Do’s and Don’ts of Following Up After a Referral

Nov 19, 2025

Getting a referral means someone inside your target company has endorsed your candidacy. This can give your application a big boost – in fact, employee referrals account for roughly 55% of external hires. Because referrals can put you “at the head of the line”, it’s important to handle the follow-up professionally. A timely, courteous follow-up shows appreciation, keeps you top-of-mind, and strengthens your relationship with the person who helped you.

In this guide, we’ll walk through when and how to follow up after a referral, and cover key do’s and don’ts (including sample emails) to help you navigate this process smoothly.

When and How to Follow Up After a Referral

After you’ve been referred for a job, timing is everything. First, send a quick thank-you note right away. Expert advises that after getting a job referral, you should “send a prompt thank you letter so that the contact knows you’re grateful for their guidance”. This could be a brief email or handwritten note (email is fine if that’s how you normally communicate). A simple message like, “Thank you again for referring me to the [Position] at [Company]. I appreciate your support!” is a great start.

Read Also: What is Referral

After the initial thank-you, give the company some time to process your referral. If the hiring manager or recruiter gave you a timeline (e.g. “we’ll get back to you next week”), abide by it. If no schedule was provided, industry experts suggest waiting about one week after submitting your application before making a follow-up inquiry. Job experts advise that if you haven’t heard anything in roughly one week, you can ask your referrer for guidance – for example, requesting the recruiter’s name and contact info and what an appropriate follow-up time-frame would be. In general, give at least a week for the recruiter to review your application before reaching out.

When you do follow up, make it count. Try first to reach the recruiter or hiring manager directly (if you have their contact) rather than bombarding your referrer with questions. You can call the recruiter’s office or send a brief email. In your message, be clear and concise: mention the job title, the date you applied, and that you were referred by [Referrer’s Name]. For example, an email subject like “Referred by Alice Smith – Follow-Up on [Job Title] Application” can immediately signal context to the hiring team. In the body, say something like:

Subject: Referred by [Alice Smith] – Follow-Up on [Job Title] Application
Hello [Recruiter’s Name],
I hope you’re doing well. I wanted to follow up on my application for the [Job Title] role that I submitted on [Date]. [Alice Smith] from [Department] kindly referred me to this position. I am very excited about this opportunity and remain very interested in joining [Company Name]. Please let me know if you need any further information from me. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Best regards,
[Your Name]

In short, wait about one week, then send a brief note. One career guide puts it well: “If [there’s] radio silence, give it about one business week. A gentle nudge is perfectly acceptable – a simple, ‘Hi [Name], just wanted to quickly follow up on my email from last week’ is all you need…”. This keeps you on their radar without coming across as pushy. If the recruiter still doesn’t respond, it’s usually best to move on after a follow-up or two – hiring can take time and sometimes silence means the role is on hold.

Throughout this process, always coordinate with your referrer. Keep them updated so they know how things are going, and ask for advice if appropriate. If your referrer says, “I spoke with the hiring manager on Friday,” you might say, “Great – thanks! Please let me know any next steps I should take.” If they ask, “How did the interview go?” share a concise update. This two-way communication shows respect and gratitude (more on that below).

Key Do’s of Following Up

Do express sincere gratitude. Always thank your referrer as soon as possible. A referral is a gift of trust and time – indeed, it’s been called “the vote of confidence” that puts you ahead in the application process. Sending a personal thank-you note (via email or handwritten card) is the first step. According to career experts, “writing and sending a personal note can show you appreciate the assistance of your professional contact”. For example, you might write: “Dear [Referrer], thank you so much for referring me to the [Position] at [Company]. I really appreciate your support and will keep you posted on the outcome!”.
Do keep communications polite and concise. Every message you send should be professional, clear, and to the point. Keep paragraphs short (the earlier LinkedIn message tips emphasize brevity) and use polite language. One guide notes that follow-up emails should be under 200 words and easy to scan. Always use a courteous opening and closing (e.g. “Hello [Name]” and “Thank you for your time”). Avoid rambling; for example, the Job-Hunt blog advises to “keep your note short and to the point” when writing to a referrer.
Do provide all necessary details. Make it effortless for your referrer or the recruiter to help you. This means including relevant information in your follow-up. For instance, attach your resume (again) and mention the exact job title or ID, so they don’t have to dig it up. A recent guide stresses “Attach your tailored resume and include the job ID or a direct link to the posting” so the referrer can act without extra work. You can also offer a quick bullet or sentence summarizing why you’re a good fit – they might even copy-paste it if needed. In short: make it a 30-second task for them to forward your details.
Do update your referrer on progress. After thanking them, keep your referrer in the loop. For example, if you secure an interview, email them an update: “I had an interview on Friday – thank you again for the referral! I’ll let you know what happens next.” If they’ve already expressed interest or given advice, let them know how things turn out. This not only shows courtesy but also respects that they invested effort on your behalf. In fact, one template suggested saying, “If you would like, I will keep you posted,” so your referrer knows you’ll update them on any news.
Do offer help or reciprocity. While it’s not required, it’s friendly to let your referrer know you’re open to returning the favor. At the very least, express willingness to help them in the future or to assist if they ask. Networking is a two-way street: say something like, “Please let me know if there’s any way I can return the favor.” This reinforces that you value the professional relationship beyond just the referral.
Do follow the company’s instructions. If the job posting or recruiter has specific directions (e.g. “no calls, please”), respect those. For example, some companies ask you not to contact directly. In such cases, you might simply update your referrer and let them handle it, or send a polite email rather than a phone call. Always tailor your follow-up method to the situation.

Key Don’ts of Following Up

Don’t be pushy or impatient. Avoid hounding your referrer or the recruiter with constant messages. Bombarding them with multiple emails or daily status checks can come off as rude. The experts advise the opposite: “Don’t bug your contact about what is happening at the employer”. In practice, that means after you send a thank-you or check-in, give them at least a week to respond before sending another message. Except in case of very good news (like an interview offer), wait at least a week as recommended, even if you feel things are delayed.
Don’t ghost your referrer. Just as you shouldn’t pester them, you also shouldn’t ignore them. If your referrer reaches out or offers help, always reply (even if it’s just to say “Thanks for checking in, I’m still waiting on an update”). Let them know that you acknowledge their time and effort. For instance, if the recruiter calls them for feedback, thank them for letting you know. Never leave them hanging – this can burn bridges quickly. Keep the communication lines open politely.
Don’t use vague or lazy follow-ups. Avoid sending follow-up messages that say nothing, like a single “??” or a cryptic “Hello?” as a nudge. Tech professionals advise not to send empty queries; such messages can be viewed as entitled or lazy. If you follow up, make sure each message has a purpose (thanking, updating, or politely asking a question). For example, don’t just write “Are you there?” Instead, write something like: “Hello [Name], just checking in in case you missed my last note. I remain very interested in [Position] and appreciate any update you can share.” This way, you’re helpful and polite, not annoying.
Don’t delay thank-yous or updates. On the flip side, don’t wait too long to thank your referrer or share major developments. If you get an interview or an offer, don’t sit on that news – reach out promptly. A prompt thank-you (within a day or two) shows enthusiasm and respect. Likewise, if you do get hired, circle back to thank them again. (Job-Hunt even suggests sending a gift or flowers if you land the job!) The idea is: celebrate your referral’s success along with yours. Ultimately, never burn a referral bridge by being ungrateful or unresponsive.
Don’t expect your referrer to do all the work. While your referrer is helping, it’s still your application. Don’t dump all responsibility on them. For example, if you need the job posting link or resume sent, it’s best you provide these rather than forcing them to search. Remember [the recruiter referral tips] advise, “Don’t make them hunt for the job posting or your resume”. If they’ve agreed to refer you, attach your tailored resume and a link to the exact opening – so they can refer you with just a click. This shows respect for their time and makes it more likely they’ll actually submit the referral.

Practical Examples and Sample Email Templates

Putting these principles into practice can be easier with examples. Here are a few sample follow-up emails you can adapt:

Scenario: Follow-up after being referred (before hearing back). Suppose you applied a week ago with a colleague’s referral. A gentle check-in email might look like this:

Subject: Referred by [Referrer Name] – Following Up on [Job Title] Application
Hello [Recruiter Name],
I hope you’re well. I’m writing to follow up on my application for the [Job Title] position at [Company], which I submitted on [Date]. [Referrer Name], who works in [Department], kindly referred me to this role. I’m very excited about the opportunity and wanted to reiterate my strong interest. Please let me know if there’s any more information I can provide. Thank you for your time.
Best regards,
[Your Name]

This email reminds them of your referral, your application date, and expresses continued interest without demanding an immediate answer. It’s concise and professional.

Scenario: Update email to referrer after an interview. After your referral helped you land an interview, you should thank them again and report on the outcome:

Subject: Thank You Again – [Job Title] Interview Update
Hi [Referrer Name],
I wanted to thank you again for referring me for the [Job Title] position at [Company]. I had my interview yesterday with [Hiring Manager] and it went well – I felt very positive about it. Thank you for connecting me; I appreciate your support. I will keep you posted on any developments. Please let me know if there is any other information you need.
Best regards,
[Your Name]

This note shows appreciation (“thank you again”), gives a brief interview update, and promises to keep them in the loop. It’s short, courteous, and leaves a positive impression.

Scenario: Follow-up after a week with no news. If a week or two have passed since your referral/application, and you haven’t heard anything, you might send a gentle reminder:

Subject: Checking In – [Job Title] Application
Hello [Referrer Name],
I hope you’re doing well. I just wanted to check in regarding the [Job Title] position at [Company]. I applied last week after our discussion and was referred by you. I remain very interested in this role. Have you heard any updates from the recruiter or hiring team? Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thank you again for all your help.
Warm regards,
[Your Name]

Notice how this email is polite (“I hope you’re doing well”), mentions the timeline, and asks if the referrer has any news. It also reiterates gratitude at the end. It doesn’t pressure them; it simply invites an update.

These templates are just starting points. You should personalize the tone and details to fit your situation. The key is to be respectful, mention specifics, and thank them in each message.

Summary of Best Practices

Following up after a job referral is a balancing act: you want to stay engaged without becoming a nuisance. To recap the best etiquette:

Do: Say thank you promptly and sincerely. Keep notes short, friendly, and professional. Attach any needed info (resume, job link) so your referrer can help easily. Update your referrer on progress and show enthusiasm for the opportunity.
Don’t: Be pushy. Give at least a week before sending a follow-up. Avoid vague “just checking?” messages and never ghost the person who helped you. Don’t wait too long to thank them or share good news – and don’t leave them having done the work alone.

Remember: the goal is to maintain a positive, professional connection. A thoughtful follow-up shows that you value the person’s effort, and it keeps doors open for future networking as well. By following these do’s and don’ts, you’ll navigate the referral process with grace and increase your chances of success.