and your phone number. Don’t re‑attach your CV unless asked; attachments can trigger filters.

Example email: Subject: Follow‑up: Marketing Coordinator application – Alex Nguyen – Ref MC0424 Hello Jordan, I applied via SEEK on 2 August for the Marketing Coordinator role (Ref MC0424). I’m particularly aligned with your need for email automation experience; in my last role I implemented a Mailchimp–HubSpot workflow that lifted campaign performance and reduced manual work. Are you able to share next steps or an indicative timeline for shortlisting? I’m happy to provide any further details you need. Thanks for your time, Alex Nguyen 0400 123 456 | linkedin.com/in/alexnguyen

Keep your tone professional, not apologetic or demanding. If you’re following up through LinkedIn instead of email, tighten it further (two to three sentences) and ask whether email is preferred for next steps.

• Useful subject lines: “Follow‑up: [Role] – [Your Name] – [Ref#]”, “Application check‑in: [Role] – [Your Name]”.
• Four‑line structure: context, 1‑sentence value, small question (timeline/next step), thanks + phone.
• Only include links you’re confident will open easily (e.g., LinkedIn profile). Avoid attachments unless requested.

Should you call, and what’s a professional script?

Call when the ad invites it, when a named contact is provided, or when you’re dealing with a small business or an agency recruiter. Don’t call if the ad says not to, if it’s a government portal role with strict instructions, or if no phone details are provided. If you do call, keep it to 60–90 seconds and have a clear purpose: confirm receipt, clarify one requirement, or check the timeline.

Prepare a simple call flow, and be ready to pivot to email if they’re busy. Always ask if it’s a good time. If it isn’t, offer to email your question and thank them for their time. Smiling as you speak helps your tone land as positive and respectful.

• Open: “Hi [Name], is now a good time for a brief question about the [Role Title] application?”
• Context: “I applied on [date] via [platform].”
• Value: “I’ve led [1 relevant achievement], which aligns with [key requirement].”
• Question: “Could you advise the next step or an indicative shortlisting date?”
• Close: “Happy to email details if easier. Thanks for your time.”

How many times should you follow up, and when do you move on?

Two touches are plenty unless you’re invited to keep in contact. First, send your concise follow‑up after the appropriate wait. If there’s no reply, a final check‑in seven to ten days later is reasonable. After that, move on gracefully. Continuing to chase rarely changes an outcome and can hurt your impression if the employer is overloaded or has paused the role.

To stay productive, build a simple job search follow up rhythm. Track each application, your follow‑up date, and a close‑out date when you’ll stop chasing. This keeps your pipeline healthy and your energy focused on opportunities where you can still influence the outcome.

• Cadence: initial follow‑up, then one final check‑in 7–10 days later.
• If you receive an auto‑reply such as “we’ll respond within X weeks,” align your follow‑up to that window.
• If the employer responds with a timeline, don’t follow up again before that date.
• Close the loop: if you accept another offer, send a brief note withdrawing—relationships travel in Australia.

How do you follow up without sounding pushy?

Focus on usefulness and respect. Show you’ve read the ad, mirror the language of the role requirements, and keep your ask small. Lead with the relevance of your experience to their immediate needs rather than with your availability alone. Avoid guilt‑tripping (“I haven’t heard back from you…”) or instructions (“Please call me today”).

Your message should make life easier for the reader: it confirms who you are, which role you applied for, why you’re relevant, and what you’re asking. That clarity is valued in Australian hiring, especially when recruiters manage many requisitions at once.

• Do: reference the job title and any ref number in the subject and first line.
• Do: align one achievement to a priority in the ad; keep it to a sentence.
• Do: ask a small, specific question (timeline, next step, or clarification).
• Don’t: demand feedback, copy in multiple leaders, or follow up daily.
• Don’t: resend your CV repeatedly or add heavy attachments unless invited.